Dan Shen is a high-quality traditional Chinese medicine, which has the effect of nourishing blood and nourishing yin. The rhizome is used as medicine. Now let's understand the efficacy, function, and contraindications of Dan Shen.
I. Efficacy and Function of Dan Shen
1. Nourishing yin and stopping sweating
Dan Shen is a commonly used tonic traditional Chinese medicine. It can nourish blood and nourish yin, and has a certain therapeutic effect on common symptoms in middle-aged and elderly people, such as soreness of waist and knees, decreased hearing, premature graying of hair, and hair loss. In addition, Dan Shen is also suitable for various blood deficiency and liver and kidney yin deficiency symptoms, such as pale complexion, palpitations, dizziness, insomnia, irregular menstruation, hot flashes, thirst, night sweats, and irregular uterine bleeding.
2. Tonifying kidney and consolidating foundation
Dan Shen enters the kidney meridian and has the effects of tonifying and strengthening the kidney, as well as replenishing essence. It is good at treating symptoms such as dizziness, blurred vision, soreness of waist and knees, and nocturnal emission caused by liver and kidney essence and blood deficiency.
3. Invigorating qi and stopping bleeding
After being carbonized, Dan Shen can increase its hemostatic effect, which is suitable for blood disorders. It has a significant therapeutic effect on excessive menstruation, continuous uterine bleeding, and functional uterine bleeding caused by deficiency of both qi and blood. When taken with Dang Gui and Bai Shao, it can be used to nourish blood. When taken with Shan Zhu Yu, it can tonify the liver and kidneys. When taken with Ejiao, Dang Gui, and Bai Shao, it can be used to treat menstrual disorders.
4. Nourishing blood and replenishing deficiency
Dan Shen is sweet and warm, nourishes yin and replenishes essence to generate blood, making it an essential medicine for nourishing blood and replenishing deficiency. It is often used together with Dang Gui, Bai Shao, and Chuan Xiong to treat blood deficiency, yellowing, dizziness, palpitations, insomnia, and irregular menstruation. If there is heart blood deficiency with palpitations and restlessness, it can be used together with Yuan Zhi and Sour Jujube Seed to calm the mind. If there is uterine bleeding leading to blood deficiency and coldness and pain in the lower abdomen, it can be used together with Ejiao and Ai Ye to nourish blood, stop bleeding, warm the meridians, and dispel cold.
II. Contraindications of Dan Shen
1. Do not use copper or iron utensils for preparing and decocting Dan Shen.
2. Avoid eating radish, three whites, and various blood when taking Dan Shen.
3. For patients with typhoid fever, the pathogen enters from the outside and should be dispelled rather than taking Dan Shen.
4. For those with yin deficiency and cough, internal heat and bone steaming, or hemoptysis, if there is weakness of the spleen and stomach, loose stools in the morning, postpartum diarrhea, loss of appetite after delivery, or long-term illness, Dan Shen (cooked) should be avoided.
