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Tao Ren桃仁

Persicae Semen · Peach Kernel

Herbs that Invigorate the Blood 活血化瘀药《神农本草经》

Overview

The oily kernel inside the peach stone, bitter and sweet with a neutral temperature. It is one of the two herbs — with Hong Hua 红花 — that most formulas reach for first when blood has to be moved, and its oil gives it a second job: moistening a dry bowel. That combination makes it the standard choice where stasis and dry constipation appear together, as they often do postpartum. Dry-fried Tao Ren carries less oil and is gentler on the stool, so it is preferred when stasis must be moved without loosening the bowel. The kernel is crushed before decocting.

Nature & Flavor

Bitter, sweet · Neutral · Slightly toxic

Channels

Heart · Liver · Large Intestine

Typical Dosage

5–10 g in decoction
桃仁Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

3 core actions

  • Invigorates blood, dispels stasisAmenorrhea, clotted and painful periods, postpartum abdominal pain with retained lochia, fixed masses, and pain after injury. Paired with Hong Hua 红花 in most of the blood-moving formulas.
  • Moistens the intestines, moves the stoolDry, hard stool from blood deficiency and intestinal dryness in the elderly, postpartum or after a depleting illness.
  • Moistens the Lung, eases cough and wheezingA minor but real role: dry cough with wheezing where the Lung is short of moisture.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Tao Ren

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea with dark clots
    - Postpartum abdominal pain with retained lochia
    - Fixed abdominal masses and pain from blood stasis
    - Dry constipation in the elderly or postpartum
    - Traumatic injury with bruising and fixed pain

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

AmenorrheaDysmenorrheaConstipationContusionPostpartum pain

Contraindications

Cautions

This herb can cause allergic reactions. It is a stone-fruit kernel, so anyone who reacts to peach, apricot kernel, almond or other Rosaceae fruits and tree nuts may react to it — rash, itching, swelling of the lips or throat, or breathing difficulty. Stop it at once if that happens and get medical care for anything beyond a mild rash. The kernel also contains a cyanogenic compound, which is why the dose is capped: do not exceed the amount prescribed, do not extend a course on your own, and keep the raw kernels out of reach of children. It is contraindicated where there is bleeding or heavy menstrual flow, unsuitable for anyone already passing loose stools, and should be used with medical supervision alongside anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs such as warfarin or aspirin.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Contraindicated in pregnancy — it moves and breaks blood stasis, and is avoided from conception through delivery.

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.