Danshen is a common traditional Chinese medicine, known for its blood-activating and stasis-removing effects, as well as its ability to regulate menstruation and relieve pain. Danshen is typically consumed through decoction or soaking in water. But can Danshen be soaked in alcohol?
Can Danshen be soaked in alcohol?
Danshen has a bitter taste and slightly cold nature. It has the effects of promoting blood circulation, generating new blood, activating blood, and regulating menstruation. Alcohol is known as the "king of medicines" and has the ability to promote blood circulation and warm the meridians. It also has the characteristics of enhancing the potency of medicines and facilitating their upward movement. The active ingredients in Danshen are easily soluble in alcohol, and alcohol can enhance the blood-activating and stasis-removing effects of Danshen. Therefore, Danshen can indeed be soaked in alcohol.
What are the benefits of soaking Danshen in alcohol?
Blood-activating and stasis-removing
Danshen has a bitter taste and warm nature, making it effective in promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. Alcohol also has the ability to promote blood circulation and warm the meridians. Soaking Danshen in alcohol can assist in the treatment of menstrual disorders, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, and rheumatic pain caused by blood stasis.
Nourishing the heart and calming the mind
According to traditional Chinese medicine, Danshen has the ability to clear the heart and relieve restlessness. Its active ingredients have certain sedative and analgesic effects on the central nervous system. Soaking Danshen in alcohol can help improve neurosis-related insomnia.
Preventing and treating coronary heart disease
Danshen has a strong blood-activating and stasis-removing effect, which can dilate blood vessels, increase blood flow in the coronary arteries, and prevent myocardial ischemia. Its active ingredients can also improve microcirculation and reduce blood viscosity. Therefore, soaking Danshen in alcohol can to some extent prevent and treat angina caused by coronary heart disease.
Lowering blood lipid levels
Danshen has a strong blood-activating effect, which can expand cardiovascular and cerebrovascular vessels to a certain extent, reduce their resistance, and its active ingredients, salvianolic acid and rosmarinic acid, have the ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation. Soaking Danshen in alcohol can help lower blood lipid levels.
How to soak Danshen in alcohol?
Ingredients: 30 grams of Danshen, 500 milliliters of rice wine.
1. Rinse the Danshen thoroughly and soak it in clean water until softened.
2. Slice the Danshen and put it into the soaking container.
3. Pour in the rice wine, seal the container, and shake well.
4. Shake the bottle once a day.
5. Let it soak for about 2 weeks before consumption.
6. Take 10 milliliters at a time, twice a day.
Precautions when drinking Danshen soaked in alcohol
1. Avoid excessive consumption
It is generally recommended to consume 10-15 milliliters of Danshen soaked in alcohol at a time, twice a day. The dosage can be adjusted according to the depth of alcohol tolerance. Excessive consumption of Danshen may cause gastrointestinal bleeding due to its strong blood-activating and stasis-removing effects. Excessive alcohol intake can also harm the intestines, stomach, and liver.
2. Avoid simultaneous use with Ligusticum wallichii
According to the "Eighteen Incompatibilities" in traditional Chinese medicine, Danshen and Ligusticum wallichii have opposing properties. Therefore, they should not be used together, as it may lead to toxic reactions and affect health. Danshen soaked in alcohol should not be consumed with Ligusticum wallichii.
3. Avoid concomitant use with anticoagulants
Danshen has the ability to inhibit platelet aggregation. When used together with anticoagulants such as aspirin and warfarin, it may enhance their anticoagulant effects, leading to bleeding.
Contraindications for drinking Danshen soaked in alcohol
1. Pregnant women should avoid consumption
Danshen is a blood-activating and stasis-removing medicine that has a strong blood-activating effect and can stimulate uterine blood vessels, leading to uterine contractions. Drinking Danshen soaked in alcohol during pregnancy may cause miscarriage, and excessive alcohol intake can affect fetal intellectual development.
2. Allergies should be cautious
People who are allergic to alcohol or Danshen should be cautious when consuming Danshen soaked in alcohol. Otherwise, they may experience stomach pain, nausea, decreased appetite, itching all over the body, urticaria, and other discomforts. In severe cases, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and other symptoms may occur. If you are unsure about your own allergies, you can start with a small amount and observe your body's reaction. If there are no adverse reactions, you can continue consumption.
3. Hypertensive patients should be cautious
Alcohol can stimulate blood vessels and cause vasoconstriction. Hypertensive patients should be cautious when drinking alcohol, as it may cause an increase in blood pressure. Therefore, it is advisable for hypertensive patients to be cautious when consuming Danshen soaked in alcohol.
