Middle-aged and elderly individuals undergo annual health check-ups, and most find that they have issues such as atherosclerosis or elevated blood lipids, which can lead to abnormal blood supply to the heart and brain. Why has the incidence of heart disease and cerebrovascular disease been so high in recent years? These factors are the “pioneers” of cardiovascular diseases.
At this point, some may say, I also have this condition during my health check, but I keep enteric-coated aspirin at home, which can help me solve these problems. Although enteric-coated aspirin is indeed useful, it can be very irritating to the stomach, so it must be taken under a doctor’s guidance. Many patients have experienced gastric bleeding due to taking enteric-coated aspirin. Therefore, enteric-coated aspirin should neither be used as a household staple nor as a health supplement.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that cardiovascular diseases are caused by the inability of Qi to promote blood flow, leading to blood stagnation in the vessels. As people reach middle age, Qi deficiency is certain, and blood stasis is also inevitable, making them more susceptible to cardiovascular diseases. Here, I recommend a household remedy for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases—Dan Shen and Hawthorn Powder.
When it comes to Dan Shen (Salvia miltiorrhiza), many cardiovascular patients are familiar with it as a herb that invigorates blood circulation and resolves blood stasis. Indeed, Dan Shen is widely used in clinical practice. For example, some say they have used Dan Shen injection during intravenous therapy for cerebral thrombosis; others say they frequently take Dan Shen drops for heart disease.
The Ben Cao Jing Shu states: “Dan Shen is bitter and can drain, warm and can disperse; long-term use benefits Qi and specifically enters the blood aspect, its function is to invigorate blood and promote circulation.” This means that Dan Shen can be taken for a long time, and its bitter taste can drain. “Drain” means to facilitate downward movement of blood; Dan Shen can guide blood downward but will not cause blood to ascend to the brain like other blood-invigorating herbs such as Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis), which could lead to cerebral hemorrhage. Taking Dan Shen allows Qi to move downward, just as water flows to lower ground, ensuring smooth Qi flow and thus promoting gastrointestinal function, hence the saying, “the intestines rumble like flowing water.” The Bie Lu also states: “Dan Shen nourishes blood, indicating that once the accumulated stagnation is removed, the righteous Qi can extend, and it is also a form of supplementation through unblocking.” In other words, for middle-aged and elderly individuals, Dan Shen not only invigorates blood circulation but also benefits and supplements Qi, which distinguishes it from other Chinese herbs. Once Dan Shen is used, it “can enter the heart and break stasis, achieving its efficacy, thus no disease remains, all due to the removal of stasis.”
Since Dan Shen has such great power, why add Hawthorn to it? This is because Hawthorn (Crataegus) has the effect of lowering blood pressure and blood lipids, which can assist Dan Shen in “transforming stasis without harming new blood, unblocking Qi without harming righteous Qi.” In other words, the sour and astringent nature of Hawthorn can strengthen the spleen and stomach, aid digestion, and its ability to promote digestion and relieve stagnation can also move Qi and transform stasis. Therefore, combining Dan Shen with Hawthorn for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases is truly a perfect match, complementing each other.
The powder is directly processed, preserving the properties of the herbs, and it enters the meridians, fully displaying its efficacy.
How should one take “Dan Shen and Hawthorn Powder”? Purchase 100 grams each of Dan Shen and Hawthorn from the pharmacy, process them into powder, divide into 10 portions, and take one portion with about 40-degree warm water each day.
For middle-aged and elderly individuals who have been diagnosed with elevated blood lipids during health check-ups, whether moderate or mild, or those with atherosclerosis, they can safely take the above dosage, and over time, they will see good therapeutic effects. If no such diseases were found during the health check, or if you only have potential threats, such as a family history of these diseases or being overweight, then taking half the amount mentioned above can effectively prevent cardiovascular diseases. In either case, Dan Shen and Hawthorn Powder can be taken for a long time, whether for two months or six months.