WH Acupuncture & Herbs Centre

It is the root and rhizome of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge.,family Labiatae. It is dug and collected in spring and winter. Stalks ad leaves removed, it is washed clean, and cut into pieces after being moistened completely, then dired in the sun. The raw or the stir-baked with Liquor could be used.

[ Medicinal Properties ]: Bitter, slightly cold; relate to heart and liver meridians

[ Medicinal Efficacies ]: Promote blood circulation to remove blood stasis, cool the blood to relieve carbuncle; remove annoyance and tranquilize the mind.

[ Clinical Applications ]: 1. Blood-stasis Syndromes        It is especially effective for women's syndromes of blood-stasis with heat, such as irregular menstruation, amenorrhea and postpartum abdominal pain. It can be taken in powder form together with old-aged wine, or combined with Danggui and Yimucao. For angina pectoris and epigastric pain, caused by blood-stasis and stagnation of qi, it can be combined with Tanxiang, Sharen, such as in the Danshen Decoction. In cases of abdominal masses, combined with Sanleng, ezhu and Biejia. For trauma with pain due to blood-stasis, combined with Danggui, Honghua and Chuanxiong. IN addition, for heat Bi-syndrome with reddish, swollen and painful joints, it should be combined with Rendongteng, Chishao and Sangzhi.

2. Breast abscess with swelling and pain         To treat treast abscess with swelling and pain, it is usually combined with Ruxiang, Jinyinhua and Lianqiao, such as in the Xiaoru Decoction.

3. Restlessness and insomnia      For heat invading the nutrient and blood systems in the seasonal febrile disease, it is usually combined with Dihuang and xuanshen, as in the Qingying Decoction. For blood failing to nourish the heart, it is combined with Suanzaoren and Yejiaoteng.

[ Usage and Dosage ]: 9-15g. The stir-baked with wine form has the ability to stregthen the medicinals action of promoting blood circulation.

 [ Precautions ]: It is incompatible with Lilu.

[ Medicinal Comparison ]: Similarities: Chuangxiong and Danshen can circulate blood and disperse stasis. They can be used to treat pain caused by blood-stasis, swelling abscess, sores and toxins, as well as , Bi-syndrome pain of wind-damp type.

Differences: Chuangxiong is pungent , dispersing,warming and circulating and can move qi and dispel wind to relieve pain. It is often used to treat syndrome of qi stagnation and blood-stasis, and is the most signifecant medicinal for the treatment of headache. Danshen is bitter and slightly cold, ad is efficacious in regualting menstruation. Especially it is superior to be used for stagnation caused by blood-heat. It can also cool the blood and treat abscess, nourish the blood and induce sedation, for which it may be sued to treat heat arthralgia, warm and heat diseases, and insomnia due to the blood failing to nourish the heart.

丹参为唇形科植物丹参Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge.的根。多为栽培，全国大部分地区均有。主产于四川、安徽、江苏、河南、山西等地。春、秋两季采挖，除去茎叶，洗净，润透，切成厚片，晒干。生用或酒炙用。