Dan Shen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb known for its ability to invigorate blood circulation and alleviate pain. It also calms the heart and alleviates irritability, and is used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Dan Shen has a regulatory effect on the endocrine system and can help prevent the onset of dementia in the elderly. Additionally, it promotes tissue repair and regeneration, improving blood circulation. Dan Shen has many other functions and benefits that everyone can learn about.
1. Strengthening the Heart
Enhances myocardial contractility and improves heart function without increasing myocardial oxygen consumption.
2. Effects on Blood Vessels
Dilates coronary arteries, increasing myocardial blood flow; dilates peripheral blood vessels, enhancing blood flow; reduces cerebral blood flow. It has the effects of invigorating blood circulation, removing blood stasis, nourishing the blood, calming the mind, cooling the blood, and reducing swelling.
3. Antithrombotic Effects
Increases fibrinolytic enzyme activity; prolongs bleeding and coagulation times; inhibits platelet aggregation, improving blood rheology.
4. Improving Microcirculation
Indicated for blood stasis, pain in the head, chest, flanks, and abdomen, accumulation, menstrual irregularities, dysmenorrhea, postpartum abdominal pain due to stasis, joint pain, bruises from falls, irritability due to warm diseases, palpitations due to blood deficiency, and skin ulcers and swellings.
5. Promoting Tissue Repair and Regeneration
Accelerates the clearance of necrotic myocardium; promotes the differentiation of fibroblasts and the formation of collagen fibers; leads to more mature granulation tissue. Reduces local blood stasis, improves blood circulation, and shortens healing time.
6. Inhibiting Excessive Proliferation
Inhibits the excessive proliferation of fibroblasts. Protects the liver and improves hepatic microcirculation.
7. Antimicrobial Effects
Dan Shen preparations contain tanshinone I and dihydrotanshinone I, which inhibit Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Proteus vulgaris in vitro.
8. Benefits of Dan Shen Tea
1. Eliminating Dark Circles
For those who suffer from dark circles due to staying up late or poor sleep quality, consuming Dan Shen can effectively eliminate them. This is because dark circles are caused by impaired microcirculation around the eyes, and Dan Shen can promote smooth microcirculation, thus eliminating dark circles.
The specific method of consumption is: steep 10 grams of Dan Shen in water and drink it every other day.
2. Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases
Many people develop cardiovascular diseases due to poor lifestyle habits such as smoking, drinking, and lack of exercise. Modern research shows that Dan Shen protects myocardial tissue, improves heart function, dilates peripheral blood vessels, and has antithrombotic effects, making it an effective herbal remedy for preventing and treating myocardial infarction, hyperlipidemia, and coronary atherosclerosis.
3. Liver Protection
Studies indicate that Dan Shen can inhibit or reduce hepatocyte degeneration, decrease hepatocyte necrosis and inflammatory responses, promote hepatocyte regeneration, and has antifibrotic effects, effectively protecting the liver. Additionally, Dan Shen can lower cholesterol and lipid levels in the liver, helping to prevent fatty liver disease.
4. Nourishing the Heart and Calming the Mind
Clinical studies have shown that Dan Shen has significant sedative effects, reducing spontaneous activity in the cerebral cortex, thus nourishing the heart and calming the mind.
9. Populations Unsuitable for Dan Shen
1. Individuals Without Blood Stasis
Dan Shen has antiplatelet and blood-invigorating properties, so it is not recommended for patients without blood stasis, as it may increase the risk of bleeding and be detrimental to health. It is also not recommended for women during menstruation.
2. Pregnant Women and Children
Due to their unique physical conditions, pregnant women and children should use herbal medicines cautiously. Since Dan Shen has blood-invigorating properties, it may adversely affect the fetus, so it is not recommended for pregnant women and children to use Dan Shen without medical advice.
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