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Dan Shen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) is first recorded in the earliest existing pharmacological classic in China, the “Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing”. Due to its safety and effectiveness, it is classified as a top-grade herb, with a usage history of over 2000 years, making it one of the oldest medicinal materials.
Dan Shen is a perennial herb belonging to the Lamiaceae family, with an erect stem, four-angled shape, and pinnate compound leaves with serrated edges. Its flowers are purple-blue, and its root has a purplish-red outer skin with a purple interior. Ancient people believed that its root skin was red while the flesh was purple, resembling ginseng, hence it was named “Dan Shen”.
“A single herb, Dan Shen, has the same effect as the Si Wu Tang (Four Substance Decoction),” ancient physicians stated in the “Fu Ren Ming Li Lun”. Dan Shen, as a single ingredient formula, has the ability to invigorate blood circulation, regulate menstruation, and remove stasis, achieving the effects of the foundational gynecological formula—Si Wu Tang. This is the best summary of Dan Shen’s efficacy by ancient practitioners.
Dan Shen is bitter and slightly cold, entering the Heart and Liver meridians. It has the effects of activating blood circulation, removing stasis, alleviating pain, clearing the heart, relieving irritability, and cooling the blood to eliminate abscesses. It can treat conditions such as chest obstruction and heart pain, irritability and insomnia, irregular menstruation, and painful sores. The medicinal parts of Dan Shen are the root and rhizome, with a typical dosage of 10-15g in decoctions.
Dan Shen is not only used to treat gynecological diseases but is also widely applied in treating cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, making it one of the most commonly used herbs for invigorating blood circulation and removing stasis in clinical practice. For example, compound Dan Shen tablets and Dan Shen drops, which are primarily made from Dan Shen, are very effective in treating coronary heart disease and angina. Due to its definite efficacy, it has been included in the national essential drug list and is widely used in clinical settings.
Dan Shen’s Dietary Therapy and Health Preservation
Dan Shen is not only affordable and widely used as a traditional medicine in clinical practice but also appears in the form of health teas, medicinal dishes, foot baths, and medicinal wines in the homes of ordinary people. Below are several dietary therapy recipes containing Dan Shen.
Dan Shen, Safflower, and Black-Boned Chicken Soup
【Herbs】10g Dan Shen, 20g Safflower, 4g Peach Kernel.
【Ingredients】1 black-boned chicken leg, 2g salt.
【Method】
Step 1: Remove the pits from the red dates, wash them; soak Dan Shen in clean water and wash; wash the peach kernels and safflower, place them in a medicinal bag and tie it; wash the chicken leg, chop it into pieces, blanch in boiling water, and set aside.
Step 2: Place a clay pot on the fire, add an appropriate amount of water, put in all the herbs and chicken leg, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 1 hour. Remove the medicinal bag and season with salt.
【Efficacy】Invigorates blood circulation, unblocks meridians, removes stasis, and alleviates pain, benefiting the heart and nourishing the liver.
【Contraindications】Dan Shen has an opposite effect to vinegar, so they should not be consumed together, as it will reduce the medicinal effect.
【Consumption Method】Eat the meat and drink the soup.
Dan Shen and Hawthorn Porridge
【Herbs】10g Hawthorn, 4g Dan Shen.【Ingredients】200g rice, 5g white sugar.【Method】Step 1: Wash the dried hawthorn, soak, remove the pits, and slice; soak Dan Shen in clean water and slice; wash the rice.Step 2: Place a clay pot on the fire, add an appropriate amount of water, put in the rice, bring to a boil over high heat, then add the hawthorn and Dan Shen, reduce to low heat and simmer until the porridge thickens, then add sugar to taste.【Efficacy】Invigorates blood circulation, removes stasis, and promotes qi, suitable for patients with coronary heart disease of the stasis obstructing the heart meridian type.【Consumption Method】Consume with meals.Precautions for Taking Dan Shen
Dan Shen is widely used in clinical practice, but there are some situations where it is not advisable to use it.
1. Due to its blood-invigorating and menstrual-regulating properties, it is contraindicated for women with excessive menstruation without stasis, those with bleeding tendencies or active bleeding, and should be used with caution in pregnant women.
2. According to TCM theory, Dan Shen should not be used with Li Lu (Veratrum) as they have opposing effects.
3. It is not advisable to use Dan Shen with anticoagulants such as aspirin or warfarin, as it may cause bleeding.
Source | Miliro City Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Hengyang City Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital
Editor | Planning and Comprehensive Department of Hunan Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine
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