(2004)  Page(s) 348.  
 
Chinese peony (Paeonia lactiflora) is used in prescriptions for headache, vertigo; spastic pains in the stomach and intestines, abdominal pain due to diarrhoea or dysentery abdominal mass, appendicitis; abnormal, painful or difficult menstruation. Experimentally, Chinese Peony exhibits analgesic and spasmodic action in animals. The hern has been shown too prevent gastric secretion and may help to prevent gastric ulcers resulting from nervousness. In experiments with mice, peony prolonged sleeping time, acted as anticonvulsive, lowered blood pressure and was anti-inflammatory. ..The drug is used in the United States by traditional Chinese practitioners.

(2004)  Page(s) 348.  
 
Paeonia emodi Wall. ex Royle
Habitat North-western Himalayas, from Kashmir to Kumaon at 2000-3000m.
Classical and common names Unani: Ood Saleeb, Ood Gharqi, Phaavaania. (National Formulary of Unani Medicine also equated Ood Salib with Orchis latifolia, which is a different drug - Saalab misri, Khusyat-us-Saalab.) English: Himalayan peony.
Parts used Root.
Dose 1-3 g (toxic in higher doses).
Classical use Habb-e-Ood Saleeb is a reputed Unani medicine, prescribed in epilepsy, hysteria, paralysis, convulsions, insanity, spleen and bladder. The drug was imported into India from the Mediterranean region in the heyday of Unani medicine.
Active principles and pharmacology Root oil gave a mixture of n-alkenes, beta-amyrin, butyrospermol, cycloartenol, lupeol, 24-methylenecycloartenol, cholesterol, campesterol, sitosterol; octanoic, decanoic, lauric, myristic, myristoleic, palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic, oleic, linoleic acids, and ethyl gallate. Salicylaldehyde is the chief component of the essential oil.

(2004)  Page(s) 348.  
 
Tubers and seeds of an allied [to P. emodi] European species, Paeonia officinalis Linn., contain a toxic alkaloid which produces contraction of the renal capillaries and increases the coagulability of blood.
Use in Western herbal Since the times of Hippocrates (470-377 BC), Peony (Paeonia officinalis) was used for testing epilepsy. Ibn-el-Beitar, a medieval Arab physician, also recommended it for epilepsy. Nicholas Culpepper (1616-1654) wrote of it: "The roots of male Peony, having been found by experience, cure the falling illness...The root is also effectual for women that are not sufficiently cleansed after child-birth." ...
Caution Contraindicated during pregnancy. Canadian regulations do not allow Paeonia officinalis as a non-medical ingredient for oral use products.