Today, we will comprehensively analyze Dan Shen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) from five aspects: naming, authentic medicinal materials, modern pharmacology, methods of preparation, and related Chinese patent medicines, following Mr. Li Qianguo.
When I prescribe medicine, the first herb I use is Dan Shen. Below, I will discuss the clinical applications of Dan Shen.
01
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), there is a saying that “one herb of Dan Shen is equivalent to the four substances (Si Wu Tang)” which indicates that Dan Shen is a widely used herb in clinical practice.
The name of the herb Dan Shen is derived from its root’s color, which is red on the outside and purple on the inside.
Dan Shen is also known as Chi Shen, named similarly for its color. Both Dan and Chi refer to red, with Dan resembling cinnabar and Chi resembling red beans, the difference being merely the shade of red.
The medicinal part of Dan Shen is the dried root and rhizome of the perennial herb Salvia miltiorrhiza, which resembles a human body, hence the name Dan Shen.
02
Dan Shen was first recorded in the “Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic”. Regarding its origin, Li Shizhen stated in the “Compendium of Materia Medica”: “Dan Shen can be found in mountains everywhere.”
Dan Shen is distributed throughout China, from Zhejiang in the east to Ningxia and Gansu in the west, from Yunnan and Guizhou in the south to Liaoning and Inner Mongolia in the north, almost covering the entire country. It is mainly produced in Anhui, Shanxi, Hebei, Sichuan, and Jiangsu, with the best quality being the three-year-old Dan Shen cultivated in Sichuan (thick roots, purple-red color, firm texture, no short or broken pieces, and intact skin).
Harvesting occurs in autumn; the stems and leaves are removed, the soil is washed off, and after being moistened, they are sliced and dried, used either raw or stir-fried in wine.
It has a bitter taste, a slightly cold nature, and enters the Heart, Pericardium, and Liver meridians. It has the functions of invigorating blood circulation, removing blood stasis, cooling blood, and calming the mind.
03
The chemical components of Dan Shen include water-soluble phenolic compounds, lipid-soluble diterpenoids, as well as sterols, sugars, and alkanes, such as Danshensu and Tanshinone.
The pharmacological effects of Dan Shen include:
(1) Dan Shen injection has a dilating effect on coronary arteries in isolated hearts of guinea pigs and rabbits, increasing coronary blood flow and showing a significant hypotensive effect.
(2) Dan Shen has inhibitory effects on Staphylococcus, Vibrio cholerae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Escherichia coli, Proteus, Salmonella, and Shigella in vitro.
(3) The water decoction of Dan Shen can increase blood flow and potential difference in the gastric mucosa, reduce the reverse diffusion of hydrogen ions, protecting the integrity of the gastric mucosal barrier and enhancing its defensive function, showing anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer effects. Even in pathological conditions where the gastric mucosa is damaged by drugs like aspirin, it can delay the progression of lesions.
(4) After administration of Dan Shen injection, microcirculation blood flow significantly increases, the number of opened capillary networks increases, and over 60% of animal experiments show improvement in blood status. It improves both peripheral microcirculation (conjunctival capillaries) and visceral microcirculation (mesentery, liver).
(5) Dan Shen can prevent or alleviate ultrastructural changes in hypoxic myocardium, providing protective effects on hypoxic myocardium.
(6) For liver damage caused by CCl4, Dan Shen can improve microcirculation by increasing liver blood flow, preventing or alleviating liver degeneration and necrosis, thus providing protection to the liver.
By improving liver blood supply and nutrition, it promotes the regeneration and repair of liver cells. It can also promote the degradation of already formed collagen fibrosis and the reabsorption of liver fibrosis, showing anti-fibrotic effects.
(7) Dan Shen can regulate immune function and protein metabolism.
(8) Dan Shen has a certain sedative effect on the central nervous system.
(9) Tanshinone has mild estrogenic activity. Dan Shen significantly reduces elevated blood sugar levels; it promotes healing of skin and fractures; and it has a certain preventive effect on experimental intestinal adhesions.
04
Combining Dan Shen with other Chinese herbs can enhance its efficacy and expand its application range.
For example, combining Dan Shen with Si Wu Tang can treat spleen deficiency and blood stasis in spleen-stomach diseases; combining Dan Shen with Jin Ling Zi San can treat stomach pain due to qi stagnation and blood stasis; combining Dan Shen with Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang can treat gastrointestinal spasmodic pain; combining Dan Shen with Xiang Lian Wan can treat diarrhea and dysentery;
combining Dan Shen with Er Chen Tang can treat acute bronchitis; combining Dan Shen with Zao Ren and Wu Wei Zi can treat insomnia;
combining Dan Shen with Yi Mu Cao and Xiang Fu can treat amenorrhea and abdominal pain; combining Dan Shen with Chuan Xiong, Chi Shao, Hong Hua, and Jiang Xiang can treat coronary heart disease and angina; combining Dan Shen with Niu Xi and Chuan Duan can treat low back pain;
combining Dan Shen with E Zhu and Bai Zhu can treat atrophic gastritis; combining Dan Shen with Yin Chen, Yu Jin, and Ban Lan Gen can treat hepatitis.
The usual dosage of Dan Shen is 10-15g, with a maximum dosage of up to 30g.
Dan Shen primarily acts on the blood aspect; if the disease is in the qi aspect, Dan Shen is not suitable.Dan Shen is incompatible with Li Lu and should not be used together. It is contraindicated for those with bleeding disorders and heavy menstrual flow.
05
In addition to being used in decoctions, there are also many Chinese patent medicines formulated primarily with Dan Shen, as follows:
(1) Dan Shen Pian (tablet, injection, granule) formula: Dan Shen. It has the functions of invigorating blood circulation and clearing the heart, suitable for coronary heart disease and angina due to blood stasis.
(2) Dan Qi Pian formula: Dan Shen and San Qi in equal amounts. It has the function of invigorating blood circulation and is suitable for chest pain and abdominal pain during menstruation caused by blood stasis and qi stagnation.
(3) Compound Dan Shen Di Wan (tablet, oral liquid, aerosol) formula: Dan Shen extract 215g, San Qi 145g, Borneol 8g. It has the functions of invigorating blood circulation and relieving pain, suitable for chest obstruction and angina due to qi and blood stasis.
(4) Coronary Heart Dan Shen Pian formula: Dan Shen 200g, San Qi 200g, Jiang Xiang oil 125ml. It has the functions of invigorating blood circulation and relieving pain, suitable for coronary heart disease and angina due to qi stagnation and blood stasis.
(5) Tanshinone Capsules formula: derived from Dan Shen. It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, suitable for osteomyelitis, acne, tonsillitis, external ear canal inflammation, boils, abscesses, traumatic infections, and mastitis.
(6) Dan Xiong Tong Mai Capsules formula: Dan Shen, Chuan Xiong, Hong Hua, Chi Shao, Yuan Hu, Goji Berries. It has the effects of invigorating blood circulation and nourishing kidney yin, suitable for angina due to qi stagnation and blood stasis with kidney yin deficiency.
(7) Dan Hong Hua Yu Oral Liquid formula: Dan Shen, Hong Hua, Dang Gui, Chuan Xiong, Tao Ren, Chai Hu, Zhi Ke. It has the functions of invigorating blood circulation and promoting qi flow, suitable for central retinal vein occlusion due to qi stagnation and blood stasis.
(8) Dan Gui Xiang Granules formula: Dan Shen, Gui Zhi, Chen Xiang, Gan Jiang, Huang Qi. It has the functions of invigorating blood circulation and relieving pain, suitable for stomach pain due to deficiency and cold causing blood stasis.
(9) Compound Dan Zhi Pian formula: Dan Shen, leeches, Huang Qi. It has the functions of invigorating blood circulation and promoting qi flow, suitable for stroke due to qi stagnation and blood stasis.
(10) Dan Shen Shu Xin Capsules formula: Dan Shen extract. It has the functions of invigorating blood circulation and calming the mind, suitable for coronary heart disease and angina.
Note:Please follow medical advice for specific treatments and medications!This article is excerpted from “Modern Chinese Medicine Clinical Series – Li Qianguo”, authored by Li Qianguo, published by China Traditional Chinese Medicine Press, October 2006. This public account is used for academic exchange only; if there is any infringement, please contact for deletion, and please indicate the source when reprinting.