Paeonia officinalis

The homeopathic remedy paeonia is prepared from Paeonia officinalis the sole genus belonging to the Paeonaceae family. It may be noted that in China, peony is a conventional floral emblem, and it has been declared as the State flower of Indiana since 1957. Majority of the peony species are known to be herbaceous, growing perennially up to a height of 0.5 meter to 1.5 meters. However, some species are also found to be woody shrubs that usually grow taller up to a height of 1.5 meters to 3 meters. These plants bear compound leaves that are profoundly lobed and big, mostly fragrant flowers whose color ranges from white to red. Plants belonging to the Paeonaceae family are in blossom during the later part of spring and also during early summer. In earlier days, peonies were generally categorized in the Ranunculaceae family along with Anemones and Hellebores. However, recently the taxonomic system confirms that Paeonaceae belong to the Saxifragales family of plants. While this herb is known to possess a number of therapeutic properties, even the homeopathic remedy paeonia prepared from it is familiar for its effectiveness in treating problems related to veins, especially congested and varicose veins. One of the major problem areas related to veins is in the anus. Hemorrhoids (distended and twisted veins in the anus and lower rectum region) are extremely excruciating, congested and inflamed as well as cause profuse bleeding. Such inflammation may aggravate further and be accompanied by ulcers and fissures. In fact, the ulcers may appear as bed sores as well as ulceration in the legs. Taking the homeopathic remedy paeonia not only helps to cure the condition, but also provide relief from the associated symptoms. As mentioned earlier, the homeopathic remedy paeonia is primarily used for treating problems related to the anus and rectum, for instance hemorrhoids and fissures. However, some practitioners of homeopathy also prescribe paeonia for people suffering from frightening nightmares, especially those associated to ghosts or spirits. In addition, this homeopathic medication is also used to treat conditions like severe, smouldering pain in the anus while and after passing stools. The pain is followed by a feeling of intense coldness. The condition of such people worsen during night time and the patients feel better when they are walking, lying down for hours together with their bottoms spaced out widely or by rolling on the floor. According to the 17th century English botanist, herbalist and physician Nicholas Culpeper, hanging the root of Paeonia officinalis or Paeonia europea around the necks of children was effectual in avoiding epilepsy. On the other hand, several herbalists used the root as well as the petals of this herb to cure convulsions. Many practitioners of homeopathic medicine also prescribe paeonia to people enduring itching. In the Chinese traditional medicine, two separate, but related species of paeonia are used to treat headaches, vascular problems as well as stomach aches and painful menstruation. The herb has derived its name from the physician to the Greek gods, Paeon, and its formulations have been used for medicinal purposes since the ancient time to treat problems of the kidney and gallbladder. Long back it was advised that peony ought to be collected only during the night and that too using a string attached to a dog. However, the English herbalist John Gerard rejected this view as being very illogical and wrong rituals and emphasized that these actually were useless and of little or no importance at all. This herb is indigenous to the southern regions of Europe, but was gradually introduced to new regions and today it is widely distributed across the globe. Peony is basically a perennial plant having a big knotted or twisted rootstock giving rise to long stems that bear compound, deeply lobed leaves in spring. The plant also produces big flowers that are not only attractive, but also possess as many as eight crumbled petals. When the flowers open, they have a vivid red color which soon fades to pink.

Uses

Since long, people have been using the herb Paeonia officinalis for various medicinal purposes. Owing to the antimicrobial and sedative properties the herb was primarily given to women after childbirth. Even today many herbalists use paeonia to lower blood pressure, inflammation and swelling. Primarily, the homeopathic remedy paeonia, which is prepared from this herb, is used to cure hemorrhoids accompanied by severe itching that result in the swelling of the anus to some extent. In such cases, patients may also suffer from anal fissures, which are also cured effectively using paeonia. The homeopathic remedy paeonia is most suitable for people who have been suffering from an anal fissure that exudes discharges from the anus. In effect, this medication is known to be most useful in cases when the anus is very clammy and the patient experiences a burning sensation that generally happens while passing stool. Such burning sensation in the anus continues for some time even after the patient has passed stool or the bowel movement is complete. In some instances, the pain and burning sensation may sustain even for several hours together, frustrating the patients who are unable to sit comfortably. As in the case of herbal medication, in homeopathy too paeonia is prescribed to cure problems related to sleep. It is effective for treating sleep disorders like insomnia caused by digestive problems, feeling sleepy during the afternoons and even nightmares, especially those associated with ghosts or phantoms.