Dan Shen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) is a traditional Chinese medicine herb, first recorded in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Shen Nong’s Classic of Materia Medica), classified as a superior herb.
Dan Shen can dilate coronary arteries, increase blood flow in the coronary arteries, lower cholesterol levels in the blood, reduce blood viscosity, and improve microcirculation, making it effective in preventing and treating coronary heart disease and angina pectoris.
Professor Wu Bingcai specializes in treating cardiovascular diseases, particularly with Dan Shen. He believes that the heart is the master of the spirit and the source of strength. Therefore, to nourish and protect the heart, one essential herb is Dan Shen.
Professor Wu skillfully uses Dan Shen for his patients, guiding them on specific methods: he often grinds Dan Shen and San Qi (Panax notoginseng) into powder, which is taken with water, at a dosage of 3 grams, once daily. This helps nourish the heart and prevent cardiovascular diseases.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dan Shen is considered a targeted medication for the heart!
Almost all patients with cardiovascular diseases have used Dan Shen or its related preparations.
Dan Shen is not only a targeted medication for treating heart diseases but also a preventive herb for heart conditions.
In traditional Chinese patent medicines for treating heart disease and coronary artery sclerosis, Dan Shen is used for conditions such as angina pectoris, arrhythmia, premature ventricular contractions, palpitations, shortness of breath, and fatigue, especially in cases of Qi stagnation and blood stasis, phlegm-dampness and blood stasis, and Qi deficiency with Yin deficiency types of chest tightness and heart pain.
In these patent medicines, while the combinations of other herbs may vary, Dan Shen has remained constant.
In the Ming Dynasty, the physician Li Shizhen mentioned Dan Shen multiple times in the Ben Cao Gang Mu (Compendium of Materia Medica), and even some Western clinical injections often use Dan Shen preparations.
Dan Shen specifically enters the heart meridian and the pericardium meridian, promoting blood circulation and alleviating pain.
With just six words, “entering the pericardium to break stasis,” the stasis is “broken,” and the heart is no longer blocked.
Whether in ancient or modern times, whether in Western or Chinese medicine, Dan Shen plays a crucial role in treating heart diseases!
Dan Shen effectively promotes blood circulation and alleviates pain, applicable to various blood stasis syndromes, but it is most commonly used in cardiovascular contexts.
Dan Shen is first recorded in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, classified as a superior herb that can be taken frequently and for long durations without harm.
Dan Shen has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years and is considered one of the safest herbs for treating cardiovascular diseases in modern medicine.
While herbs like Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum chuanxiong), Hong Hua (Carthamus tinctorius), and Niu Xi (Achyranthes bidentata) also promote blood circulation, they can deplete Qi.
Chuan Xiong is spicy and hot; consuming spicy foods can lead to sweating, which may deplete Qi.
In contrast, Dan Shen promotes blood circulation and resolves stasis without harming Qi.
Blood is the most profound aspect, and very few herbs can enter the blood level; Dan Shen is specifically noted for its ability to clear and nourish.
Dan Shen primarily nourishes the blood and addresses chronic conditions of the heart and abdomen, particularly for issues related to the waist and feet, which refer to certain rheumatic bone diseases. By nourishing the blood and unblocking the channels, conditions such as back pain and foot pain can be resolved.
Any harsh blood-breaking herbs can cause significant harm, leading to a loss of vitality, making them unsuitable for long-term use.
Because they can damage the vital energy, older individuals with heart issues should avoid seeking quick results. Dan Shen breaks blood stasis without harming the vital energy and is often combined with stronger blood-breaking herbs like Shui Zhi (Hirudo), Di Long (Lumbricus), and Quan Xie (Buthus martensii).
For targeted heart care, Coenzyme Q10 is recommended;
For targeted heart treatment and prevention, use Dan Shen!
In fact, Dan Shen not only promotes blood circulation and resolves stasis but also clears heart fire and nourishes the heart, which is particularly effective for insomnia caused by palpitations.
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