Dan Shen Yin, Salvia Decoction, is Dan Shen, Tan Xiang and Sha Ren. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that invigorate the Blood and dispel stasis, and records it as moving Qi and Blood to ease pain.

Herb

Amount

dan shen

30 g

tan xiang

4.5 g

sha ren

4.5 g

Actions and indications

Invigorates Blood and dispels Blood stasis

Blood stasis with Qi stagnation lodged in the Stomach, chest and Middle Jiao
Pain of the Heart and Stomach type: fixed, stabbing or piercing, in the epigastrium or upper abdomen, sometimes spreading up to the back, shoulder or scapula
Pain under the ribs, pain over the heart, and a stuffy, oppressed chest
Tongue purple or dark, with purple spots or other stasis marks and an ordinary coat; pulse choppy, or wiry and tight

Moves Qi and alleviates pain

Underlying stuck Qi, with distention and a pent-up or irritable temper
Poor appetite or no appetite, nausea, hiccups and constipation
Short of breath
Stasis that is early or moderate rather than severe or long-standing

Modern uses

Angina pectoris
Coronary heart disease
Chronic gastritis
Chronic atrophic gastritis
Gastralgia
Epigastric pain
Abdominal pain
Peptic ulcer
Duodenal ulcer
Chronic hepatitis
Acute pancreatitis
Chronic pancreatitis
Cholecystitis
Esophageal varices
Stomach cancer
Hematemesis
Blood in the stool
Nausea
Vomiting
Hiccups
Anorexia
Constipation
Dyspnea
Headache
Primary or secondary dysmenorrhea
Sick sinus syndrome

Modifications

Chronic pancreatitis: + mu dan pi, + shan zha

Angina and breathlessness in coronary artery disease (combined with Gua Lou Xie Bai Ban Xia Tang)

Stomach pain and distention, or pain spreading to the flanks, with nausea, vomiting and a purplish tongue (combined with Si Ni San)

Chest Bi with stabbing pain through to the back and short breath: + chi shao, + chuan xiong, + hong hua, + shan zha, + zhi ke

Stomach pain spreading to the flanks with nausea and a purplish tongue, second option (combined with Jin Ling Zi San): + dai zhe shi, + xuan fu hua

Flank pain from Blood stasis in the collaterals: + yu jin, + ru xiang

Nausea and vomiting: + zhi ban xia, + zhu ru

Pain with Heat: + mu dan pi, + huang qin

Ulcers: + chuan lian zi, + yan hu suo

Chronic gastritis: + dang shen, + hong hua

Epigastric pain: + fo shou, + qian nan jian, + zhi gan cao, + xiang fu, + zi wan, + zhi bai shao, + zhi da huang

Epigastric pain, second option: + pu huang, + yan hu suo, + pu gong ying

Show all 70 modifications

Epigastric pain, marked Qi stagnation with flank fullness and pain: + fo shou, + qian nan jian, + zhi gan cao, + xiang fu, + zi wan, + zhi da huang, + zhi bai shao, + qing pi, + yu jin
Long-standing epigastric pain with Blood stasis: + fo shou, + qian nan jian, + zhi gan cao, + xiang fu, + zi wan, + zhi bai shao, + zhi da huang, + yan hu suo, + e zhu
Epigastric pain, sour regurgitation and belching (combined with Zuo Jin Wan): + fo shou, + qian nan jian, + zhi gan cao, + xiang fu, + zi wan, + zhi bai shao, + zhi da huang
Epigastric pain, loose stools from Spleen deficiency: + fo shou, + qian nan jian, + zhi gan cao, + xiang fu, + zi wan, + zhi bai shao, + dang shen
Epigastric pain from food stagnation: + fo shou, + qian nan jian, + zhi gan cao, + xiang fu, + zi wan, + zhi bai shao, + zhi da huang, + shan zha, + shen qu, + mai ya
Coronary heart disease (combined with Tao Hong Si Wu Tang)
Coronary heart disease, Qi stagnation more marked (combined with Tao Hong Si Wu Tang): + chuan lian zi, + xiang fu
Coronary heart disease, Blood stasis more severe (combined with Tao Hong Si Wu Tang): + ru xiang, + mo yao
Coronary heart disease with Qi deficiency (combined with Tao Hong Si Wu Tang): + huang qi, + dang shen
Coronary heart disease, poor memory and insomnia from Blood deficiency (combined with Tao Hong Si Wu Tang): + ye jiao teng, + bai zi ren
Coronary heart disease at risk of heart attack (combined with Tao Hong Si Wu Tang): + xie bai, + xue jie, + san qi
Coronary heart disease from food stagnation (combined with Xiao Xian Xiong Tang): − huang lian
Coronary heart disease from food stagnation, bloating and constipation (combined with Xiao Xian Xiong Tang): + hou po, + lai fu zi, − huang lian
Coronary heart disease from food stagnation, epigastric fullness and no appetite (combined with Xiao Xian Xiong Tang): + shan zha, + mai ya, + lai fu zi, − huang lian
Coronary heart disease from food stagnation, stabbing chest pain (combined with Xiao Xian Xiong Tang): + xiang fu, + tu bie chong, + e zhu, + ji nei jin, + san qi, − huang lian
Chest pain from Upper Jiao Qi stagnation (combined with Jin Ling Zi San): + chuan xiong, + dai dai hua, + zhi ke, + xiang fu, + bai shao, + dang gui
Severe chest pain from Upper Jiao Qi stagnation (combined with Jin Ling Zi San): + chuan xiong, + dai dai hua, + zhi ke, + xiang fu, + bai shao, + dang gui, + qing pi
Chest pain with irritability from Upper Jiao Qi stagnation (combined with Jin Ling Zi San): + chuan xiong, + dai dai hua, + zhi ke, + xiang fu, + bai shao, + dang gui, + xia ku cao, + huang qin
Chest pain with bitter taste or insomnia from Upper Jiao Qi stagnation (combined with Jin Ling Zi San): + chuan xiong, + dai dai hua, + zhi ke, + xiang fu, + bai shao, + dang gui, + mu dan pi, + zhi zi
Chest pain from Heart Qi and Blood stasis (combined with Tao Hong Si Wu Tang): + chi shao, − bai shao, − shu di huang
Chest pain from Heart Qi and Blood stasis, palpitations (combined with Tao Hong Si Wu Tang): + chi shao, + fu shen, + ye jiao teng, − bai shao, − shu di huang
Chest pain from Heart Qi and Blood stasis, arm pain (combined with Tao Hong Si Wu Tang): + chi shao, + bai zhi, + qiang huo, − bai shao, − shu di huang
Chest pain from Heart Qi and Blood stasis, low mood (combined with Tao Hong Si Wu Tang): + chi shao, + chai hu, + yu jin, − bai shao, − shu di huang
Chest pain from Heart Qi and Blood stasis, insomnia (combined with Tao Hong Si Wu Tang): + chi shao, + suan zao ren, + yu li ren, − bai shao, − shu di huang
Stomach cancer with epigastric pain (combined with Shi Xiao San) (plus two or three of the anticancer herbs listed): + san qi, + xiang fu, + bai hua she she cao, + ban zhi lian, + shu yang quan, + teng li gen, + she mei, + zhŏng jié fēng, + xian feng cao
Stomach cancer, epigastric pain and Yin deficiency (combined with Shi Xiao San) (plus two or three of the anticancer herbs listed): + san qi, + xiang fu, + sheng di huang, + sha shen, + bai hua she she cao, + ban zhi lian, + shu yang quan, + teng li gen, + she mei, + zhŏng jié fēng, + xian feng cao
Stomach cancer, severe epigastric pain (combined with Shi Xiao San) (plus two or three of the anticancer herbs listed): + san qi, + xiang fu, + yan hu suo, + bai hua she she cao, + ban zhi lian, + shu yang quan, + teng li gen, + she mei, + zhŏng jié fēng, + xian feng cao
Stomach cancer, epigastric pain with marked distention and belching (combined with Shi Xiao San) (plus two or three of the anticancer herbs listed): + xiang fu, + zhi shi, + qing pi, + bai hua she she cao, + ban zhi lian, + shu yang quan, + teng li gen, + she mei, + zhŏng jié fēng, + xian feng cao
Stomach cancer, epigastric pain with marked distention and belching, second option (combined with Shi Xiao San) (plus two or three of the anticancer herbs listed): + san qi, + xiang fu, + ru xiang, + mo yao, + bai hua she she cao, + ban zhi lian, + shu yang quan, + teng li gen, + she mei, + zhŏng jié fēng, + xian feng cao
Stomach cancer, epigastric pain with active bleeding, tarry stools and coffee-ground vomit (combined with Shi Xiao San) (plus two or three of the anticancer herbs listed): + san qi, + xiang fu, + bai ji, + bai hua she she cao, + ban zhi lian, + shu yang quan, + teng li gen, + she mei, + zhŏng jié fēng, + xian feng cao
Stomach cancer, epigastric pain with fresh red bleeding and mild Heat (combined with Shi Xiao San) (plus two or three of the anticancer herbs listed): + san qi, + xiang fu, + huang qin, + huang lian, + bai mao gen, + mu dan pi, + bai hua she she cao, + ban zhi lian, + shu yang quan, + teng li gen, + she mei, + zhŏng jié fēng, + xian feng cao
Stomach cancer, epigastric pain with Cold (combined with Shi Xiao San) (plus two or three of the anticancer herbs listed): + san qi, + xiang fu, + gan jiang, + gui zhi, + bai hua she she cao, + ban zhi lian, + shu yang quan, + teng li gen, + she mei, + zhŏng jié fēng, + xian feng cao
Stomach cancer, epigastric pain with Qi deficiency (combined with Shi Xiao San): + xiang fu, + huang qi, + bai zhu, + huang jing
Stomach cancer with blood in the stool (combined with Shi Xiao San): + san qi, + xiang fu
Blood in the stool (combined with Shi Xiao San) (plus two or three of the anticancer herbs listed): + san qi, + xiang fu, + bai hua she she cao, + ban zhi lian, + tu fu ling, + e zhu
Heavy blood in the stool (combined with Shi Xiao San): + san qi, + xiang fu, + bai ji
Stomach cancer, heavy blood in the stool (combined with Shi Xiao San): + san qi, + xiang fu, + bai ji
Blood in the stool with severe pain (combined with Shi Xiao San) (plus two or three of the anticancer herbs listed): + san qi, + xiang fu, + yan hu suo, + bai hua she she cao, + ban zhi lian, + tu fu ling, + e zhu
Blood in the stool with severe pain, second option (combined with Shi Xiao San): + san qi, + xiang fu, + ru xiang, + mo yao
Stomach cancer, blood in the stool and severe pain (combined with Shi Xiao San): + xiang fu, + yan hu suo
Blood in the stool with marked Qi stagnation (combined with Shi Xiao San) (plus two or three of the anticancer herbs listed): + san qi, + xiang fu, + zhi shi, + qing pi, + bai hua she she cao, + ban zhi lian, + tu fu ling, + e zhu
Blood in the stool with marked Qi stagnation, second option (combined with Shi Xiao San): + san qi, + xiang fu, + ru xiang, + mo yao
Blood in the stool with Cold (combined with Shi Xiao San): + san qi, + xiang fu, + gui zhi
Blood in the stool with Qi deficiency (combined with Shi Xiao San) (plus two or three of the anticancer herbs listed): + bai hua she she cao, + ban zhi lian, + tu fu ling, + e zhu, + san qi, + xiang fu, + huang qi, + bai zhu, + huang jing
Stomach cancer, blood in the stool and marked Qi stagnation (combined with Shi Xiao San): + san qi, + xiang fu, + zhi shi, + qing pi
Blood in the stool with Yin deficiency (combined with Shi Xiao San) (plus two or three of the anticancer herbs listed): + san qi, + xiang fu, + sheng di huang, + sha shen, + bai hua she she cao, + ban zhi lian, + tu fu ling, + e zhu
Blood in the stool with Heat (combined with Shi Xiao San): + san qi, + xiang fu, + huang lian, + mu dan pi
Stomach cancer, blood in the stool and Heat (combined with Shi Xiao San) (plus two or three of the anticancer herbs listed): + san qi, + xiang fu, + huang lian, + mu dan pi, + bai hua she she cao, + ban zhi lian, + tu fu ling, + e zhu
Stomach cancer, blood in the stool and Yin deficiency (combined with Shi Xiao San) (plus two or three of the anticancer herbs listed): + san qi, + xiang fu, + sheng di huang, + sha shen, + bai hua she she cao, + ban zhi lian, + tu fu ling, + e zhu
Stomach cancer, blood in the stool and Cold (combined with Shi Xiao San): + san qi, + xiang fu, + gui zhi
Stomach cancer, blood in the stool and Qi deficiency (combined with Shi Xiao San) (plus two or three of the anticancer herbs listed): + san qi, + xiang fu, + huang qi, + bai zhu, + huang jing, + bai hua she she cao, + ban zhi lian, + tu fu ling, + e zhu
Peptic ulcer from Heat toxin with severe Blood stasis (plus two or three of the anticancer herbs listed): + pu huang, + wu ling zhi, + yan hu suo, + dang gui, + chi shao, + zhi gan cao, + bai hua she she cao, + ban zhi lian, + tu fu ling, + e zhu, − chen xiang
Peptic ulcer from Heat toxin and severe Blood stasis, with vomiting of blood and tarry stools: + pu huang, + wu ling zhi, + yan hu suo, + dang gui, + chi shao, + zhi gan cao, + bai ji, + san qi, − chen xiang
Coronary heart disease, second approach (combined with Tao Hong Si Wu Tang): + chi shao, + chen pi, + wu yao, + jiang xiang, − bai shao, − shu di huang
Coronary heart disease, second approach, mainly Qi stagnation (combined with Tao Hong Si Wu Tang): + chi shao, + chen pi, + wu yao, + jiang xiang, + chuan lian zi, + xiang fu, − bai shao, − shu di huang
Coronary heart disease, second approach, mainly Blood stasis (combined with Tao Hong Si Wu Tang): + chi shao, + chen pi, + wu yao, + jiang xiang, + pu huang, + wu ling zhi, − bai shao, − shu di huang
Coronary heart disease, second approach, mainly Blood stasis, second option (combined with Tao Hong Si Wu Tang): + chi shao, + chen pi, + wu yao, + jiang xiang, + ru xiang, + mo yao, − bai shao, − shu di huang
More severe stasis pain, to move Blood and ease pain further: + yan hu suo, + chuan xiong

Cautions

pregnancy Do not use in pregnancy; Dan Shen moves the Blood, and formulas of this kind are avoided or used only under professional guidance

contraindication Not for anyone who is bleeding or haemorrhaging

caution Bleeding disorders: use carefully, as Dan Shen invigorates the Blood

contraindication Not for pain from deficiency, which is dull, comes and goes, and is relieved by pressure or warmth; moving the Blood can make such a pattern worse

caution With warfarin and other anticoagulant or antiplatelet medicines: Dan Shen can raise the anticoagulant effect and the risk of bleeding, as case reports describe; combine only under medical supervision

Pinyin

dan shen yin

English Name

Salvia Decoction

dan shen yin

About dan shen yin

Ingredients

Actions and indications

Invigorates Blood and dispels Blood stasis

Moves Qi and alleviates pain

Modern uses

Symptoms

Modifications

Cautions

Preparation

Names

Classification

Support