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Dan Shen (Salvia miltiorrhiza)
Dan Shen is commonly found in traditional Chinese patent medicines for treating cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Our hospital’s cardiology department produces various formulations such as Shen Qi Shu Xin capsules, Xiang Dan Shu Xin capsules, and Huo Luo Hua Yu capsules, all of which contain Dan Shen. In these formulations, Dan Shen effectively plays its role in promoting blood circulation. Today, let’s get to know more about it.
Dan Shen (Salvia miltiorrhiza)
Dan Shen has a long history of application in China.
It was first recorded in the Eastern Han Dynasty’s “Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic” stating that Dan Shen “treats evil qi in the heart and abdomen.” The “Compendium of Materia Medica” from the Ming Dynasty describes Dan Shen as having the properties of invigorating blood and unblocking the heart meridian. Ancient medical practitioners also believed that “one herb of Dan Shen has the same effect as the Four Substance Decoction (Dang Gui, Chuan Xiong, Bai Shao, and Shu Di Huang),” meaning that Dan Shen has the same effects of nourishing blood, replenishing blood, harmonizing blood, and invigorating blood.
1. Source
This herb is the dried root and rhizome of the Lamiaceae plant, Dan Shen. It is harvested in spring and autumn, cleaned of soil, and dried. It is primarily produced in Sichuan, Shandong, and Hebei provinces.
2. Properties
The Dan Shen root and rhizome are relatively short and thick, sometimes retaining the stem base at the top. The roots are several, long cylindrical, and slightly curved.
The slices are round or oval thick pieces, with a brownish-red or dark brownish-red outer skin, brownish-red cortex, and grayish-yellow or purple-brown wood part, with yellowish-white radial patterns. It has a slight aroma and a slightly bitter taste.
3. Flavor and Meridian Affinity
It has a bitter taste and is slightly cold in nature. It enters the heart and liver meridians.
4. Functions and Indications
It invigorates blood circulation, dispels blood stasis, alleviates pain, clears the heart, relieves irritability, cools the blood, and reduces abscesses. It is used for chest pain, abdominal pain, masses, heat-induced pain, irritability and insomnia, menstrual irregularities, dysmenorrhea, and painful sores.
【Caution】
Dan Shen should not be used in conjunction with Li Lu.
Modern Pharmacological Effects
Modern pharmacological studies show that the active components of Dan Shen include water-soluble phenolic acids and lipid-soluble tanshinones, which have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-thrombotic, anticoagulant, and tumor-inhibiting effects, and improve microcirculation. It is widely used in the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and is a safe and reliable natural medicine for treating heart and vascular diseases.
The active components of Dan Shen can not only exert anti-heart failure effects by reducing atrial fibrillation but also have multiple pathways and mechanisms to exert anti-osteoarthritis effects.
Warm Reminder
The use of Chinese herbal slices requires syndrome differentiation and treatment; please use under the guidance of a TCM physician and herbalist, and do not self-medicate.
Some images in this article are sourced from the internet, and we thank the original authors. If there are any issues, please contact us for removal.
Author: Pharmacy Department, Li Jianpeng
Editor: Xi Xinxin, Gui Shumin
Reviewer: Wang Jingliang, Leng Yilin
