Chinese: 丹参饮
Pinyin: Dān Shēn Yǐn
Other names: Salvia Drink
Number of ingredients: 3 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that invigorate Blood and dispel Blood Stagnation
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: HepatitisPancreatitisCholecystitis and five other conditions
- Invigorates the Blood and removes Blood Stagnation
- Promote Qi movement
- Relieves pain
Contraindications: Contraindicated during pregnancy and in cases with bleeding diathesis or any... Contraindicated during pregnancy and in cases with bleeding diathesis or any active hemorrhagic disorder. see more
Source date: 1801 AD
Source book: Compendium of Songs on Modern Formulas
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Dan Shen Yin is a 3-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Red Sage Roots (Dan Shen) as a principal ingredient.
Invented in 1801 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that invigorate Blood and dispel Blood Stagnation. Its main actions are: 1) invigorates the Blood and removes Blood Stagnation and 2) promote Qi movement .
In Chinese Medicine health conditions are thought to arise due to "disharmonies" in the body as a system. These disharmonies are called "patterns" and the very purpose of herbal formulas is to fight them in order to restore the body's harmony.
In this case Dan Shen Yin is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Blood Stagnation or Qi And Blood Stagnation. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as angina pectoris, hepatitis or pancreatitis for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the three ingredients in Dan Shen Yin, we review the patterns and conditions that Dan Shen Yin helps treat.
The three ingredients in Dan Shen Yin
Dan Shen is a king ingredient in Dan Shen Yin. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Red Sage Roots (Dan Shen)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Cool
Taste(s): Bitter
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
Dan Shen bitter and slightly cold. It can be used in a large dosage without injuring the Qi and Blood. It serves as the key herb to invigorate the Blood, transform Blood Stagnation, and alleviate pain.
Tan Xiang is a deputy ingredient in Dan Shen Yin. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
2. Sandalwood (Tan Xiang)
Part used: The wood
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomachHeartLung
Category: Herbs that regulate Qi
In general Tan Xiang's main actions are as follows: "Clears Qi Stagnant in the chest and abdomen. "
In the context of Dan Shen Yin, it is used because it warms the Middle Burner and regulates the Qi.
Sha Ren is an assistant ingredient in Dan Shen Yin. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
3. Amomum Fruits (Sha Ren)
Part used: Dried ripe fruit
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Meridian affinity: KidneySpleenStomach
Category: Aromatic herbs that transform Dampness
Sha Ren promotes the Qi movement, relaxes the Middle Burner, disperses the stifling sensation of constraint in the chest, and relieves pain.
Conditions and patterns for which Dan Shen Yin may be prescribed
It's important to remember that herbal formulas are meant to treat patterns, not "diseases" as understood in Western Medicine. According to Chinese Medicine patterns, which are disruptions to the body as a system, are the underlying root cause for diseases and conditions.
As such Dan Shen Yin is used by TCM practitioners to treat two different patterns which we describe below.
But before we delve into these patterns here is an overview of the Western conditions they're commonly associated with:
Angina pectoris Hepatitis Pancreatitis Cholecystitis Chronic gastritis Peptic ulcers Primary dysmenorrhea Secondary dysmenorrhea
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Dan Shen Yin treats angina pectoris" for instance. Rather, Dan Shen Yin is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind angina pectoris.
Now let's look at the two patterns commonly treated with Dan Shen Yin.
Blood (Xue) is one of Chinese Medicine's vital subtances. Learn more about Blood in Chinese Medicine
Blood Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Firm (Lao), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue color: Reddish-Purple
Symptoms: Lumps Tremor Numbness Dark face Dizziness Purple lips Purple nails Blotchy skin Restlessness Itching scalp Painful period Abdominal mass Scanty periods Abdominal pain Abdominal masses Skin capillaries Hesitant periods Tendency to bleed Premenstrual pain Dark colored blood Traumatic swelling Shoulder stiffness Absence of menstruation Boring fixed stabbing pain Frequent bleeding episodes Dark clots in menstrual blood Abdominal distention and fullness
Dan Shen Yin is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Blood Stagnation. This pattern leads to symptoms such as dark face, purple lips, boring fixed stabbing pain and abdominal masses. Patients with Blood Stagnation typically exhibit choppy (Se), firm (Lao) or wiry (Xian) pulses as well as Purple tongue .
Blood Stagnation - also often referred to as "Blood Stasis" - is where the Blood flow is heavily restricted in all or parts of the body. It is one of the most important diagnostic conditions in Chinese Medicine because it is frequently the cause of intractable pain syndromes anywhere in the... read more about Blood Stagnation
Qi is one of Chinese Medicine's vital subtances. Learn more about Qi in Chinese Medicine
Qi And Blood Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Deep (Chen), Fine (Xi)
Symptoms: Insomnia Dark face Moodiness Dizziness Chest pain Depression Amenorrhea Purple lips Mood swings Breast pain Hot flushes Purple nails Irritability Blotchy skin Restlessness Breast lumps Restlnessness Chest fullness Painful period Scanty periods Clots in blood Abdominal pain Abdominal masses Lochia retention Breast distention Dark colored blood Abdominal fullness Intense period pain High blood pressure Swelling of the feet Lower abdominal pain Dark menstrual blood Flooding and leaking Abdominal distension Pre-menstrual tension Black and tarry stools Irregular menstruation Boring fixed stabbing pain Pre-menstrual irritability Dark clots in menstrual blood Menstruation decreases gratually Feeling of fullness in the chest Abdominal distention and fullness Pain relief after clots discharge
Dan Shen Yin is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Qi And Blood Stagnation. This pattern leads to symptoms such as chest fullness, chest pain, boring fixed stabbing pain and dark face. Patients with Qi And Blood Stagnation typically exhibit choppy (Se), deep (Chen) or fine (Xi) pulses.
The typical symptoms of Qi stagnation are distension, oppression and swelling. There are also emotional issues like mood swing, depression or irritability. However, the Blood Stagnation is more on pains and purple color manifestation on skin, face, lips and nails.
Qi Stagnation can cause the... read more about Qi And Blood Stagnation
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