What are the effects and functions of peony?

May and June every year are the seasons when peonies are in full bloom. People who grow peonies are busy picking flowers in addition to enjoying them. They select flowers with good growth, carefully cut them, dry them, and seal them in bottles so that they can be used whenever needed. Peony can not only be used to make tea, but also to cook porridge, make peony flower cakes and so on. In fact, in addition to being edible, peony can also be used as medicine.

Peony, also known as Bielicao and Prime Minister of Flowers, is a perennial herb belonging to the Pentacarales order, Paeoniaceae family, Paeonia genus, Paeoniaceae group. The tuberous roots grow from below the root neck, are fleshy, sturdy, spindle-shaped or long columnar, and are 0.6 to 3.5 cm thick. The petals of peony are obovate, the disk is shallow cup-shaped, and the flowering period is from May to June. The flowers are generally borne at the top of the stem or in the axils near the top of the leaves. The original species has white flowers and 5 to 13 petals. Horticultural varieties have rich colors, including white, pink, red, purple, yellow, green, black and complex colors. The flower diameter is 10 to 30 cm, and the number of petals can reach hundreds. The fruit is spindle-shaped and the seeds are round, oblong or pointed. Peony is praised as the "flower fairy" and "flower minister", and is listed as one of the "Top Ten Famous Flowers". It is also called the "May Flower God". Because it has been regarded as the flower of love since ancient times, it is now revered as the representative flower of the Chinese Valentine's Day. In addition, "Silly Xiangyun drunkenly sleeping on the peony grass" is hailed as one of the classic scenes in Dream of the Red Chamber.

The beauty effects and efficacy of peony flowers

Nourishes blood and softens liver, relieves depression and removes blood stasis, improves facial chloasma, rough and aging skin, relieves heat, nourishes blood and softens liver, strengthens the five internal organs, disperses bad blood, and regulates menstruation. It can treat freckles, chloasma and acne caused by endocrine disorders. Promote metabolism, improve body immunity, inhibit facial acne, and delay skin aging. Nourishes blood and softens the liver, making qi and blood abundant and the complexion rosy. It has the functions of clearing away heat and relieving summer heat, removing spots, clearing the heart and moistening the lungs, calming the liver and improving eyesight, and protecting the skin and beautifying the face. Drinking it regularly can replenish qi and blood, make your face rosy and your spirit full. It can regulate female endocrine, remove yellowness and spots, and make the face moisturized.

Peony Medicinal Diet

1. Peony flower porridge: 6 grams of peony flower, 50 grams of polished rice. Add water and cook porridge. When the porridge is almost cooked, add the washed peony petals. It can be eaten when the porridge is fully cooked. This porridge can promote blood circulation and nourish yin, and is suitable for patients with liver depression, flank pain, and abdominal pain during menstruation.

2. Peony flower tea: 3-5 grams of peony flowers, brew with boiling water, and can be added with rock sugar, honey or green tea. Drinking this tea regularly can regulate women's endocrine system, clear away heat and detoxify, remove spots and make the face moisturized.

3. Peony flower and rehmannia tea: 2 grams of peony flower, 3 grams of rehmannia, and 3 grams of green tea. Brew with boiling water and drink. This tea can nourish yin, clear away heat, soften and soothe the liver.

4. Peony wine: 180 grams of red peony root, 100 grams of raw earth, 50 grams of dog bones (roasted). Grind the three herbs into fine powder, put them in a clean bottle, soak them in 1 kg of wine for 7 days, and then you can drink it. Drink 15 ml on an empty stomach, three times a day, to treat joint pain, kidney deficiency, foot weakness, etc.