Tao Ren
Prunus persica
Synonyms: Persica vulgaris var. albaplena, Prunus persica f. magnifica, Persica vulgaris var. pendula, Persica vulgaris var. sympyrena, Persica vulgaris densa, Prunus persica var. uninensis, Amygdalus persica subsp. scleronucipersica, Amygdalus persica f. stellata, Persica domestica, Amygdalus laevis, Persica vulgaris var. lanuginosa, Amygdalus persica var. duracina, Prunus persica subsp. platycarpa, Prunus persica f. camelliiflora, Amygdalus persica var. albaplena, Prunus persica f. pendula, Persica vulgaris var. autumnalis, Persica vulgaris var. fulva, Persica vulgaris var. nana, Persica vulgaris f. dianthiflora, Prunus persica f. nectarina, Prunus persica f. rubroplena, Persica vulgaris var. sanguinolenta, Amygdalus persica var. scleropersica, Amygdalus persica, Persica vulgaris var. alba, Prunus persica var. magnifica, Persica vulgaris f. nuda, Persica vulgaris var. cydonia, Persica vulgaris, Persica vulgaris var. leucocarpa, Persica vulgaris var. praecox, Amygdalus persica var. sinensis, Persica vulgaris f. camelliiflora, Amygdalus persica var. aganonucipersica, Amygdalus persica plena, Persica vulgaris var. tomentosa, Prunus persica var. compressa, Amygdalus persica camelliiflora, Persica vulgaris var. scleropersica, Amygdalus persica f. versicolor, Prunus persica f. albescens, Amygdalus persica subsp. nucipersica, Persica vulgaris subsp. nectarina, Persica vulgaris var. gibbosa, Persica platycarpa, Prunus persica f. sanguinea, Prunus persica subsp. domestica, Prunus persica var. nectarina, Prunus persica var. lasiocalyx, Persica vulgaris scleropersica, Prunus persica f. glabra, Persica vulgaris var. aganopersica, Prunus daemonifuga, Persica vulgaris leucocarpa, Persica vulgaris var. odorata, Amygdalus persica scleropersica, Prunus persica var. pleiocarpa, Persica vulgaris f. pyramidalis, Prunus persica var. commixta, Persica laevis, Amygdalus nucipersica, Persica vulgaris var. diapyrena, Amygdalus persica scleronucipersica, Prunus persica subsp. floriplena, Persica vulgaris var. rosiflora, Prunus persica f. duplex, Amygdalus persica var. multiplex, Prunus persica f. scleronucipersica, Prunus persica f. alba, Amygdalus persica var. nectarina, Prunus persica f. versicolor, Prunus persica f. uninensis, Prunus persica subsp. ferganensis, Persica vulgaris var. campanuliflora, Amygdalus ferganensis, Persica vulgaris ovalis, Prunus persica f. caryophyllodes, Amygdalus persica alba, Persica vulgaris var. loiseleurii, Prunus persica f. compressa, Persica vulgaris var. pyramidalis, Persica vulgaris var. bipartita, Persica vulgaris f. albaplena, Persica mammillata, Prunus persica f. scleropersica, Persica vulgaris var. nucipersica, Prunus persica f. praematura, Prunus persica subsp. laevis, Prunus persica f. albaplena, Persica levis acidula, Persica vulgaris var. dianthiflora, Amygdalus persica duracina, Persica vulgaris var. caucasica, Persica vulgaris var. ovata, Prunus persica f. coccineoplena, Amygdalus persica var. roseoplena, Persica vulgaris f. versicolor, Persica vulgaris f. magnifica, Prunus persica f. stellata, Prunus persica f. dasycarpa, Persica vulgaris var. apiana, Persica vulgaris var. rotundata, Persica vulgaris var. mammosa, Prunus persica f. pyramidalis, Prunus persica subsp. vulgaris, Amygdalus persica ispahamensis, Persica vulgaris var. intermedia, Prunus persica f. pubescens, Persica vulgaris subsp. erythrocarpa, Persica levis, Persica vulgaris f. alba, Persica vulgaris var. densa, Prunus persica var. vulgaris, Persica vulgaris laevis, Persica vulgaris var. carnea, Amygdalus persica var. aganopersica, Persica vulgaris var. violacea, Amygdalus persica var. rubroplena, Prunus persica var. laevis, Prunus persica var. subspontanea, Persica vulgaris var. nectarina, Persica vulgaris versicolor, Prunus persica var. aposarca, Persica ferganensis, Persica vulgaris f. duplex, Persica vulgaris var. ruberrima, Persica vulgaris var. minuta, Persica vulgaris albida, Prunus persica f. aganopersica, Prunus ferganensis, Persica vulgaris var. tristis, Amygdalus persica var. laevis, Persica vulgaris isolata, Prunus persica subsp. nucipersica, Prunus persica f. pumila, Persica chinensis var. radiata, Persica vulgaris secedens, Persica vulgaris var. camelliiflora, Amygdalus persica dianthiflora, Persica vulgaris f. pendula, Amygdalus persica var. scleronucipersica, Persica vulgaris subsp. laevis, Amygdalus persica rosiflora, Prunus persica var. pendula, Persica vulgaris var. xanthocarpa, Prunus persica var. platycarpa, Prunus persica f. nuda, Persica pendula, Persica vulgaris var. magnifica, Persica vulgaris subsp. atropurpurea, Amygdalus persica nuda, Persica vulgaris var. sanguinea, Persica vulgaris flavorubens, Persica vulgaris moschata, Amygdalus persica var. foliis-atropurpureis, Persica vulgaris var. jucunda, Amygdalus persica subsp. aganonucipersica, Prunus persica var. densa, Persica vulgaris var. atropurpurea, Prunus persica var. longistyla, Persica vulgaris succosa, Amygdalus persica var. stellata, Persica levis aurantia, Prunus persica var. xanthocarpa, Persica nucipersica, Amygdalus persica var. duplex, Amygdalus persica var. compressa, Prunus persica f. aganonucipersica, Amygdalus persica f. roseaplena, Prunus persica f. atropurpurea, Persica vulgaris xanthocarpa, Prunus persica f. nudicarpa, Amygdalus persica f. pendula, Persica vulgaris var. duplex, Persica vulgaris duracina, Persica nana, Amygdalus communis var. persica, Amygdalus persica persicaduplex, Persica chinensis, Persica vulgaris f. sanguinea, Persica vulgaris var. muscata, Persica vulgaris f. atropurpurea, Persica vulgaris var. foliis-rubris, Prunus persica f. mollis, Amygdalus persica foliis-rubris, Prunus persica var. pyramidalis, Persica vulgaris var. laevis, Prunus persica f. dianthiflora, Amygdalus persica var. nucipersica, Persica vulgaris var. haematocarpa, Prunus persica var. nucipersica, Persica vulgaris var. compressa
☯ TCM Properties
Breaks up Blood Stasis and invigorates Blood circulation; Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels; Drains abscesses
Western Herbalism Properties
Used In Formulas (46)
Showing 1 of 46.
Gallery
Botanical Description
Prunus persica is a deciduous tree reaching 3-8 m tall. Bark is reddish-brown to dark gray. Leaves are narrowly lanceolate, 7-15 cm long, with finely serrated margins and glands at the base. Flowers are pink to red, appearing before the leaves in early spring. The fruit is a large, round to oval drupe (peach) 4-8 cm in diameter with sweet, juicy, yellow or white flesh and velvety skin. The hard stone contains a single seed (kernel, Tao Ren) that is flat, oval, and pointed at one end.
Cultivated in orchards and gardens worldwide; native to northwestern China, widely grown throughout temperate and subtropical regions for its fruit.
Prunus persica is primarily known as a cultivated fruit tree. It is widely grown throughout temperate regions. Native wild populations in China are less well-defined. No conservation concerns for the cultivated form.
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional Chinese Uses
Tao Ren (peach kernel) is a neutral, Blood-moving herb considered one of the most important herbs for breaking Blood stasis in Chinese medicine. It activates Blood circulation, disperses accumulations, and moistens the Intestines — making it useful for menstrual irregularities, amenorrhea, fixed abdominal pain from stasis, traumatic injuries, and constipation from intestinal dryness. It is a key ingredient in many classical formulas for gynecological Blood stagnation conditions.
Chemistry & External Identifiers
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.