Dan Shen
Salviae miltiorrhizae Radix
bitter, slightly cold
PRIMARY FUNCTION:
Circulate Blood
CLASSICAL MANIFESTATIONS:
- Shen disturbance
- Restlessness
- Irascibility
- Palpitations
- Insomnia
- Sores
- Breast abscess
- Blood deficiency
Dan Shen is bitter and slightly cold. It enters the liver, pericardium, and heart systems. It has a blood nourishing effect while at the same time moves the blood.
Dan Shen is often used in coronary artery disease and is used for many gynecological disorders. Dan Shen can also treat heart and kidney yin deficiency patterns. Its relationship to the heart system allows it to treat disorders related to shen.
Channels: heart, pericardium, liver
COMMON APPLICATIONS AND CLINICAL POSSIBILITIES:
- Skin sores
- CAD
- Angina
- Amenorrhea
- Dysmenorrhea
- Infertility
- Headache
- Arthritis
- Stroke
- Hypertension
- Physical trauma
- Mastitis
- Insomnia
- Mood swings
- Analgesia
- Enlargement of liver
- Antitumor
- Cough
- Antimicrobial
- Dyslipidemia
- Low back pain
- Thyroid dysregulation
Formulas:
- Dan Shen Yin
- Dang Gui Ji Xue Teng Tang
- Huo Luo Xiao Ling Dan
- Jing Qian Fang
- Qing Ying Tang
- Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan
- Yi Yin Jian
Contraindications: do not prescribe Dan Shen to patients that are pregnant, do not combine Dan Shen with Li Lu
Zoo Image: an upset roadrunner in a straight jacket that is tight around his abdomen is standing in hot blood in holes the shape of kidneys and a heart while a bat flies by