Small Classroom on Dietary Therapy – Understanding Medicinal Foods
Hi~ Welcome to the small classroom of authentic dietary therapy – “Understanding Medicinal Foods”. The dietary therapy expert will regularly introduce various important ingredients, helping you understand the characteristics and properties of Chinese herbs. Let’s become little experts in Chinese medicine together!
Introduction to Medicinal Foods
Dan Shen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) is a Chinese medicinal herb. It is harvested in spring and autumn, cleaned of soil, and dried. It is distributed in most regions of the country. It has the effects of activating blood circulation, removing blood stasis, regulating menstruation, alleviating pain, clearing the heart, relieving irritability, cooling the blood, and reducing abscesses. It is used for chest pain, abdominal pain, masses, painful obstruction due to heat, irritability and insomnia, menstrual irregularities, dysmenorrhea, and painful swelling.
Overview of Basic Knowledge
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Alias |
Qie Chan Cao, Chi Shen, Mu Yang Ru |
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Taste and Properties |
Bitter taste, slightly cold nature |
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Meridians Entered |
Heart, Pericardium, Liver |
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Functions and Effects |
Activates blood circulation, regulates menstruation, removes blood stasis, alleviates pain, relieves irritability, calms the mind |
Effects and Efficacy
01
Menstrual irregularities, dysmenorrhea, postpartum abdominal pain due to blood stasis
It is effective in activating blood circulation and removing blood stasis, with a slightly cold and gentle nature, capable of promoting new blood without harming the righteous Qi, and is commonly used in gynecology for regulating menstruation. Clinically, it is often used for menstrual irregularities, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, and postpartum abdominal pain due to blood stasis. Its slightly cold nature is particularly suitable for conditions of blood heat and stasis.
02
Chest pain due to blood stasis, abdominal pain, trauma
Dan Shen is effective in promoting blood flow, removing blood stasis, and alleviating pain, widely used for various blood stasis-related conditions.
03
Abscesses and toxic swellings
Dan Shen has a cold nature, which can cool the blood and activate blood circulation, as well as clear heat and reduce abscesses.
04
Fever, irritability, and insomnia
Dan Shen enters the heart meridian, capable of clearing heat and cooling the blood, relieving irritability, calming the mind, and nourishing the blood to stabilize the spirit.
Contraindications
Contraindications in Chinese Medicine
Do not use with Li Lu (Veratrum)
Contraindications with Western Medicine
Should not be used with aluminum hydroxide or cytochrome C injection, as they can form complexes that affect absorption.
Dan Shen can promote the metastasis of malignant tumors and should not be used with chemotherapy drugs such as cyclophosphamide, fluorouracil, and cytarabine.
Using Dan Shen with antacids can produce chelates, reducing the bioavailability of Dan Shen and affecting its efficacy.
Dan Shen should not be used with atropine, as atropine can block the hypotensive effect of Dan Shen.
Mixing Dan Shen injection with vitamin C can cause redox reactions, leading to a reduction or loss of efficacy of both.
When used with Western anticoagulants, sedatives, anesthetics, etc., the dosage should be reduced.
Precautions
Avoid vinegar and acidic foods in the diet.
Women with excessive menstruation and no blood stasis should avoid use; pregnant women should use with caution.
Dietary Recipe
Warming Menstruation Dan Shen Tea
Ingredients: 15 grams of Dan Shen, appropriate amount of brown sugar, 150 milliliters of water.
Method:
1. Rinse Dan Shen slightly, place it in a pot, and add water to decoct.
2. When about 100 milliliters of water remains, remove the Dan Shen.
3. Add an appropriate amount of brown sugar according to personal taste, stir well, and it is ready to drink.
Efficacy: It has the effects of tonifying Qi and nourishing blood, warming the meridians, and activating blood circulation, which is very helpful for women with menstrual irregularities.
Usage: Drink freely, but those with excessive heat and bleeding should avoid it.
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