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(Suoyao, "Suoy" sounds like "Biao", also sounds like "Shao". Listed in the Middle Category of *Shennong Bencao Jing*.)

[Names] Jiangli (from *Bencao Gangmu*), Lishi (from *Mingyi Bielu*), Baizhu (from *Mingyi Bielu*), Yurong (from *Mingyi Bielu*), Ting (from *Mingyi Bielu*). The white variety is named Jin Suoyao (Golden Peony Root) (from *Bencao Tujing*).
Li Shizhen says: Suoyao implies "Yue" (restraint/beauty). Yue means beautiful. This herb's floral appearance is elegant. *Ya Yi* states: To counteract food toxicity, nothing is better than Suoyao, hence its name as a medicinal herb, which is also plausible. The poem in *Zheng Feng* says: "They joked with each other, gifting Suoyao." *Han Shi Waizhuan* states: Suoyao is the grass of parting. Dong Zhongshu says: Suoyao is also called Jiangli, hence it is gifted upon parting. The folk call the multi-petaled flower variety "Small Peony"; the red one is called Mu Suoyao (Wood Peony), sharing the same name as Mudan (Tree Peony).

[Collection and Explanation] *Mingyi Bielu* states: Suoyao grows in the valleys and hills of Central Yue. The roots are harvested in February and August and sun-dried.
Tao Hongjing says: Those from Baishan, Jiangshan, and Maoshan are currently considered the best, white and about one chi long. Other places produce them but mostly red; the red ones have slightly lesser efficacy.
Su Song says: They are now found everywhere, with those from Huainan being superior. In spring, red shoots emerge in clumps; the stems have three branches and five leaves, resembling Mudan but narrower and longer, growing one to two chi high. Flowers bloom in early summer, in red, white, and purple varieties, producing seeds similar to but smaller than Mudan seeds. Roots are harvested in autumn. Cui Bao's *Gujin Zhu* states: There are two types of Suoyao: Cao Suoyao (Herbaceous Peony) and Mu Suoyao (Tree Peony). The woody type has large, deep-colored flowers; the folk mistakenly call this Mudan, which is incorrect. *An Qisheng Fuliian Fa* states: There is Jin Suoyao, white with fleshy pith; and Mu Suoyao, purple, thin, and veiny.
Kou Zongshi says: *Shennong Bencao Jing* records Suoyao growing in hills. Nowadays, people mostly use cultivated varieties. To make flowers and leaves large and fat, manure must be added. Every year in August or September, roots are taken, divided, and sliced for medicinal use. Zhenyang in Huainan produces the most now; although the roots are large and fat, their fragrance is poor, resulting in less efficacy when used medicinally.
Li Shizhen says: Ancients said Luoyang Mudan and Yangzhou Suoyao were the best under heaven. Medicinal Suoyao is now often sourced from Yangzhou. Buds emerge in October, grow until spring, and flower in March. There are over thirty varieties, differing in having double petals, single petals, or layered structures. For medicinal use, the roots of single-petal varieties are preferred, as they possess complete and strong aroma and flavor. The root color (red or white) follows the flower color.

Root

[Processing] Lei Xiao says: Upon harvesting, scrape off the skin and soil from the head using a bamboo knife, mince finely, mix with honey water, steam from Si hour to Wei hour, then sun-dry for use.
Li Shizhen says: Nowadays, people mostly use it raw. Only when avoiding middle-jiao cold is it stir-fried with wine; when entering female blood-formulas, it is stir-fried with vinegar.

[Favor and Toxicity] Bitter, neutral, non-toxic. *Mingyi Bielu* states: Sour, slightly cold, slightly toxic. Lei Gong says: Shenneng considers it bitter; Tongjun considers it sweet and non-toxic; Qibo considers it salty; Lei Gong considers it sour. Li Dangzhi considers it slightly cold.
Zhang Yuansu says: Nature is cold, flavor is sour, qi is strong while flavor is thin, ascending and slightly descending, belonging to Yin within Yang.
Wang Haogu says: Bai Shao Yao (White Peony Root) is sour, neutral, slightly toxic, capable of ascending and descending, belonging to Yin.
Li Gao says: Flavor is sour and bitter, qi is thin while flavor is strong, belonging to Yin, directing downward, serving as a guiding herb for the Hand and Foot Taiyin meridians, entering the Liver and Spleen blood levels.
Xu Zhicai says: Xuwan is its guiding herb; it dislikes Shihu and Mangxiao; it fears Xiaoshi, Biejia, and Xiaoji; it is inversely compatible with Lilu.
Meng Yuxi says: In another edition, "Xuwan" is written as "Leiluan". Li Shizhen says: Combined with Baizhu, it tonifies the Spleen; combined with Xiongqiong, it drains the Liver; combined with Renshen, it tonifies Qi; combined with Danggui, it tonifies Blood; stir-fried with wine, it tonifies Yin; combined with Gancao, it stops abdominal pain; combined with Huanglian...

[Indications] Abdominal pain caused by pathogenic factors, removing Blood Bi (Blood Stasis obstruction), breaking firm accumulations, treating Han Re Shan Jia (Cold-Heat Hernia masses), stopping pain, promoting urination, tonifying Qi (*Shennong Bencao Jing*). Unblocking and smoothing blood vessels, moderating tension, dispersing evil blood, driving out thief blood, removing Water Qi, benefiting the bladder and large/small intestines, reducing carbuncles and swellings, treating epidemic cold-heat, abdominal and lower back pain from Zhong E (Poisoning by Evil Qi) (*Mingyi Bielu*). Treating stagnation of Qi in Zang-Fu organs, strengthening the Five Viscera, tonifying Kidney Qi, treating bone heat from epidemic diseases, uterine blood closure and blockage in women, able to erode pus (Zhen Quan). Treating all diseases in women, various disorders before and after childbirth, treating Wind and tonifying exhaustion, reducing fever and removing irritability, treating Back Carbuncle and Scabies (Da Ming). Draining the Liver, calming the Spleen and Lungs, gathering Stomach Qi, stopping diarrhea and dysentery, consolidating Cou Li (skin and pores), harmonizing blood vessels, gathering Yin Qi, restraining rebellious Qi (Zhang Yuansu). Regulating Middle Qi, treating Spleen deficiency with fullness in the middle, epigastric stuffiness, hypochondriac pain, frequent belching, lung urgency with distension, rebellion, wheezing, and coughing, Taiyang Biu Nu (nosebleed) and dry eyes, Liver Blood deficiency, Yangwei disease suffering from cold and heat, Daimai disease suffering from abdominal fullness and pain, waist feeling loose as if sitting in water (Li Gao). Stopping dysentery with abdominal pain and tenesmus (Li Shizhen).

[Elucidation] Su Song says: Red ones benefit urination and direct Qi downward; white ones stop pain and disperse blood.
Ma Zhi says: Red ones tonify Qi, white ones tonify Blood.
Tao Hongjing says: Red ones have slight benefits; common formulas use them for pain relief, not inferior to Danggui. White ones are also consumed by Daoists and used in stone-boiling practices.
Cheng Wuji says: White tonifies, Red drains; White gathers, Red disperses. Sour gathers, Sweet moderates; thus, combining Sour and Sweet is used to tonify Yin Blood. It gathers rebellious Qi and removes Lung dryness. He also states: The sourness of Suoyao gathers fluids and benefits Ying Blood, gathers Yin Qi, and drains pathogenic Heat.
Zhang Yuansu says: White tonifies, Red disperses; drains Liver, tonifies Spleen and Stomach. Wine-soaked to move meridians, stops mid-abdominal pain; used with Ginger, warms meridians, disperses dampness, unblocks obstructions, benefits abdominal pain, and unblocks Stomach Qi. Bai Shao enters the Spleen meridian to tonify the Middle Jiao, making it an essential herb for diarrhea. Generally, diarrhea involves Taiyin disease, so this herb cannot be omitted. With Zhi Gancao as an assistant, it treats abdominal pain; adding Huangqin in small amounts during summer, or adding Guizhi for aversion to cold, constitutes Zhang Zhongjing's divine formula. Its uses are sixfold: calming the Spleen meridian, one; treating abdominal pain, two; gathering Stomach Qi, three; stopping dysentery, four; harmonizing blood vessels, five; consolidating Cou Li, six.
Cheng Cong says: Single-petal red-flowered Suoyao is best, but it is contraindicated for those with Blood deficiency and Cold. The ancients said: Reduce Suoyao to avoid Middle Cold. This should indeed not be ignored.
Zhu Zhenheng says: Suoyao drains Spleen Fire; its nature and flavor are sour and cold. In winter, it must be stir-fried with wine. Most abdominal pains are due to coagulation and stagnation of blood vessels, requiring wine-stir-frying. However, it only treats Blood deficiency abdominal pain; it does not treat others. Because its sour and cold nature gathers and restricts, lacking warming and dispersing functions. For dysentery with abdominal pain, it must be stir-fried; for tenesmus, do not stir-fry. It is contraindicated postpartum because its sour and cold nature attacks the generating Qi. If absolutely necessary, use wine-stir-fried.
Li Shizhen says: Bai Shao Yao benefits the Spleen, draining Wood within Earth. Chi Shao Yao disperses pathogens, moving stasis in the blood. *Rihua Zi* stated: Red tonifies Qi, White treats Blood, which was imprecise. Postpartum, Liver Blood is already deficient; further draining is forbidden, hence the contraindication. There are many sour and cold herbs; why single out Suoyao? Based on this...
Li Gao says: Some say ancients viewed sour and astringent as gathering; why does *Shennong Bencao Jing* mention benefiting urination? Answer: Suoyao benefits Yin, moistens dampness, and retains fluids, so urination occurs naturally, not through diuresis. Question: What does "moderate the middle" mean? Answer: When the Liver is damaged, moderate the middle, which is regulating blood; hence, Siwu Tang uses Shao Yao. Generally, sour and astringent herbs are agents for gathering and retaining dampness, thus governing the gathering nature of the Hand and Foot Taiyin meridians, and can treat the Blood Sea entering below the Nine Earths, finally reaching the Jueyin meridian. White belongs to the West, hence tonifying; Red belongs to the South, hence draining.

[Attached Formulas] Six old formulas, ten new formulas.
Administration Method: Su Song says: An Qisheng's method for preparing Suoyao states: There are two types: Jin Suoyao for curing illness, white with fleshy pith; Mu Suoyao, purple, thin, and veiny. Selection must be careful to avoid error. Upon harvesting, wash clean and peel, boil in flowing eastward water for one hundred boils, dry in shade. Let stand for three days, then steam in a wooden steamer, cover with clean yellow earth, cook thoroughly for one day and night, take out and dry in shade, grind into powder. Take three qianbi with wheat drink or wine, three times daily. After taking for three hundred days, one can climb mountains and fast without hunger (*Bencao Tujing*).
Abdominal Deficiency Pain: Bai Shao Yao 3 qian, Zhi Gancao 1 qian. In summer, add Huangqin 0.5 qian; for aversion to cold, add Rougui 1 qian; in severe winter cold, add another 1 qian of Gui. Two zhan of water, decoct to half, take warm (*Jieguo Yaoyong Faxiang*). Wind-Toxic Bone Pain in Marrow: Shao Yao 2 fen, Hugu 1 liang (roasted), grind to powder, place in silk bag, soak in three sheng of wine for five days. Take three he per dose, three times daily (*Jingyan Houfang*).
Gout Swelling and Pain: Bai Shao Yao 6 liang, Gancao 1 liang. Grind to powder, take with hot water (*Shilin Guangji*).
Xiaoke (Wasting-Thirst) with Thirst: Bai Shao Yao and Gancao in equal parts. Grind to powder. Take 1 qian, decoct in water, three times daily. Xin of Ezhu suffered from this for nine years; medicine stopped symptoms but they recurred. Su Pu taught this formula; cured in seven days (*Chen Rihua Jingyan Fang*). Ancient prescriptions are hard to understand; do not ignore them because they seem simple.
Five Lin Dysuria: Chi Shao Yao 1 liang, Binglang 1 piece (wrapped in flour and roasted). Grind to powder. Take 1 qian, decoct in one zhan of water to 0.7 portion, take on empty stomach (*Boji Fang*).
Unstopping Nosebleed: Chi Shao Yao ground to powder, take 2 qianbi with water (*Shilin Guangji*).
Nosebleed and Hemoptysis: Bai Shao Yao 1 liang, Xijiao powder 2.5 qian. Grind to powder. Take 1 qianbi with fresh water, limit until bleeding stops (*Gujin Luyan*).
Decoct to 6 he, add 5 he of wine, decoct again to 7 he, divide into two doses on empty stomach. Can also be ground to powder, take 2 qian with wine (*Shenghui Fang*).
Unstopping Menstruation: Bai Shao Yao, Xiangfu, Shu Aiyè each 1.5 qian. Decoct in water and take (*Xiongshi Buyi*).
Metrorrhagia and Leukorrhea: Chi Shao Yao and Xiangfu in equal parts. Grind to powder. Take 2 qian, pinch of salt, one zhan of water, decoct to 0.7 portion, take warm, twice daily. Effective after ten doses, named Rushen San (*Liangfang*). For chronic red and white leukorrhea not healing for years: Take Bai Shao Yao 3 liang and Ganjiang 0.5 liang. Cut and roast until yellow, grind to powder. Take 2 qianbi with water on empty stomach, twice daily. *Guangji Fang*: Just roast Shao Yao until black, grind to powder, take with wine (*Zhenyuan Guangli Fang*).
Metal Wound Bleeding: Bai Shao Yao 1 liang. Roast until yellow, grind to powder. Take 2 qian with wine or rice drink, increase gradually. Also apply powder directly to wound to stop bleeding, highly effective (*Guangli Fang*).
Smallpox Swelling and Pain: Bai Shao Yao ground to powder, take 0.5 qianbi with wine (*Douzhen Fang*). Wooden Tongue swelling filling the mouth, fatal. Hong Shao Yao and Gancao decocted in water for hot rinsing (*Shengji Zonglu*).
Fish Bone Stuck in Throat: Chew Bai Shao Yao finely and swallow juice (*Shilin Guangji*).