Dan Shen (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge)
Dan Shen is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family, characterized by its thick, red exterior and white interior roots. The leaves are often odd-pinnate compound leaves, with terminal or axillary racemes; the bracts are lanceolate, the calyx is bell-shaped and purple, and the corolla is purple-blue. The small black fruits are oval-shaped and bloom from April to August, with fruits appearing after flowering.It is distributed in various regions of China including Anhui, Shanxi, Hebei, Sichuan, Jiangsu, and also found in Hubei, Gansu, Liaoning, Shaanxi, Shandong, Zhejiang, Henan, Jiangxi, and Japan.
Functions and Efficacy
The root is used medicinally and contains tanshinone, which is a potent blood invigorating agent. It has effects such as promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, revitalizing, and regulating menstruation, making it a key herb in gynecology. It is primarily used to treat uterine bleeding, irregular menstruation, blood stasis, abdominal pain, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, and temple pain. It also shows good effects in treating coronary heart disease. Additionally, it is used for treating neurasthenia, insomnia, joint pain, anemia, mastitis, lymphadenitis, arthritis, carbuncles, erysipelas, acute and chronic hepatitis, pyelonephritis, traumatic injuries, late-stage schistosomiasis with liver and spleen enlargement, and epilepsy. Externally, it can be used to wash sores.
(1) Shennong Bencao Jing: Treats evil qi in the heart and abdomen, with gurgling sounds in the intestines like flowing water, cold and heat accumulation; breaks symptoms and removes masses, stops vexation and fullness, and benefits qi.
(2) Wupu Bencao: Treats abdominal pain.
(3) Bielu: Nourishes blood, removes stubborn qi in the heart and abdomen, strengthens the waist and spine, alleviates foot numbness; expels wind evil and retains heat, beneficial for long-term use.
(4) Tao Hongjing: Soak in wine and drink it to treat wind-dampness.
(5) Yao Xing Lun: Treats weakness in the feet, pain and numbness, and is effective for food poisoning; treats abdominal pain with gurgling sounds.
(6) Rihua Zibencao: Nourishes the spirit and calms the mind. Treats cold and heat fatigue, joint pain, and paralysis of the limbs; expels pus and stops pain, promotes muscle growth; breaks old blood and replenishes new blood; stabilizes pregnancy and prevents miscarriage; stops bleeding from excessive menstruation and regulates women’s menstrual irregularities, alleviates heart vexation; treats sores, scabies, goiter, and toxic swellings, erysipelas; headaches, red eyes, and heat-induced mania.
(7) Dian Nan Bencao: Nourishes the heart and calms the mind. Treats forgetfulness, anxiety, and insomnia.
(8) Gangmu: Invigorates blood and opens the heart meridian. Treats hernia pain.
(9) Yunnan Zhongcaoyao Xuan: Invigorates blood, disperses stasis, and has a calming effect. Treats irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, rheumatic pain, uterine bleeding, hematemesis, and mastitis.
Taste and Properties
【Taste】Bitter, slightly warm. ① Bencao Jing: “Bitter taste, slightly cold, non-toxic.” ② Wupu Bencao: “Qibo: Salty.” ③ Li Dangzhi’s Yao Lu: “Very cold.” ④ Bencao Jing Shu: “Bitter taste, neutral, slightly warm.”
【Meridian Entry】 Enters the heart and liver meridians. ① Gangmu: “Hand Shaoyin, Jueyin blood medicine.” ② Bencao Jing Shu: “Enters the hand and foot Shaoyin, foot Jueyin meridians.” ③ Bencao Zheng: “Blood medicine for the heart, spleen, liver, and kidney.”
Formulas
① For treating women’s menstrual irregularities, whether early or late, excessive or insufficient, and for stabilizing the fetus before delivery and expelling lochia after delivery. Also treats cold and heat fatigue, lumbar pain, and joint pain: Dan Shen (remove the fibrous parts) in any amount, ground into powder. Take two qian, mix with wine, and take before meals for menstrual irregularities and cold and heat fatigue at any time. (Furen Liangfang Dan Shen San)② For treating menstrual irregularities: One jin of purple Dan Shen, cut into thin slices, sun-dried until crisp, ground into fine powder, and made into pills with good wine. Take three qian, with warm water in the morning. (Jiyuan Bacu Liangfang Tiao Jing Wan)③ For treating scanty menstrual blood and postpartum abdominal pain due to blood stasis: Dan Shen, Yi Mu Cao (Leonurus japonicus), and Xiang Fu (Cyperus rotundus) each three qian. Decoction for oral administration.④ For treating abdominal masses: Dan Shen, San Leng (Sparganium stoloniferum), and E Zhu (Curcuma zedoaria) each three qian, and one qian of Zao Jiao Ci (Gleditsia sinensis). Decoction for oral administration.⑤ For treating acute and chronic hepatitis with pain in the flanks: Yin Chen (Artemisia capillaris) five qian, and Yu Jin (Curcuma longa), Dan Shen, and Ban Lan Gen (Isatis indigotica) each three qian. Decoction for oral administration. (Formulas ③ and below from Shan Gan Ning Qing Zhongcaoyao Xuan)⑥ For treating miscarriage with continuous bleeding: Twelve liang of Dan Shen, finely chopped, boiled with five sheng of clear wine to obtain three sheng, take one sheng warm, three times a day. (Qian Jin Fang)⑦ For treating various abdominal pains that are half deficient and half excess: One liang of Dan Shen, and one and a half qian each of Bai Zhi (Angelica dahurica) and Sha Ren (Amomum villosum). Decoction for oral administration. (Yixue Jinzhen Dan Shen Yin)⑧ For treating pain in the waist and hips radiating to the legs: Eight liang of Du Zhong (Eucommia ulmoides), five liang of Dan Shen, and four liang each of Du Huo (Angelica pubescens), Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis), Xiong Dan (Radix et Rhizoma Notopterygii), and Gan Di Huang (Rehmannia glutinosa). Cut the six herbs, place in a silk bag, and soak in two dou of clear wine for five nights, take two he, twice a day. Avoid Wu Yi (Artemisia argyi). (Zhang Wenzhong)⑨ For treating neurasthenia: Five qian of Dan Shen and one liang of Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra chinensis). Decoction for oral administration. (From Shan Gan Ning Qing Zhongcaoyao Xuan)
Precautions
Use with caution in those without blood stasis. ① Bencao Jing Jizhuang: “Avoid salty water. Antagonistic to Li Lu (Veratrum).” ② Bencao Jing Shu: “Do not use during pregnancy without reason.” ③ Bencao Beiyao: “Avoid vinegar.” ④ Bencao Fengyuan: “Avoid if there is no bowel movement.”
(Sources: Baidu Encyclopedia, Chinese Herbal Medicine Network, Image Source: Internet)
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