Introduction: Dan Shen is a herb with properties similar to Si Wu Tang, widely used in various applications.
Dan Shen is a herb with a mild nature, broad effects, and significant efficacy as a blood-activating and stasis-removing medicine. After decades of application, it has been deeply recognized as an excellent blood-activating medicine and a superior remedy for stasis.
1Activating blood and resolving stasis for various diseases, applicable for both excess and deficiency conditions
1. Treatment of Upper Body Diseases
For sudden deafness due to liver and kidney deficiency and poor blood circulation, leading to loss of hearing, Dan Shen Zhi Er Cong Tang (Zhi Bai Di Huang Tang with Dan Shen, Ci Shi, Chan Tui, Chuan Niu Xi) has been repeatedly effective in clinical practice.
For ear heat symptoms caused by liver heat, Dan Shen can be combined with Ci Shi, Ju Hua, Xia Ku Cao, Sheng Di, Long Dan Cao, and Chuan Niu Xi to clear liver fire, resolve stasis, and open the orifices, showing excellent results.
For hypertension, Dan Shen and Ci Shi are often selected based on syndrome differentiation, yielding remarkable effects. Animal experiments have shown that Dan Shen can dilate peripheral blood vessels and lower blood pressure.
For cough due to lung qi not descending and poor blood circulation, Dan Shen is commonly used with Xing Ren, Jie Geng, and Chuan Bei Mu to activate blood, benefit the lungs, and stop cough.
2. Treatment of Lower Body Diseases
Dan Shen opens the blood vessels, activates blood circulation, and descends, making it particularly effective for chronic diseases of the lower meridians.
For rheumatic pain in the lower limbs, Dan Shen is often combined with Chuan Xu Duan, Du Huo, Chuan Niu Xi, and Sang Ji Sheng;
For rheumatic heat obstruction with red, swollen, and painful joints, Dan Shen can be combined with Yin Hua Teng, Cang Zhu, Chuan Niu Xi, Huang Bai, Chi Shao, Dan Pi, and Song Jie;
For lower limb phlebitis, Dan Shen is often combined with Dang Gui, Ji Xue Teng, Xuan Shen, Sheng Gan Cao, Yin Hua, Gui Zhi, and Chuan Shan Jia;
For menstrual irregularities, amenorrhea, or postpartum abdominal pain due to blood stasis, Dan Shen can be used alone or combined with Dang Gui, Xiang Fu, and Yi Mu Cao, taken with white wine, all showing efficacy.
As stated in the “Da Ming Ben Cao”: Dan Shen “opens and benefits the meridians… alleviates joint pain and limb paralysis… regulates women’s menstrual irregularities.”
For impotence and premature ejaculation due to liver and kidney stagnation (stasis) heat, a formula named Gu Jing Qi Yang Tang, including Sheng Di, Shu Di, Zhi Mu, Chuan Niu Xi, Huang Bai, Lian Xu, Yang Qi Shi, Shan Yu Rou, Yu Jin, Qiang Huo, and Bai Shao, has shown significant efficacy.
3. Treatment of Deficiency Syndromes
Chronic illness leads to deficiency, with weak blood circulation and prolonged deficiency often resulting in stasis. Dan Shen removes stasis and generates new blood, acting without breaking. It has been said that Dan Shen alone has effects similar to Si Wu Tang. The “Ben Cao Gang Mu” refers to it as “nourishing blood.”
For treating deficiency-related dizziness, the concept of Qi Ju Di Huang Tang is applied, creating the Yi Shen Ding Xuan Tang (Qi Ju Di Huang Tang with Dan Shen, Ci Shi, Chuan Xiong, Tian Ma), which is very effective for dizziness, lumbar and spinal soreness, pale tongue, and thin, weak pulse associated with kidney deficiency and stasis;
For blood deficiency-related palpitations and insomnia, Dan Shen is often combined with Chao Jiao Ren, Dang Gui, Sheng Di, and Wu Wei Zi, which aligns with the “Da Ming Ben Cao” stating: “nourishing the spirit and stabilizing the will.”
For severe deficiency of qi and blood, kidney qi deficiency, and stasis, Dan Shen is often combined with Zhi Huang Qi, Dang Gui, He Shou Wu, and Ba Jitian for efficacy.
4. Treatment of Excess Syndromes
Regardless of the six excesses or seven emotions, if they harm the body over time, they can lead to qi stagnation and blood stasis. Dan Shen activates blood circulation, resolves stasis, and is often effective in treating excess syndromes.
For liver and stomach qi pain, Dan Shen is often combined with Tan Xiang, Sha Ren, and Yu Jin for efficacy, as this is due to qi stagnation and poor blood circulation, thus harmonizing qi and activating blood, complementing each other.
Using Dan Shen, Qian Cao Gen, Ji Xue Teng, Zi Cao, and Hong Zao, has repeatedly shown efficacy in treating allergic purpura, as Dan Shen can “break old blood and generate new blood,” allowing the blood that has deviated from the meridians to return to the meridians.
Reports indicate that animal experiments show Dan Shen has an inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation, reduces the activity of platelet factor III, and prolongs plasma prothrombin time, further confirming its efficacy.
For manic disorders, we believe the pathogenesis often involves excess fire, stasis, and phlegm. Based on syndrome differentiation, a large amount of Dan Shen is used for efficacy. Animal experiments have proven that Dan Shen has the ability to inhibit cyclic adenosine monophosphate phosphodiesterase, exerting an inhibitory effect on the cerebral cortex.
For amenorrhea and edema, Dan Shen is often combined with Wu Ling San, Amber, and Yi Mu Cao for results.
2Nourishing the heart, calming the spirit, eliminating deficiency heat, and stopping palpitations
Dan Shen is bitter and cold, entering the blood and returning to the heart, capable of clearing heart fire, eliminating blood heat, calming the spirit, and stabilizing palpitations. Therefore, when used appropriately in clinical practice, recovery is rapid.
For blood deficiency-related palpitations and insomnia, Dan Shen is often used with Bai Zi Ren, Dang Gui, Sheng Di, Wu Wei Zi, and Chao Jiao Ren.
For palpitations and anxiety due to insufficient heart qi, qi deficiency, and blood stasis, it is often treated with Bu Yang Huan Wu Tang plus Dan Shen, Zhi Gan Cao, and Gui Zhi.
For chest yang deficiency, based on the concept of Zong Gua Lou Xie Bai Tang, a new formula called Kuan Xiong Tong Bi Tang (Dan Shen, Gua Lou, Xie Bai, Tan Xiang, Jiang Xiang, Gui Zhi, Lu Shou Cao, Shan Zha, Tian San Qi, Chi Shao) is created.
For both qi and yin deficiency, based on the concept of Sheng Mai San, a new formula called Yi Mai Tong Bi Tang (Dan Shen, Tai Zi Shen, Mai Dong, Wu Wei Zi, Gua Lou, Zhi Gan Cao, Chao Jiao Ren, Jiang Xiang, Shan Zha, Lu Shou Cao) is created.
For treating chest tightness, chest pain, insomnia, anxiety, and arrhythmia, based on the concept of Zhi Gan Cao Tang, a new formula called Si Shen Yang Xin Tang (Dan Shen, Xi Yang Shen, Ku Shen, Xuan Shen, Chao Jiao Ren, Mai Dong, Zhi Gan Cao, Gui Zhi, Shan Zha, Lu Shou Cao) is created.
Clinical applications have yielded good results, and for those who have not responded to other treatments, syndrome differentiation prescriptions can lead to rapid improvement in ECG and other examinations.
Upon careful consideration, whether it is chest yang deficiency or qi and yin deficiency, both can lead to poor blood circulation and stasis, thus causing pain. Therefore, following the principle of “no flow leads to pain,” using Dan Shen to resolve stasis in syndrome differentiation prescriptions can enhance its efficacy.
“Ben Cao Gang Mu” states: “Activating blood, opening the heart and pericardium… eliminating stubborn diseases in the heart and abdomen.” “Dian Nan Ben Cao” states: “Nourishing the heart, calming the spirit, treating forgetfulness, anxiety, palpitations, and insomnia.” This shows the significant efficacy of Dan Shen.
3Removing stasis, generating new blood, and opening the meridians, showing remarkable efficacy in critical and chronic diseases
Dan Shen activates blood circulation, resolves stasis, opens the orifices, and harmonizes qi and blood. Therefore, when used appropriately for critical and chronic diseases, its efficacy is greatly enhanced.
For stroke, based on the concept of Wang Qing Ren’s Bu Yang Huan Wu Tang, a new formula called Tong Mai Shu Luo Injection (main ingredients: Huang Qi, Dan Shen, Chuan Xiong, etc.) is created.
For stroke (brain tumors, hydrocephalus, etc.) classified as cranial water stasis syndrome, based on the concept of Wang Qing Ren’s Tong Qiao Huo Xue Tang, a new formula called Nao Qiao Tong Oral Liquid (main ingredients: Dan Shen, Tao Ren, She Xiang, Bai Mao Gen, etc.) is created;
For preventing stroke and treating pre-stroke symptoms, a new formula called Qing Nao Tong Luo Pian (main ingredients: Tao Ren, Dan Shen, etc.) is created. Animal experiments and clinical treatments have shown remarkable efficacy, and no toxic side effects have been found so far.
For treating patients in a coma with closed syndrome, if it is heat closure, Dan Shen can be decocted with An Gong Niu Huang Wan or administered via nasal feeding; if it is cold closure, it can be decocted with Su He Xiang Wan or administered via nasal feeding; regardless of cold or heat closure, Dan Shen injection is often mixed with glucose for intravenous drip.
For patients with collapse syndrome, Dan Shen is often added to Shen Fu Tang for decoction or mixed with glucose for intravenous drip;
For patients in a coma due to phlegm-damp obstruction, Dan Shen injection (Shi Chang Pu, Yu Jin, Dan Shen) is often administered intramuscularly (2-4ml daily), and Dan Shen injection (4-20ml) is mixed with 500ml of glucose for intravenous drip. Clinical applications often lead to symptom relief or critical condition improvement.
Practical experience has proven the efficacy of Dan Shen in promoting blood circulation and opening the orifices, removing stasis, and generating new blood.
For both hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes, Dan Shen is often used to activate blood circulation and resolve stasis, achieving efficacy. What is the reason behind this?
Pharmacological studies have shown that Dan Shen can inhibit coagulation function and enhance fibrinolytic activity, but according to TCM theory, “blood should flow, not be stopped” and “resolve stasis and stop bleeding,” Dan Shen improves microcirculation and increases capillary networks, leading to decreased vascular pressure at the bleeding site, which can explain its hemostatic effect.
Therefore, activating blood circulation and resolving stasis has a unique mechanism and therapeutic effect on hemorrhagic stroke, which is the subtlety of knowing the common and achieving the extraordinary in medication.
For treating epilepsy, Dan Shen is often combined with Shi Chang Pu, Yuan Zhi, Yun Fu Ling, Jiang Can, and Nan Xing;
For night terrors due to qi and blood disturbance, Dan Shen is often combined with Yu Jin, Yun Fu Ling, Dang Gui, Shi Chang Pu, Chi Shao, and Ye Jiao Teng;
For shock symptoms due to liver and kidney yin deficiency and yang excess, phlegm and stasis deeply hidden in the blood vessels, Dan Shen is often combined with Long Chi, Chuan Niu Xi, Hu Po, Nu Zhen Zi, Dan Pi, and Ling Yang Jiao powder.
For these difficult and strange diseases, Dan Shen injection (4ml/d) is often added to oral decoctions, leading to significant improvement in patients who have not responded to long-term treatments.
In summary, strange diseases often involve stasis, and chronic diseases often accompany stasis, which is essential for treating difficult and miscellaneous diseases. As stated in the “Ben Cao Qiu Zhen”: “Dan Shen… is effective in removing all diseases caused by stasis.”
4Clearing liver and benefiting the gallbladder, relieving stagnation, effective for masses and abdominal distension
Masses, accumulation, and abdominal distension are often caused by liver and gallbladder damp-heat, liver failure to disperse, qi stagnation, or spleen deficiency damp obstruction, leading to liver and spleen imbalance, dysfunction of the liver, spleen, and kidney, which over time leads to qi stagnation, blood stasis, and water retention, forming masses and abdominal distension.
Dan Shen enters the heart and liver channels, effectively moving qi stagnation in the blood, removing stasis, promoting water flow, and reducing swelling, thus it can be used frequently.
For hepatitis B classified as liver and kidney yin deficiency, a modified Yi Guan Jian must include Dan Shen; for jaundice at various stages, Dan Shen is often included based on syndrome differentiation;
For abdominal distension due to damp obstruction, Dan Shen is often combined with Chai Hu, Dang Gui, Bie Jia, Mu Li, Ji Nei Jin, Da Fu Pi, Yun Fu Ling, San Leng, and E Zhu;
For gallstones, Dan Shen is combined with Da Huang, Ji Nei Jin, Chai Hu, Zhi Shi, and Jin Qian Cao, showing reliable efficacy in improving liver function, softening the liver and spleen, shrinking masses, resolving stasis, and expelling stones;
Pharmacological studies have shown that it can lower alanine aminotransferase, protect damaged liver cells, promote liver cell regeneration, and have anti-fibrotic effects. This aligns with what is stated in the “Ben Jing”: Dan Shen removes “cold and heat accumulation, breaking masses and eliminating distension.”
5Transforming stasis, benefiting dampness, reaching the three jiao, effective for both yin and yang edema
Dan Shen opens the blood vessels, benefits the water pathways, and resolves edema, thus it can treat water retention and blood stasis-related edema. Animal experiments have shown that Dan Shen improves kidney function, reduces azotemia, and increases urine output.
For edema (yin edema) in the lower limbs and generalized swelling, with symptoms of lumbar soreness and fatigue due to kidney deficiency and blood stasis (chronic glomerulonephritis, chronic pyelonephritis, nephrotic syndrome, etc.), the formula Yi Shen Hua Yu Li Shui Tang (Wu Ling San with Dan Shen, Huang Qi, Sang Ji Sheng, Yi Mu Cao, Chuan Niu Xi, Shan Zha, Bai Mao Gen, Tong Cao, etc.) is often used;
For lower limb swelling, fatigue, abdominal distension and pain, dark tongue with stasis, and pulse with knots and intermittent beats due to heart yang deficiency and water damp blood stasis, Zhen Wu Tang combined with Dan Shen, Tao Ren, Huang Qi, Ting Li Zi, and Bai Mao Gen is often used;
For kidney yang deficiency, Jin Gui Shen Qi Tang with Dan Shen, Bai Mao Gen, and Du Zhong is often used; for qi stagnation and water retention, Chai Hu Shu Gan San combined with Wu Ling San and Dan Shen is often used;
For yang edema with facial swelling (such as acute glomerulonephritis), if it is due to wind evil obstructing the lungs and the qi mechanism of the three jiao is not smooth, the formula Yue Bi Jia Zhu Tang with Dan Shen, Yun Fu Ling, Che Qian Zi, Lian Qiao, etc. is often used;
For lung qi deficiency and cold leading to water pathway obstruction, Ling Gan Wu Wei Jiang Xin Tang with Dan Shen is often used to enhance efficacy.
In clinical practice, as long as syndrome differentiation is accurate and Dan Shen is used appropriately, it can often help eliminate abnormalities in urine tests.
The movement of body fluids relies on the regulation of lung qi, the transformation of spleen qi, and the steaming of kidney qi. If external pathogens invade or organ function is disordered, or if organ qi is deficient, it can lead to dysfunction of the three jiao, resulting in water retention.
Water and blood share a common source, as stated in the “Xue Zheng Lun”: “Water and blood support each other… mutually dependent.” Therefore, water retention and blood stasis influence each other, and whether it is yin or yang edema, the principles are the same, with differences in severity and urgency, hence the saying: “If blood is not smooth, it becomes water… if water is obstructed, blood cannot flow.”
6Cooling blood, detoxifying, and relieving swelling and pain, effective for abscesses, toxins, and skin diseases
Dan Shen also has the ability to reduce swelling and pain, cool blood, detoxify, and promote pus drainage and tissue regeneration.
For example, Dan Shen combined with Lian Qiao, Hua Fen, and Pu Gong Ying can treat breast abscesses; combined with Yin Hua, Lian Qiao, Ru Xiang, and Mo Yao can treat abscesses and toxins;
For acute abdominal pain (such as acute appendicitis), Da Huang Mu Dan Tang with Dan Shen and Hong Teng shows excellent results;
For chronic appendicitis, Dan Shen is often combined with Chai Hu, Yun Fu Ling, Huang Lian, Mu Xiang, Yan Hu Suo, Xiang Fu, Pu Gong Ying, and Shen Qu;
Due to Dan Shen’s cooling and detoxifying properties, the Green Bean Gan Cao Detoxifying Decoction (Green beans, Gan Cao, Lian Qiao, Shi Hu, Dan Shen, Da Huang, Bai Mao Gen) is often effective in treating various types of poisoning.
For damp-heat toxin and itching discharge (such as condyloma acuminatum, cervical erosion, etc.), Dan Shen is often combined with Huang Bai, Ku Shen, Sheng Gan Cao, Cang Zhu, Bai Zhu, Huai Shan Yao, Tu Fu Ling, Di Fu Zi, and Ye Ju Hua for internal use and external washing, showing significant efficacy.
For damp-heat toxin dysentery, Dan Shen is often combined with Bai Tou Weng Tang, and for high fever and delirium, it can be combined with An Gong Niu Huang Wan for decoction, both of which can enhance efficacy and shorten the treatment course;
For damp-heat scabies, Dan Shen, Ku Shen, and She Chuang Zi can be decocted for washing the affected areas.
According to the “Da Ming Ben Cao”: Dan Shen treats “malignant sores, abscesses, goiter, and toxic swellings, promoting pus drainage and tissue regeneration.”
Modern scientific research has proven that Dan Shen has a strong inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus, Escherichia coli, and Proteus, and a certain inhibitory effect on typhoid and dysentery bacteria.
In summary, there is no distinction between precious and humble medicines; the key lies in the method of application.
Dan Shen is cold and bitter, with properties of activating blood, removing stasis, opening the meridians, generating new blood, acting without breaking, reaching the organs and tissues, calming the spirit, relieving anxiety, detoxifying, cooling blood, reducing swelling and pain, promoting pus drainage, and regenerating tissue, and can treat abscesses and toxins. If used with proper syndrome differentiation, appropriate dosage, and skillful application of Dan Shen, the therapeutic effect will be excellent.
However, Dan Shen is cold and dispersive; for those with loose stools or blood stasis with cold, caution should be exercised when using it. Although the dosage can be larger, typically 15-30g, it is advisable to start with a small amount and not to use a large dose suddenly, which should not be overlooked.
Note: This article is excerpted from “Zhang Xuewen’s Clinical Insights,” published by China Medical Science and Technology Press, January 2014. This public account is used for academic exchange; if there is any infringement, please contact for deletion, and please indicate the source when reprinting.
Cover image source: Shetu Network.
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