How to Use for Best Effects
Dan Shen Wine Preparation
Dan Shen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) has the effect of dilating coronary arteries, increasing blood flow in the coronary arteries, and slowing the heart rate, which is beneficial for the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease and other age-related diseases. Dan Shen slices, saffron (Xihonghua), and Sanqi (Panax notoginseng) can be combined and soaked in white liquor for about half a month before consumption. Be sure to control the frequency and amount consumed.
Saffron (Xihonghua)
Sanqi (Panax notoginseng)
Dan Shen Tea Preparation
Dan Shen is a type of ginseng with high nutritional value, used to treat women’s menstrual disorders, dysmenorrhea, and amenorrhea. Women can brew Dan Shen and Yi Mu Cao (Leonurus japonicus) tea in daily life, which is quite effective. Take appropriate amounts of Dan Shen slices and Yi Mu Cao, and brew them with hot water. It can be brewed multiple times, but should not be left overnight.
Yi Mu Cao (Leonurus japonicus)
Dan Shen (Salvia miltiorrhiza)
Contraindications for Dan Shen
Use Dan Shen with caution if there is no blood stasis; do not use during pregnancy without reason; Dan Shen should not be used with Li Lu (Veratrum); Dan Shen promotes blood circulation and may cause severe bleeding: patients with heart disease taking anticoagulants should be cautious as it may lead to serious bleeding.
Dan Shen is reliable in efficacy and has few side effects. However, it should not be consumed too frequently. Long-term use of compound Dan Shen tablets may lead to decreased potassium levels, resulting in hypokalemia. During the use of Dan Shen tablets, it is advisable to consume potassium-rich foods such as bananas, orange juice, soybeans, peanuts, mushrooms, and potatoes.
Dan Shen contains Dan Shen ketone, which is a strong tonic and menstrual regulator, primarily effective in promoting blood circulation, generating new blood, and regulating menstruation. It is commonly used for treating coronary heart disease, neurasthenia, acute and chronic hepatitis, etc. It can also be used in gynecology to assist in treating uterine bleeding, menstrual disorders, blood stasis, abdominal pain, lymphadenitis, dysmenorrhea, and amenorrhea. It can be taken orally or applied externally.
Effects and Functions
Dan Shen is the dried root and rhizome of the plant Salvia miltiorrhiza. It is harvested in spring and autumn and dried for preservation. It has a bitter taste, is slightly cold in nature, and enters the heart and liver meridians, with effects of promoting blood circulation, relieving pain, and clearing the heart to eliminate irritability.1. Promote Blood Circulation and Relieve Pain: Dan Shen has the effect of promoting blood circulation and relieving pain, mainly used for symptoms of blood stasis abdominal pain, sore and swollen ulcers, chest pain, epigastric and flank pain, joint pain, and masses.2. Promote Blood Circulation and Regulate Menstruation Dan Shen can be used for menstrual disorders due to qi stagnation and blood stasis, dysmenorrhea, and excessive menstrual bleeding, often used with Yi Mu Cao, Xiang Fu (Cyperus rotundus), etc., and decocted in water. 3. Clear the Heart and Eliminate Irritability: Dan Shen has a bitter taste, is slightly cold in nature, and enters the heart and liver meridians, with the effect of clearing the heart and eliminating irritability, suitable for symptoms of heat bi pain, heat entering the blood, restlessness, insomnia, and angina.
- Foods to Avoid
- 1. Li Lu: Dan Shen and Li Lu are contraindicated in traditional Chinese medicine and should not be consumed together.2. Sheep Liver: During the use of Dan Shen, sheep liver should not be consumed to avoid affecting the efficacy of the medicine.
- Suitable and Contraindicated
- Suitable: For those with amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea, and for those with restlessness and insomnia. Dan Shen has the effects of promoting blood circulation and regulating menstruation, suitable for those with amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, restlessness, and insomnia. Contraindicated: For those with bleeding disorders and tendencies. Dan Shen can promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis, and should be avoided by those with bleeding disorders and tendencies, such as hemophilia, thrombocytopenia, gastrointestinal bleeding, and hemoptysis.
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Dan Shen is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine in China, also known in some regions as red root, Da Hong Pao, or blood ginseng root. Below are the six major effects and contraindications of Dan Shen, and whether it can be consumed long-term.
Introduction to the six major effects and contraindications of Dan Shen!
1. Dan Shen has the effect of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis.
Dan Shen is a medicinal herb that can promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis, commonly used for treating various blood stasis-related diseases in humans, especially for women experiencing dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, and postpartum abdominal pain, which can be treated with Dan Shen, often combined with other blood-activating herbs like safflower and peach kernel for effective symptom relief.
2. Dan Shen improves heart function: It has the effect of dilating blood vessels: Taking Dan Shen can enhance myocardial contractility, improve heart function, dilate blood vessels, increase blood flow, and prevent and treat arteriosclerosis.
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3. Dan Shen has the effect of delaying cellular oxidation and aging.
If used in moderation, Dan Shen can delay aging, as its components can enhance cellular activity and inhibit enzymes that promote aging in the body.
4. Dan Shen has a preventive effect against senile dementia.
5. Dan Shen improves liver microcirculation.
6. Dan Shen improves sleep and prevents and alleviates insomnia symptoms.
Dan Shen can alleviate various symptoms such as vivid dreams and easy awakening during sleep.Additionally, Dan Shen can promote the repair and regeneration of human tissues.
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Contraindications for Dan Shen:
1. Dan Shen should not be taken long-term, as it may irritate the gastrointestinal tract and cause varying degrees of acid reflux and other symptoms.
2. Dan Shen should not be used simultaneously with aspirin, vitamin C injections, vitamin K, B6, B1 calcium supplements, and other medications.
Can Dan Shen tea be consumed long-term?
Drinking Dan Shen tea has certain benefits for the body, but it should not be consumed long-term. When brewing, be cautious:1. Do not consume with acidic foods: Dan Shen may not be compatible with acidic foods.2. Do not use with sheep liver: The iron, calcium, and magnesium ions in sheep liver may react with the ketone oxygen, reducing the efficacy of Dan Shen.
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Dosage: For promoting blood circulation, generally use 6-15g, with a large dose of 15-30g. For treating vascular inflammation, it can be increased to 30-60g. However, those with bleeding tendencies should avoid large doses.
Example prescriptions: 1. Dan Shen Decoction (from “Yizong Jinjian”): Dan Shen 30g, sandalwood 3g, cardamom 3g, decoct in water. 2. Dan Shen Sheng Mai San (modified): Dan Shen 15g, Dang Shen (Codonopsis pilosula) 19g, Mai Dong (Ophiopogon japonicus) 18g, Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra chinensis) 6g, Shan Yu Rou (Cornus officinalis) 12g, glutinous rice root 24g, Sheng Di Huang (Rehmannia glutinosa) 18g, decoct in water.3. Dan Shen Tong Mai Decoction: Dan Shen 30g, Ji Xue Teng (Spatholobus suberectus) 30g, Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis) 18g, Yuan Shen (Polygala tenuifolia) 30g, Gan Cao (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) 30g, decoct in water.
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Promote blood circulation, relieve menstrual pain, and clear the heart to eliminate irritability. It belongs to the category of blood-activating and menstrual-regulating herbs.
Dosage: 9-15 grams, decocted. Large doses can be used up to 30 grams. Used to treat menstrual disorders, dysmenorrhea, abdominal pain, heat bi pain, sore and swollen ulcers, restlessness, and insomnia; liver and spleen enlargement, angina.
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[Prescription examples] for reference only
1. For treating scanty menstrual blood and postpartum blood stasis abdominal pain: Dan Shen, Yi Mu Cao, and Xiang Fu each 9 grams, decoct in water. (from “Selected Chinese Herbal Medicines from Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, and Qinghai”)
2. For treating miscarriage with bleeding: Dan Shen 360 grams. Use five liters of liquor, boil down to three liters, take one liter warm, three times a day. (from “Essential Prescriptions from the Golden Chamber”)
3. For treating abdominal pain with a mix of deficiency and excess: Dan Shen 30 grams, sandalwood and cardamom each 4.5 grams. Decoct in water. (from “Shifang Ge Guo” Dan Shen Decoction)
4. For treating acute and chronic hepatitis with pain in both flanks: Yin Chen (Artemisia capillaris) 15 grams, Yu Jin (Curcuma longa), Dan Shen, and Ban Lan Gen (Isatis indigotica) each 9 grams. Decoct in water. (from “Selected Chinese Herbal Medicines from Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, and Qinghai”)
5. For treating dysmenorrhea: Dan Shen 15 grams, Yu Jin 6 grams. Decoct, one dose per day, divided into two servings. (from “Compilation of National Chinese Herbal Medicines”)
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1. Dan Shen with Frog
What are the effects and functions of Dan Shen? Promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis, delay aging, essential for women and the elderly.
[Ingredients] Dan Shen 15 grams, frog 250 grams, appropriate seasonings.
[Preparation] Clean the ingredients, skin and wash the frog, place in a medicinal pot, add appropriate amount of water and Dan Shen, soak for a while, cook, season, and consume the soup and frog. One dose per day, for 10-15 days as one course, continue for 1-2 courses.
[Function] Promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis, regulate qi and harmonize the stomach. Suitable for stabbing pain in the upper abdomen or pain like a knife, fixed and unmovable, severe pain may be accompanied by cold limbs, sweating, pain penetrating the chest and back, or recurrent vomiting blood, black stools, dark purple tongue or spots of stasis, pulse wiry or thin and rough.
2. Dan Shen with Hawthorn and Peach Kernel Porridge
What are the effects and functions of Dan Shen? Promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis, delay aging, essential for women and the elderly.
[Ingredients] Dan Shen 15 grams, hawthorn 30 grams, peach kernel 6 grams, rice 50 grams.
[Preparation] Clean Dan Shen, place in a medicinal pot, add appropriate amount of water, soak for a while, boil for 15-20 minutes, strain, then add hawthorn, peach kernel, and rice, add appropriate amount of water, boil vigorously, then simmer to make porridge.
[Function] Promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis, relieve pain. Suitable for cervical spondylosis with qi stagnation and blood stasis.
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3. Dan Shen with Red Dates Porridge
What are the effects and functions of Dan Shen? Promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis, delay aging, essential for women and the elderly.
[Ingredients] Dan Shen 30 grams, glutinous rice 100 grams, red dates 30 grams, brown sugar 20 grams.
[Preparation] Clean Dan Shen and red dates, place in a medicinal pot, add appropriate amount of water, soak for a while, boil for 15 minutes, strain, then cook with glutinous rice, add brown sugar after cooking.One dose per day, twice a day, for 7-10 days as one course, continue for 2-3 courses.
[Function] Regulate qi and remove stagnation, promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis. Suitable for rheumatic heart disease with qi stagnation and blood stasis, symptoms include dull complexion or purple-red cheeks, cyanotic lips and nails, dizziness and fatigue, palpitations, severe cough may lead to hemoptysis, chest tightness and shortness of breath, or chest pain, lumps in the flank, limb swelling, dark purple tongue, or stasis spots, thin and rapid pulse.
