Peony - shyness and beauty - the Chinese name for peony is ‘sho yu’ - meaning most beautiful. In folklore the peony was linked to the moon, it was believed to have been created by the moon goddess to reflect the moon’s beams during the night. During the Middle Ages ‘lunatics’ were covered with peony leaves and petals in order to cure them. It is considered unlucky to uproot the plant, and the seeds and dried root used to be worn as a protective amulet against evil spirits. The peony, named after the Greek god of healing, was also used extensively in medicine. Pliny wrote:
About an infants neck hang peonie,
It cures Alcydes cruell maladie.
This plant also prevents the mocking delusions the fauns bring on us in our sleep 
It was believed that by keeping peony seeds under your pillow you could avoid nightmares.