Danshen

A genus of some 900 species of mostly aromatic annuals, biennials, perennials, and mainly evergreen shrubs and subshrubs, found worldwide in temperate, subtropical, and dry tropical areas. They favor dry, stony, or rocky hillsides, scrub, and meadows, almost always in open, sunny places. Salvias have interesting and diverse aromas, textures, and colors, and their flowers secrete abundant nectar, making them locally important as bee plants. Over 100 species and many variants are available as ornamentals, some of which have medicinal and culinary uses. They are rewarding plants to grow, since they have a long flowering period and combine well with many other kinds of garden plants. Few make good cut flowers, the exceptions being S. sclarea and S. viridis, which are excellent both fresh and dried. The hardiest and most widely used species is common sage, S. officinalis, which has been cultivated in N Europe since medieval times, and was introduced to N America in the 17th century. The Romans used it to increase fertility, and its medicinal uses were mentioned by Theophrastus, Dioscorides, and Pliny. Known as Salvia salvatrix ("sage the savior"), its reputation for promoting longevity began in Classical times, giving rise to sayings such as "he that would live for aye [ever], must eat sage in May". The name of this genus also reflects this, bring from the Latin salvere, "to be well". Sages are rich in volatile oils, which vary greatly from species to species. Salvia officinalis contains a camphoraceous oil, consisting of about 50 percent thujone. In excess, this compound is hallucinogenic, addictive, and toxic. Salvia fruticosa has less thujone and S. lavandulifolia has none. Salvia offinalis also contains rosmarinic acid, which has the effect of stopping perspiration within about two hours of the correct dose being given. Dried sage is popular in the kitchen, and commercial dried sage may include leaves of S. fruticosa, S. lavandulifolia, and S. pomifera as well as S. officinalis. Meadow sage (S. pratensis) has also been used as a substitute for common sage, and as a flavoring for beer and wine. Salvias are numerous in western N America and C America, and many are used locally for flavoring. Many species have bright red or yellow flowers that are pollinated by hummingbirds. Several species are valued for their seeds, which ehwn soaked in water form a gelatinous mass that forms the basis for refreshing drinks. Examples are S. columbariae (golden chia) and S. tiliaefolia (Tarahumara chia, lindenleaf sage), whose nutritious seeds are also used for sprouting, or ground as a baking ingredient, while the aromatic foliage is used for flavoring and teas. Other interesting American salvias include: S. apiana (white sage), a pungently aromatic species that was used in smudging ceremonies by native tribes, and has nutritious chia-type seeds; S. lyrata (cancerweed, lyre-leafed sage) which is used in folk medicine for colds, coughs, asthma, and cancer, and as a dressing for warts, wounds, and sores; S. mellifera (black sage), used by settlers for tea and flavoring; and S. microphylla syn. S. grahamii (Graham's sage, red bush), whose flowers and minty leaves are infused to treat fevers. S Africa has a number of salvias that have long been used for their disinfectant, healing, and aromatic properties. Salvia africana syn. S. africana-caerulea (blue sage, blousalie) was found by Dutch settlers to be a good substitute for common sage, in terms of home remedies and teas. The creeping or small sage, S. repens, has little to recommend it for cooking, but is much used locally as a tea for bronchial infections and digestive problems, or a wash for infected wounds or sores. It is also burned to disinfect homes after illness, and to deter insect pests in the home. Similar medicinal uses are recorded for S. aurea (brown sage, dune sage), S. disermas (Transvaal sage, groot salie), S. stenophylla (narrow-leaf sage, fynblaar salie) and S. verbenaca (vervain sage, Free State sage, vrystaat salie). In China, the main species used is S. miltiorhiza, known as dan shen, red sage, or red ginseng because of its red roots; it was recorded as an important medicinal herb in 206BCE. Two other species are used as sources of the drug da shen: S. bowleyana (southern dan shen; and S. przewalskii (Gansu dan shen), while various other species are used in folk medicine as "folk dan shen".

Widely used in traditional Chinese medicine, danshen is given to improve the circulation of the blood by limiting the stickiness of the platelets. Certain chemicals in danshen may also help relax and widen blood vessels, especially those in the area of the heart. In addition, results from some recent laboratory studies have shown that danshen may have anticancer and anti-HIV activity.

Perennial with cylindrical red roots and dark green, oddly pinnate leaves, divided into 3-7 ovate to rounded, toothed leaflets, to 5cm (2in) long. Whorls of deep purple-blue flowers, about 2.5cm (1in) long, are produced in racemes in summer.

Common Name:	Danshen
Other Names:	Chinese Sage, Dan-Shen, Huang Ken, Red Sage, Salvia Root
Botanical Name:	Salvia miltiorhiza
Genus:	Salvia
Family:	Lamiaceae
Native Location:	NE China
Cultivation:	Well-drained to dry, neutral to alkaline soil in sun. Salvia miltiorhiza needs moist, sandy soil; tolerates partial shade. Most sages dislike damp conditions and low light in winter; they are often hardier in dry, sunny positions. Sages grown in a greenhouse are prone to spider mite, aphids, and whitefly. Many sages become woody and sparse with age and should be replaced every 4-7 years.
Propagation:	By seed sown in spring (species and annuals only); by basal or softwood cuttings in spring and summer; by semi-ripe cuttings in late summer and early autumn; by division (S. miltiorhiza). Salvia lyrata, S. sclarea and S. viridis may self-sow freely. Salvia greggii is grown as an annual in areas with cold winters.
Harvest:	Leaves are picked for immediate use, or before flowers open for oil distillation and drying; dried leaves are used in infusions, liquid extracts, and tinctures. Roots are lifted in late autumn and winter, and dried for pills, decoctions, and tinctures. Ripe seeds are dried for use in macerations, or pressed for oil. Flower spikes are cut in summer. Galls (S. pomifera) are picked in spring, and candied.
Height:	30-80cm (12-32in)
Width:	23-30cm (9-12in)
Hardiness:	Z5-8
Parts Used:	Root (dan shen)
Properties:	A bitter, sedative, cooling herb that controls bleeding, stimulates the circulatory and immune system, lowers cholesterol levels, promotes healing, and inhibits many disease-causing organism. It acts mainly on the heart energy, removing excess heat and clearing stangnation.
Medicinal Uses:	Internally for coronary heart-disease, poor circulation, palpitations, irritability, insomnia, breast abscesses, mastitis, ulcers, boils, sores, bruises, menstrual problems, and postpartum pains. Often combined with Angelica polymorpha var. chinensis (See, Chinese Angelica) for suppressed menstruation. To treat angina pectoris (chest pain due to low blood flow to the heart muscle), ischemic stroke (a stroke caused by lack of blood flow to a portion of the brain), menstrual problems, circulatory ailments, hepatitis, and psoriasis; to help wounds heal.
Typical Dose:	There is no typical dose od danshen.
Possible Side Effects:	Danshen's side effects include decreased appetite, stomach upset, and itching.
Drug Interaction:	Taking danshen with these drugs may increase the risk of bleeding or bruising: Abciximab, (ReoPro) Antithrombin III, (Thrombate III) Argatroban, (Argatroban) Aspirin, (Bufferin, Ecotrin) Aspirin and Dipyridamole, (Aggrenox) Bivalirudin, (Angiomax) Celecoxib, (Celebrex) Clopidogrel, (Plavix) Dalteparin, (Fragmin) Danaparoid, (Orgaran) Dipyridamole, (Novo-Dipiradol, Persantine) Enoxaparin, (Lovenox) Eptifibatide, (Integrillin) Etodolac, (Lodine, Utradol) Fondaparinux, (Arixtra) Heparin, (Hepalean, Hep-Lock) Ibuprofen, (Advil, Motrin) Indobufen, (Ibustrin) Indomethacin, (Indocin, Novo-Methacin) Ketoprofen, (Orudis, Rhodis) Ketorolac, (Acular, Toradol) Lepirudin, (Refludan) Meloxicam, (MOBIC, Mobicox) Naproxen, (Aleve, Naprosyn) Piroxicam, (Feldene, Nu-Pirox) Rofecoxib, (Vioxx) Ticlopidine, (Alti-Ticlopidine, Ticlid) Tinzaprin, (Innohep) Tirofiban, (Aggrastat) Urokinase, (Abbokinase) Warfarin, (Coumadin, Jantoven) Taking danshen with these drugs may be harmful: Alprazolam, (Apro-Alpraz, Xanax)—may increase depression of the central nervous system.(sedation, mental depression, and impairment) Digitalis, (Digitek, Lanoxin)—may increase the risk of arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat).
Lab Test Alterations:	False increase in serum digoxin concentrations with fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA). False decrease in serum digoxin with microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA)
Disease Effects:	May worsen cases of bleeding disorders.
Supplement Interactions:	Increased risk of cardiac glycoside toxicity when used with other herbs that contain cardiac glycosides, such as Black Hellebore, Calotropis, Motherwort, and others. Increased risk of bleeding when used with herbs and supplements that might effect platelet aggregation, such as Angelica, Garlic, Ginger, Ginkgo Biloba, Turmeric, and others.
Bibliography:	Encyclopedia of Herbs by Deni Brown Copyright © 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited. pp 353-355 The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide by Geo. T. Grossberg,MD and Barry Fox,PhD Copyright©2007 Barry Fox,PhD. Pp. 181-182