Red Sage

  • Pinyin Name: Dan Shen
  • Common Name: Red Sage
  • Botanical Name: Salvia miltiorrhiza
  • Part Used: Root, Flower*
  • Properties: Bitter, cool, moves Blood
  • Channels Entered: Heart, Pericardium, Liver
  • Key Constituents: Polysaccharides, tanshinone I, tanshinone IIA, salvianolic acids

Growing and Harvesting Salvia miltiorrhiza

Red Sage is an easy hardy deciduous perennial plant to grow from seed or from root division. It is often planted in the fall and the red roots are harvested the following fall or allowed to mature a second year. The showy blue to purple flowers typically appear in the late spring or summer. The plant prefers good drainage and full sun but will tolerate some shade. (There are many decorative plants referred to as “red sage” that have red flowers, but these do not have the qualities of Salvia m.)

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Personality of Dan Shen: Dynamic, transforming, calming, enlightening, insightful, restorative, assertive, liberating, enlightening

*Dan Shen Flower Essence Indications

Salvia miltiorrhiza flower (not to be confused with western red sage flower essence) essence has multiple benefits and uses. Chinese medicine is based on Taoism which is a study of duality and seeks to bring balance of the entire being. Salvia moderates the Corporeal Soul, or Po and the Ethereal Soul, or Hun. The Po is related to the heavier grounded physical manifestation of spirit and the Hun is a lighter spirit energy that stays with one when they pass on or die. Red Sage also has a profound affect on the Shen, or Spirit, in Chinese medicine that relates to the Mind and emotions.

  • Aids one in spiritual refinement leading to a state of Heaven on Earth.
  • Promotes letting go of negative emotions, calms and nourishes the Shen.
  • Promotes clear thought, vision, and insight. Useful for those who have developed a dull mind and lost the light in their eyes reflecting their brilliance. Transforms a muddled mind and poor communication into the ability produce insightful thought and project clear communication.
  • Banishes spirit demons in senility patients seeing and/or talking to ghosts who are unsettling. Used in cases of spirit possession.
  • Allows a terminal patient stuck in their body to let go and pass on.

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Western View: Salvia miltiorrhiza is the focus of many scientific studies in the West because it holds promise in combating many of conditions resulting from diabetes and other difficult and troubling diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Salvia miltiorrhiza Root Preparation: Decoction 9-15 grams per day most common

Medicinal Benefits and Uses of Salvia miltiorrhiza Root

Dan Shen, or Tan Shen, is considered a superior herb in traditional Chinese medicine because of it has been used for thousands of years without signs of toxicity or side effects when dosed correctly. It is most often combined with other herbs in formulas, but can be used as a single remedy.
Fire Element-Heart disease, cardiovascular disease, memory loss, insomnia, palpitations due to Blood Stagnation

Wood Element-Fatty liver disease, eye disorders, menstrual disorders, stroke, high blood pressure, viral hepatitis,

Metal Element-Immune insufficiencies

Water Element-Kidney stones, renal failure

**Five Elements of Chinese Medicine and corresponding energetic organ systems linked here

Other Conditions that may benefits from Salvia miltiorrhiza:

Contraindications and Cautions: Take care if you are on blood thinning medications, heart medications, are pregnant, or have a bleeding disorder. Discontinue two days before and after scheduled surgeries. Always consult with your local healthcare provider before using herbal medicine.

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References

Jung I, Kim H, Moon S, Lee H, Kim B. Overview of Salvia miltiorrhiza as a Potential Therapeutic Agent for Various Diseases: An Update on Efficacy and Mechanisms of Action. Antioxidants (Basel). 2020 Sep 13;9(9):857. doi: 10.3390/antiox9090857. PMID: 32933217; PMCID: PMC7555792.

Yang W., Ju J.H., Jeon M.J., Han X., Shin I. Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) extract inhibits proliferation of breast cancer cells via modulation of Akt activity and p27 level. Phytother. Res. 2010;24:198–204. 

Wu C., Chen W., Fang M., Boye A., Tao X., Xu Y., Hou S., Yang Y. Compound Astragalus and Salvia miltiorrhiza extract inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma progression via miR-145/miR-21 mediated Smad3 phosphorylation. J. Ethnopharmacol. 2019;231:98–112. 

Gao L.N., Yan K., Cui Y.L., Fan G.W., Wang Y.F. Protective effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza and Carthamus tinctorius extract against lipopolysaccharide-induced liver injury. World J. Gastroenterol. 2015;21:9079–9092. 

Zhang Q., Liu X., Yan L., Zhao R., An J., Liu C., Yang H. Danshen extract (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge) attenuate spinal cord injury in a rat model: A metabolomic approach for the mechanism study. Phytomedicine. 2019;62:152966.

Peng Y., Yang T., Huang K., Shen L., Tao Y., Liu C. Salvia Miltiorrhiza Ameliorates Liver Fibrosis by Activating Hepatic Natural Killer Cells in Vivo and in Vitro. Front. Pharmacol. 2018;9:762.

This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.