Danshen and Dangshen are both common Chinese medicinal materials. Although their names differ by only one character, their appearance and efficacy are completely different. So what are the differences between Danshen and Dangshen?
Different sources
Danshen: It is the dried root and rhizome of the plant Salvia miltiorrhiza, which belongs to the family Lamiaceae. It is distributed in most parts of China and prefers to grow in sunny slopes, ditches, roadsides, or forest edges.
Dangshen: It is the root of the perennial herb Dangshen, which belongs to the family Campanulaceae. It is mainly distributed in China, Korea, Mongolia, and Russia, and grows in mountainous forests and shrubs at an altitude of 1560-3100 meters.
Different appearances
Danshen: The rhizome is short and thick, cylindrical in shape, and the surface is reddish-brown or dark reddish-brown with longitudinal wrinkles. The cut surface has cracks or is slightly flat and dense, with yellow-white radial lines.
Dangshen: It is cylindrical, spindle-shaped, or long-conical in shape, yellow-white, pale brown or brownish-brown, with irregular longitudinal grooves and wrinkles, soft or hard in texture, and the cross-section is relatively flat, some of which are keratinized with thicker epidermis.
Different tastes
Danshen: Danshen has a slight odor and a distinct bitter taste when put in the mouth, with poor palatability.
Dangshen: Dangshen has a strong aroma, and when chewed in the mouth, it has a soft and smooth texture with a noticeable sweet taste, without any residues.
Different efficacies
Danshen: Danshen has the functions of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, regulating menstruation and relieving pain, clearing the heart and eliminating vexation, and cooling blood and dissolving abscesses. It can be used to treat chest pain, abdominal pain, restlessness, irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, and painful abscesses. It also has certain auxiliary therapeutic effects on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia.
Dangshen: Dangshen has the functions of tonifying the middle and benefiting qi, invigorating the spleen and lung, relieving thirst and generating body fluids. It has similar medicinal effects to ginseng, but the potency is weaker than ginseng. It can be used to treat symptoms such as poor appetite, cough and asthma, insufficient qi and blood, pale complexion, and dry mouth due to fluid deficiency.
Can Danshen and Dangshen be taken together?
Yes, they can.
Danshen has a bitter taste, neutral in nature, enters the heart and liver meridians, and has the effects of promoting blood circulation, resolving blood stasis, and regulating menstruation and relieving pain; Dangshen has a sweet taste, neutral in nature, enters the spleen and lung meridians, and has the effects of tonifying the middle, benefiting qi, invigorating the spleen, and nourishing the stomach. Both Danshen and Dangshen have no significant toxic side effects, and their properties and medicinal effects do not conflict significantly. Therefore, Danshen and Dangshen can be taken together.
However, Danshen and Dangshen are both Chinese medicinal materials, and self-medication is not recommended. It is advisable to consult a doctor and follow their advice on drug compatibility and dosage.
