Peony officinalis

Peony officinalis: history and application

Peony officinalis, also known as peasant rose or gout rose, is a perennial plant with rough stems and large double flowers that are wine red or whitish in color. It belongs to the Paeoniaceae family and is native to Southern Europe. Currently, it is grown in flower beds and used as an ornamental plant.

However, peony was previously a widely used medicine. It was used in the treatment of gout, epilepsy and intestinal diseases. Currently, peony is rarely used, and only as a component of some infusions for coloring.

The active ingredients of peony are red dye, flavonoids, tannin, peonin (found in flowers) and peregrenin (found in seeds).

Despite the fact that peony is rarely used in medicine, its use can be useful in some cases. For example, in folk medicine, peony is used to relieve pain and improve sleep. It may also be useful in treating nervous disorders such as anxiety and depression due to its calming properties.

However, it must be remembered that peony is poisonous and can cause toxic effects when consumed in large quantities. Therefore, when using peony as a medicine, you must be careful and consult a doctor.

In conclusion, peony is a plant with a rich history of medicinal use. Although its use is rare today, it may be useful in some cases and is an interesting research subject for medical research.