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Mu Dan Pi牡丹皮

Moutan Cortex · Moutan Root Bark · Tree Peony Bark

Herbs that Clear Heat 清热药《神农本草经》

Overview

The root bark of the tree peony, peeled, dried and sharply aromatic when broken. Bitter, acrid and slightly cold, it cools the blood without congealing it — it clears heat that has reached the blood level and moves the blood at the same time, which is why it turns up in formulas as different as Liu Wei Di Huang Wan and Da Huang Mu Dan Tang. It has a further, more particular ability to draw out heat lodged in the yin level, the kind that produces an evening fever with no sweat. Dry-frying blunts the cold for a weak stomach; wine-frying pushes it further toward moving blood.

Nature & Flavor

Bitter, sweet · Slightly cold

Channels

Heart · Liver · Kidney

Typical Dosage

6–12 g in decoction
牡丹皮Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

4 core actions

  • Clears heat, cools the bloodFever with rashes and maculae, nosebleed and coughing of blood where heat has entered the blood.
  • Invigorates blood, dispels stasisAbsent or painful periods, palpable abdominal masses, traumatic injury, and the fixed lower abdominal pain of intestinal abscess.
  • Clears heat lodged in the yin levelFever in the late afternoon or at night with no sweating — heat that lingers after a febrile illness rather than deficiency heat with sweating.
  • Processed formsDry-fried is gentler on a cold stomach and preferred when bleeding is the main concern; wine-fried is chosen when stasis is.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Mu Dan Pi

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Blood-level heat with rash, nosebleed or coughing of blood
    - Amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, fixed abdominal masses, traumatic injury
    - Fever at night or in the late afternoon without sweating
    - Fixed lower abdominal pain in the classical intestinal-abscess formulas

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

DysmenorrheaSkin rashNosebleedLow-grade feverAppendicitis

Contraindications

Cautions

Cold and blood-moving: not for cold-deficiency patterns, for heavy menstrual bleeding, or for profuse sweating from deficiency. Anyone taking warfarin or another anticoagulant should tell the prescribing doctor before using it.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Avoid in pregnancy — it moves blood and can stir the uterus.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing《神农本草经》(classical source, public domain).
    2. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
    3. 《中华人民共和国药典》.

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.