28. Paeonia emodi, Wall.

The medicinal plant Paeonia emodi is a member of the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family. This page includes its habitat, botanical descption, medicinal uses (eg., Ayurveda), chemical constituents and history of use in modern and ancient India.

Index in Flora of British India (Hooker): 1. 30.

Synonyms:—Paeonia officinalis, Hf. and T.

Vernacular:—Ud-salap (H.); Bbuma-madiya, yet ghas (Bhut.); Mamekh (Pb.); Chandra, (the plant); Sajumiya (the young edible shoot) N-W. P.

Habitat:—West Temperate Himalaya, from Kumaon to Hazara. 5,000 to 10,000. In the upper Tons valley.

Botanical description:—A glabrous perennial herb.

Stems: 1-2 ft., leafy, erect.

Leaves: alternate, 6-12 in. long; leaflets 3, usually 3-parted, segments lanceolate, pointed, entire.

Flowers: few, showy 3-4 in. across, long-stalked, usually solitary in the axils of the upper leaves.

Buds: globose.

Sepals: 5, orbicular, concave, green, persistent the outer ones ending in a leaf-like point.

Petals: 5 10, broadly ovate, concave, red or white.

Stamens: many.

Ovaries: 1-3, densely hairy, many-ovuled, seated on a fleshy disk; style short, broad, recurved.

Follicles: ovoid, 1 in.

Seeds: few, large, (Collett).

Dr. Dymock observes:—

“The tubers are of the female Paeony of Dioscorideś. It seems therefore that the male plant is distinct, and is called Paeonia corallina; the female is called Paeonia officinalis. (Vide Pharmaco. lnd. Vol. L, P. 17). The flowers are often pinkish.”

In the Botanical Maganize for July 1st, 1868 Dr. Hooker writes:—

“In the “Flora Indica” Dr. Thomson and I referred the Himalayan Peonies to forms of Paeonia officinalis,—a conclusion little acceptable to some botanists, and not at all to gardeners. On reviewing the subject a propos of the present plant, I see no reason to alter my opinion that, as compared with the species of many other genera, the Himalayan ones may well be referred to forms or varieties of the European; but as they differ greatly in habit, colour, and those qualities that render them worthy of cultivation, as well as in some other points of a little more moment. I here keep one at any rate distinct. This is the Paeonia emodi of Wallich, a common temperate Himalayan plant from Kumaon to Kashmir which is easily recognised by its slender habit, white, subpanicled flowers, and solitary tomentose carpel; in this respect alone, of a solitary tomentose carpel, it differs from Paeonia albiflova, Willd. of Siberia; and in the tomentose carpel alone from a Kashmir one-carpelled plant, hitherto not distinguished from this, and which, therefore, differs from Paeonia albiflova in the solitary carpel alone.”

“* * Dr. More F.L.S. says of it that it is the most distinct of all the herbaceous Peonies, several of the flowers expanding together on the same stem, and being always monogynous. It is more tender than any other herbaceous species, and appears above ground a month earlier than these do,”

Parts used:—The tubers; flowers; seeds and root.

Medicinal uses:—The tubers of this plant are highly esteemed as a medicine for uterine diseases, colic, bilious obstructions, dropsy, epilepsy, convulsions and hysteria. Ud-salap is generally given to children as a blood-purifier. It was a common belief in ancient times, and it is so even now among the peasantry of Europe, that paeony root, if worn by children round their necks, has the power of preventing epileptic attacks. If taken in full doses (60 grains), the drug produces headache, noise in the ears, confused vision and vomiting. (Dymock.) The infusion of the dried flowers is highly valued as a remedy for diarrhoea. Seeds are emetic and cathartic. (Watt.),

According to Dr. Bellew, the root is in Booner, given to cattle to render them prolific; and in combination with other drugs, as the bruised leaves of Melia. is a favourite remedy for bruises, sprains, etc.