Evidence supporting the use of: Chinese peony
For the health condition: Insomnia

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Chinese peony (Paeonia lactiflora) has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), where it is known as "Bai Shao." In TCM, Bai Shao is often prescribed as part of multi-herb formulas to "nourish the blood," calm the liver, and alleviate conditions such as insomnia, anxiety, and irritability. The traditional rationale is based on the TCM theory of balancing "yin and yang" and harmonizing the body's internal organs, rather than on modern biomedical mechanisms.

While Chinese peony is widely used in TCM for insomnia and related symptoms, scientific research directly validating its efficacy for insomnia is limited. Some animal studies suggest that certain compounds in peony, such as paeoniflorin, may have sedative or anxiolytic effects, but robust clinical trials in humans are lacking. Most available research focuses on peony as part of multi-herb formulas, making it difficult to attribute effects specifically to peony itself. Thus, the main justification for its use in insomnia is traditional rather than scientific, with low-to-moderate evidence based on current standards.

In summary, Chinese peony's use for insomnia is primarily rooted in tradition, supported by centuries of empirical use in TCM, but lacks strong scientific evidence from controlled clinical trials to confirm its efficacy for this specific condition.

More about Chinese peony
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Products containing Chinese peony

We currently have no products on Vitabase that contain this ingredient.