Danshen and Tianma are both commonly used traditional Chinese medicinal materials. Many middle-aged and elderly people also use them as health supplements. Can Danshen and Tianma be taken together? What are the effects of Danshen and Tianma?
Can Danshen and Tianma be taken together?
Yes, they can.
Danshen powder is made from the roots and stems of the Danshen plant. It has a bitter taste and a slightly cold nature. It has the effects of promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, regulating menstruation, relieving pain, nourishing the heart, calming the mind, cooling the blood, and dissolving abscesses. Tianma has a sweet taste and a neutral nature. It has the effects of calming wind, suppressing liver yang, and has no significant toxic side effects. The properties of Danshen powder and Tianma do not conflict with each other, so Danshen powder and Tianma can be taken together.
Effects of Danshen powder and Tianma
Promoting blood circulation and regulating menstruation
Danshen powder can promote blood circulation, remove blood stasis, and regulate menstruation. It helps dilate blood vessels, maintain vascular smoothness, and has the ability to reduce blood viscosity and inhibit arteriosclerosis. It can be used to treat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease and hypertension, as well as menstrual disorders, dysmenorrhea, poor blood circulation, and injuries caused by falls or blows.
Soothing and calming the mind
Danshen powder can calm the mind and relieve irritability. Its active ingredients have certain sedative and analgesic effects on the central nervous system, helping to relieve sleep disorders and improve neurasthenic insomnia. The active ingredients in Tianma can inhibit caffeine-induced nervous excitement and have a certain sedative effect.
Suppressing liver yang
Tianma has the effects of suppressing wind, relieving spasms, and suppressing liver yang. It nourishes the blood and suppresses wind, making it suitable for the treatment of childhood convulsions, epileptic seizures, headaches, dizziness, hemiplegia, numbness in limbs, rheumatic pain, and other conditions.
Pain relief
Tianma has good analgesic effects. Its active ingredients have significant analgesic effects on various neuralgia, including trigeminal neuralgia, vascular neurogenic headache, and headache caused by cerebrovascular diseases.
Improving vision and enhancing intelligence
Tianma has a certain effect of improving vision and enhancing memory. Its active ingredients can protect and regulate the human brain and nervous system, enhance the discrimination ability of the optic nerve, and have a certain therapeutic effect on senile dementia and the restoration of memory in the elderly.
Lowering blood pressure and blood lipid levels
Danshen powder can promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis. Its active ingredient, tanshinone, can help dilate blood vessels, maintain vascular smoothness, and reduce blood viscosity. The components of Danshen powder, such as salvianolic acid and rosmarinic acid, have certain anti-lipid peroxidation effects. Therefore, Danshen powder has a certain auxiliary therapeutic effect on hypertension and diabetes. Tianma can increase the blood flow to the peripheral and coronary arteries, which can help lower blood pressure and protect the heart.
How to take Danshen powder and Tianma
1. Grind Tianma into fine powder.
2. Take about 5 grams of Danshen powder and Tianma powder each.
3. Mix them with warm water and stir well. Take it orally.
4. You can also put them directly into your mouth and swallow with warm water.
5. Take it twice a day.
Suggestion: Danshen powder has the effects of promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, stopping bleeding, and relieving pain. Adding an appropriate amount of Sanqi powder to Danshen powder and Tianma powder can enhance the effects of promoting blood circulation, regulating menstruation, lowering blood pressure, and protecting the heart.
Precautions for taking Danshen powder and Tianma
1. Do not exceed the recommended dosage
The recommended dosage of Danshen powder is 3-6 grams per dose, and the dosage of Tianma is 6-9 grams per dose. Both of them are herbal medicines and should not be taken in excessive amounts. The strong blood-activating effect of Danshen powder may cause gastrointestinal bleeding if taken in large doses. Tianma has certain toxic side effects, and taking it in large doses may cause poisoning. The toxic dosage of Tianma is more than 40 grams, and the incubation period for poisoning is 1-6 hours.
2. Not recommended for long-term use
It is recommended to stop using Danshen powder and Tianma after the symptoms disappear. Long-term use is not recommended. Danshen has a strong blood-activating and qi-regulating effect, and long-term use may lead to decreased blood potassium levels. Long-term use of Tianma may cause skin rashes and is not conducive to overall health.
3. Do not take with Lurong
In traditional Chinese medicine, it is said that Danshen and Lurong have opposite properties. If taken together, they may produce toxic side effects that are harmful to the body. Therefore, avoid taking Lurong when taking Danshen powder.
4. Do not take with anticoagulant medication
Avoid taking Danshen powder with anticoagulant medications such as aspirin and warfarin. Danshen powder also has antiplatelet aggregation effects. Taking it with anticoagulant drugs may enhance the therapeutic effect and may cause local bleeding.
Contraindications for taking Danshen powder and Tianma
1. Pregnant women
Danshen powder has a strong blood-activating and blood-stasis-resolving effect. It can stimulate uterine blood vessels to a certain extent, leading to uterine contractions. Pregnant women taking Danshen powder may affect the fetus and even cause miscarriage.
2. Yin deficiency and blood deficiency
People with symptoms of yin deficiency and blood deficiency, such as dry mouth, reduced urine output, and excessive internal heat, should be cautious when taking Tianma. It is best to take it under the guidance of a doctor. Otherwise, it will not only have a therapeutic effect, but may worsen the symptoms.
3. Allergic individuals
People with a history of allergies should avoid taking Tianma, as it may aggravate allergic symptoms and even cause adverse reactions such as chest tightness, rapid breathing, nausea, and vomiting. If the symptoms are severe, it is advisable to seek medical attention immediately.
