HomeTraditional Chinese Medicine HerbsDan - shen Root

Dan - shen Root

Name

Dan - shen Root

Latin Pharmaceutical Name

Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma

Chinese Name

丹参

Category

Roots and rhizomes

Dan - shen RootMore Info

Production Regions

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui, Sichuan.

Macroscopic Features

Mostly are roots with rhizomes, rhizomes are thick and short with remnants of stem base, lower portion with numerous thin and long roots. Roots are cylindrical and slightly curved; externally erythrine, rough, with numerous longitudinal grooves or wrinkles, with scars of rootlets. Outer cortex has fallen off scale-like, some with cracks; 8~22cm long, 5~12cm diameter, firm and brittle texture, easily broken; fractured surface is uneven, loose with cracks; cortexes brown or erythrine, narrow. Cambium is obvious pale brown; xylem vascular bundle is grayish-yellow or yellowish-white, radial arrangement. faint odor; slightly bitter and astringent.

Quality Requirements

Superior medicinal material is thick and strong, purple-red.

Properties

Bitter, slightly cold.

Functions

Invigorates the blood, regulates menstruation, dispels stasis, relieves pain, cools blood, relieves ulcer, clears the heart, eliminates vexation, nourishing the blood and calming mental state. Apply to irregular menstrual period, amenorrhea and painful menstruation, abdominal mass and food accumulation, chest and abdominal sting, pyretic arthralgia and pain, anthracia and swelling pain, dysphoria and insomnia, live and spleen swelling, angina pectoris.

Origin

The dried root and rhizomes of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge.(Labiatae).

Dan - shen RootHerbs in the formula

Ying Level Heat-Clearing Decoction

Action：Clears heat from the ying level, resolves toxins, vents heat from the ying level, and nourishes yin.

Indication：This formula is indicated for the heat in the ying level. The symptoms are fever aggravated at night, vexation and sleeplessness, occasional delirious speech, thirst or not, inconspicuous macules and papules, crimson colored, dry tongue, and a thready, rapid pulse.

View Details Heat-clearing formulas

Convulsion-Settling Pill

Action：Removes phlegm and extinguishes wind.

Indication：Ding Xian Wan is applicable to epilepsy caused by wind-phlegm-heat accumulation. The clinical manifestation include a sudden onset of epilepsy, dizziness, falling to the ground, losing consciousness, anoopsia, vomiting white foam, wheezing sound in the throat, yelling, convulsion of the limbs, a whitish-yellow and greasy tongue coating, and a wiry, slippery, and slightly rapid pulse. It can also be used to treat manic-depressive psychosis.

View Details Phlegm-expelling formulas

Celestial Emperor Heart-Supplementing Elixir

Action：Enriches yin and clears heat, nourishes blood and calms the mind.

Indication：Deficiency of yin and insufficiency of blood have lead to the disturbance of the mind. Symptoms include palpitations, vexation, insomnia, mental fatigue, forgetfulness, nocturnal emission, feverish feeling in palms and soles, aphtha, a sore mouth and tongue, and dry stool. The tongue is red with scanty coating, and the pulse is thin and rapid.

View Details Sedative and tranquilizing formulas