Moutan Root Bark

목단피 (牡丹) · Paeonia × suffruticosa Andrews

Heat-clearing, blood-cooling herb Slightly cold Pungent, bitter Heart, Liver, Kidney

NatureSlightly cold

TastePungent, bitter

MeridiansHeart, Liver, Kidney

Part usedRoot bark

FamilyPaeoniaceae

CategoryHeat-clearing, blood-cooling herb

Find by concern: Absent periods Boils

Overview

Moutan is peony's tree-form relative — the source of the root bark used in medicine rather than the flower prized in gardens. The Donguibogam specifies that only the single-petaled variety should be gathered for medicine, and its root bark remains a core ingredient in classical formulas for stagnant blood and low-grade heat.

In the Donguibogam

東醫
寶鑑

性微寒, 味辛苦, 無毒. 除癥堅瘀血. 治女子經脉不通, 血瀝腰痛, 落胎, 下胞衣. 産後一切血氣, 療癰瘡, 排膿, 消撲損瘀血.

Source: Donguibogam, Tangaek-pyeon (Herbology volume)

TranslationIts nature is slightly cold, its taste pungent and bitter, and it is non-toxic. It removes hardened masses and stagnant blood. It treats women's blocked menstrual flow, dripping blood with low-back pain, induces miscarriage of a non-viable pregnancy, and expels the placenta. It treats all manner of postpartum blood-qi conditions, heals sores and abscesses, expels pus, and resolves bruising from injury.

Traditional functions

Cools the blood
Moves stagnant blood
Resolves hardened masses
Clears deficiency-heat

Traditional applications

Amenorrhea or irregular menstruation
Postpartum blood stagnation
Sores and abscesses with pus
Bruising from trauma

Traditional preparation

Decoction 4–12g; wine-prepared preparations noted in the classics as tonifying, versus the raw root skin as more moving.

Cautions

Caution: Cold and blood-moving; not suited to pregnancy or heavy menstrual bleeding without professional guidance. Consult a professional.

Frequently asked questions

Is moutan the same as the ornamental peony flower?

It's related but the medicine comes from a different part: moutan (牡丹) is the root bark of the tree peony, distinct from the garden flower it's best known for, and the Donguibogam specifies only single-petaled plants for medicinal use.

What is moutan root bark's main traditional use?

Moving stagnant blood and clearing heat — the Donguibogam highlights amenorrhea, postpartum blood conditions, and resolving bruising and abscesses.

Sources

동의보감 탕액편 (원문) — 한문 원문 발췌 — 한의학고전DB 탕액편 대조 검증 완료 (DATA-001)
한의학고전DB (mediclassics.kr) — 국역 참조 후 자체 재서술 (LEGAL-001)

DonguiHub is an educational and informational platform about the history and tradition of Korean medicine. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional about health conditions and before using any herb.