Tao Ren

English Name: persica, peach seed

Pharmaceutical Name: Semen Persicae

Medica Category: Blood-Invigorating and Stasis-Removing Herbs

Properties: Tao Ren enters the Heart, Large Intestine, Liver, and Lung channels; it is bitter in nature and neutral in temperature.

What is Tao Ren?:

The Chinese Herb Tao Ren is the dried, peeled seed that comes from the fruit of the (wild) peach tree (Prunus persica). Peach (and nectarine) trees are thought to be native to Western China but have long since been distributed throughout the world. The fruit contains pits, which are cracked open to reveal the smaller seeds within. It is this inner seed that is peeled, sun-dried, and then crushed in preparation for use as medicine.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Therapeutic Actions of Tao Ren:

Tao Ren activates blood circulation and eliminates blood stasis and is commonly used to address amenorrhea, menstrual pain, and postpartum abdominal pain. Tao Ren also enters the channels and collaterals and in this regard addresses pain, bruising, and swelling from traumatic/sports injuries.

Tao Ren (dry-fried) moistens the intestines and relieves constipation and is commonly used to address constipation caused by dryness from chronic illness or by chronic yin or blood deficiency.

Tao Ren is used in formula to help drain lung and intestinal abscesses.

–safety notes:

Contraindicated during pregnancy

Contraindicated in cases of blood deficiency.

Use with caution for patients taking anticoagulants such as heparin, warfarin (Coumadin) and enoxaparin (Lovenox) or antiplatelet drugs such as aspirin, dipyridamole (Persantine) and clopidogrel (Plavix) as concurrent use may have an additive or synergistic effect.