Many friends have heard the saying: “One dose of Dan Shen decoction is equivalent to Si Wu Tang (Four Substance Decoction).” Today, let’s talk about this herb, Dan Shen.
Si Wu Tang invigorates and nourishes the blood, and is well-known as the primary formula for blood replenishment. The fact that one dose of Dan Shen can replace Si Wu Tang highlights its unique efficacy.
Dan Shen is a blood-invigorating herb used to smooth and maintain blood vessels, clearing various waste from the vessels. It can be used directly as a medicine or in health teas, suitable for long-term consumption.
Understanding Dan Shen.
Dan Shen is a member of the “Shen” family of herbs, distinct from ginseng, dang shen, and red ginseng, which are tonic herbs. It is the best herb in the “Shen” family for invigorating blood and regulating menstruation. Dan Shen is red in color, with a red skin, and we know that red corresponds to the heart, which governs the blood vessels, thus Dan Shen acts on the blood aspect.
Dan Shen is derived from the root of the plant Salvia miltiorrhiza, has a slightly bitter taste, is mildly cold in nature, and enters the Heart (Xin), Pericardium (Xin Bao), and Liver (Gan) meridians. Dan Shen can regulate menstruation and relieve pain, invigorate blood and dispel stasis, clear the heart and calm the mind, and cool the blood and reduce abscesses.
In modern times, various chronic diseases and abnormal blood indicators actually indicate excessive waste in the blood vessels. Dan Shen acts like a cleaner for the blood vessels, collecting the waste in the blood and sweeping it out, cleaning it up.
Uses of Dan Shen.
1. For maintaining blood vessels.
To maintain blood vessels, a combination of “San Qi (Notoginseng) and Dan Shen powder” is used. San Qi resolves stasis without harming the normal state, while Dan Shen invigorates blood without leaving stasis. This combination, with one herb warming and the other cooling, can gradually clear waste from the blood vessels when taken for two to three months each year, making it a commonly used health formula for modern people.
2. For treating coronary heart disease and angina.
Coronary heart disease and angina are essentially due to blood vessel blockage, with blood stasis and obstruction caused by excessive waste in the vessels. The solution is to smooth the blood vessels and clear the obstructions. In TCM, there are many blood-invigorating herbs that can be used, and Dan Shen is often included.
For example, the well-known compound Dan Shen drop pills and compound Dan Shen tablets are composed of Dan Shen, San Qi, and Bing Pian (Borneol). Compound Dan Shen tablets are a routine medication for coronary heart disease, while compound Dan Shen drop pills are often used as emergency medication for angina.
In these formulas, Dan Shen is used to invigorate blood, clear the battlefield, and collect the waste from the blood vessels, allowing normal blood flow.
3. For treating menstrual irregularities.
Modern women often experience blood stasis, which manifests as scanty menstruation, blood clots, and dark-colored blood. The approach to treatment is to invigorate blood and regulate menstruation. Whether the menstrual flow is heavy or light, if the diagnosis indicates blood stasis, Dan Shen can be considered. Commonly used formulas like Tao Hong Si Wu Tang (Peach Blossom Four Substance Decoction), combined with Yi Mu Cao (Leonurus) and Dan Shen, can invigorate blood and regulate menstruation.
4. For treating uterine fibroids and ovarian cysts.
Uterine fibroids and ovarian cysts, when diagnosed in TCM, are often related to blood stasis, qi stagnation, and phlegm-dampness, resulting from poor circulation of qi and blood leading to the formation of masses.
Fibroids and cysts are harder and more stubborn than blood stasis, requiring stronger herbs like Hu Po (Leech), San Leng (Sparganium), and E Zhu (Curcuma) for aggressive treatment. After this, Dan Shen is used for cleanup, to clear the remaining waste from the battlefield and purify the blood vessels.
5. For calming the mind and heart.
Dan Shen has a calming effect and is often used to treat restlessness and insomnia. Dan Shen opens the heart, is mildly cold in nature, and clears heat and cools the blood, which can calm the mind and relieve irritability. For symptoms like restlessness and confusion due to heat evil entering the heart, it can play a role in calming the mind and relieving irritability.
Dan Shen can also be used for palpitations and insomnia caused by blood not nourishing the heart, as well as insomnia due to heat disturbing the heart from various worries. It can nourish yin and blood, and the TCM formula Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan (Heavenly Emperor’s Heart-Supplementing Pill) utilizes Dan Shen for its calming and sleep-promoting effects.
Additionally, Dan Shen can be combined with herbs like Jin Yin Hua (Honeysuckle) and Pu Gong Ying (Dandelion) for clearing heat and detoxifying, used to treat sores, abscesses, or initial stages of breast abscesses.
In summary, Dan Shen can invigorate blood and dispel stasis, calm the mind, and regulate menstruation, making it a good medicine for protecting cardiovascular health.
However, it is not suitable for everyone: for example, pregnant women should not use it, those with severe qi and blood deficiency should avoid it, and those currently experiencing bleeding should not use it.
The typical dosage of Dan Shen is between 10-20g, often used in combination with other blood-invigorating herbs, and stir-frying with wine can enhance its blood-invigorating effects.
Recommended Learning
1. Introduction to Basic TCM
2. Nine Major Constitution Adjustment Plans
3. Popular Interpretation of 100 Chinese Herbs
4. 100 Classic Common Formulas
5. 365 Common Disease Adjustments
As a moderate person, I am not knowledgeable about astronomy or geography. This account aims to promote TCM culture and is not a platform for seeking medical advice. The formulas shared here are for learning and exchange purposes; please do not blindly try medications.
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