Peony is a plant. The root and, less commonly, the flower and seed are used to make medicine. Peony is sometimes called red peony and white peony. This refers to the color of the processed root, not the color of the flowers.
Peony is used for menstrual cramps, a hormonal disorder that causes enlarged ovaries with cysts (polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS), autoimmune disorders, healing cracked skin, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
- Aging skin. Login for details
- Diabetic nephropathy. Login for details
- Hyperprolactinemia. Login for details
- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Login for details
- Muscle cramps. Login for details
- Pancreatitis. Login for details
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Login for details
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Peony might block chemicals produced by the body that can cause pain and inflammation. It may also prevent blood clotting, kill cancer cells, and act as an antioxidant.
When taken by mouth: Peony is POSSIBLY SAFE when used by mouth in appropriate amounts, short-term. Peony has been used safely for up to 6 months in adults. It can cause stomach upset in some people. There isn't enough reliable information to know if peony is safe or what the side effects might be when taken by mouth, long-term.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if peony is safe. It can cause rash in some people.
When given as an enema (rectally): Peony is POSSIBLY SAFE when administered by a healthcare professional twice daily for up to 7 days. There isn't enough reliable information to know if peony is safe or what the side effects might be when used for longer than 7 days.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Peony is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken by mouth during pregnancy. Some developing research suggests that peony can cause uterine contractions. However, other research suggests a combination of peony and angelica might be safe. Until more is known, don't use peony if you are pregnant. Also avoid peony if you are breast-feeding. Not enough is known about the safety of using peony while breast-feeding.Children: Peony is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth in children for up to 12 months.
Bleeding disorders: Because peony might slow blood clotting, there is a concern that it might increase the risk of bleeding in people with bleeding disorders. Don't use it if you have a bleeding disorder.
Hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids: Peony extract might act like estrogen. If you have any condition that might be made worse by exposure to estrogen, don't use peony.
Surgery: Peony might slow blood clotting, so there is a concern that it could increase the chance of bleeding during and after surgery. Stop using peony at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Peony might slow blood clotting. Taking peony along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.
Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others.
Phenytoin (Dilantin)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Peony root might decrease the amount of phenytoin in the body. Taking peony root along with phenytoin (Dilantin) might decrease the effectiveness of phenytoin (Dilantin) and increase the risk of seizures.
Herbs and supplements that might slow blood clotting: Peony might slow blood clotting. There is a concern that using peony along with other herbs and supplements that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding in some people. Some of these herbs are angelica, clove, danshen, garlic, ginger, garlic, ginkgo, Panax ginseng, and others.
Herbs that might act like estrogen: Peony might have some of the same effects as estrogen. Using peony along with other herbs that also have some of the effects of estrogen might increase the estrogen-like effects and side effects of these other herbs. These herbs include alfalfa, black cohosh, chasteberry, flaxseed, hops, ipriflavone, kudzu, licorice, red clover, and soy.
There are no known interactions with foods.
The appropriate dose of peony depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for peony. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
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