丹参饮

• Severe blood stasis, pain like needle-pricking: Add Chuan Xiong (chuanxiong rhizome), Tao Ren (peach kernel), and Hong Hua (safflower) to strengthen the action of invigorating blood and dispelling stasis.
• Severe qi stagnation, marked distention and fullness: Add Yu Jin (curcuma tuber), Xiang Fu (cyperus rhizome), and Zhi Ke (bitter orange) to strengthen the action of moving qi and relieving stagnation.
• For chest bi (coronary heart disease angina pectoris): Combine with Gua Lou Xie Bai Ban Xia Tang (Trichosanthes, Allium and Pinellia Combination) to free yang, disperse binds, transform phlegm, and open the chest.
• For epigastric and abdominal pain (chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer): Combine with Bai He Wu Yao Tang (Lily and Lindera Combination) or Shi Xiao San (Sudden Smile Powder) to regulate qi and harmonize blood, relax tension and stop pain.
• With concurrent cold, pain relieved by warmth: Add Gao Liang Jiang (galangal rhizome) and Bi Ba (long pepper) to warm the middle and dispel cold.

5. Cautions and clinical notes

• Contraindications:
  • Not suitable for pain that is purely of a deficiency pattern (dull pain, relieved by pressure).
  • Use with caution in pregnant women. (Because Dan Shen has a blood-invigorating action)
  • This formula leans toward warming and unblocking; use with caution in cases of yin deficiency with blood heat, or effulgent fire.

6. Granule conversion and dose

• Calculation of total raw herb weight in the original formula:
  • Dan Shen (salvia root) 30 g + Tan Xiang (sandalwood) 5 g + Sha Ren (amomum fruit) 5 g = 40 g.
• Conversion to 5:1 granules:
  • 40 g raw herb ÷ 5 = 8 g granules.
• Recommended dose:
  • One dose daily, taken in two portions morning and evening, dissolved in warm water, about 4 g per dose.
  • Or as directed by a practitioner, who will modify the formula according to the relative predominance of blood stasis and qi stagnation and the specific location (heart or stomach) in the patient; the total raw herb weight should then be recalculated according to the adjustment made.