State/School

California License Exam, Pacific College Comps

Pharm Name

Moutan Cortex

Common Name

Tree Peony Root-Bark

Category

Clear Heat/Cool the Blood

Ingredients

Taste

Acrid, Bitter

Pao Zhi

Temperature

Slightly Cold

Action / Indication

1. Clears heat and cools the blood: for heat entering the blood level during a warm-heat pathogen disease with such symptoms as nosebleed, blood in the sputum or vomit, or subcutaneous bleeding. Also for frequent and profuse menstruation due to heat in the blood.
2. Clears fire from deficiency: for yin deficiency patterns such as steaming bone disorder, particularly in the aftermath of a warm-heat pathogen disease. These are often marked by fever at night with coolness in the morning. This herb is most appropriate when there is no sweating.
3. Invigorates the blood and dispels blood stasis: for Liver blood stasis patterns with amenorrhea, abdominal masses, lumps, or bruises due to traumatic injury.
4. Clears ascending Liver fire: for such symptoms as head ache, eye pain, flank pain, flushing, and dysmenorrhea.
5. Drains pus and reduces swelling: used topically for firm, non-draining sores, or internally for Intestinal abscess. 
   

Treatment Principles

Clears Heat and Cools Blood
Clears Deficiency Fire
Dispels Blood Stasis and Moves Blood
Clears Liver Fire Rising
Expels Pus and Shrinks Swelling

Contraindication

Cold conditions, pregnancy, excessive menstruation due to Spleen deficiency or cold.

Dosages

6-12g, 30g maximum. Use raw to cool the blood. Wine-fry to disperse blood stasis. Char to stop bleeding.

Meridians

LV, HT, KD

Tom's Comment

1. Mu Dan Pi is ideal for clearing heat without damaging the Yin. It is often times used to clear heat in Yin Deficiency for this reason.
2. Mu Dan Pi is commonly used with Sheng Di Huang to Cool Blood in a wide variety of Blood Heat conditions.

Source

Formula Type