Danshen Yin (Salvia Drink): A TCM Formula for Heart and Stomach Pain
In *Shifang Ge Kuo (Collection of Formulas as Songs)*, compiled by the renowned Qing-dynasty physician Chen Xiuyuan, there is a classic formula called "Danshen Yin" (Salvia Drink), which is a representative TCM formula for treating heart and stomach pain.
The composition of Danshen Yin is very simple: Danshen (Salvia Miltiorrhiza) one liang (nowadays 30g); Tanxiang (Sandalwood) and Sharen (Amomum) each one qian (nowadays 3–6g); use one and a half cups of water, decoct to seven-tenths, and take. *Shifang Ge Kuo* says Danshen Yin "is effective in treating heart pain and various stomach-carpal pains, and is even more effective in women. For the various pains of the heart and abdomen there is a marvelous formula; Danshen is the sovereign, and its principle should be studied in detail. Sandalwood and Amomum as assistants and envoys all follow the proper method; once swallowed, its efficacy is known to be manifest."
The "heart pain" spoken of by the ancients was mainly stomach pain, though of course it also included angina pectoris caused by heart disease. Some physicians are also skilled in using Danshen Yin to treat women's dysmenorrhea; Chen Xiuyuan's *Shifang Ge Kuo* also says Danshen Yin is more effective when used by women.
Modern research has found that Danshen Yin has an obvious effect on heart and stomach pain caused by gastric ulcer. Modern pharmacological studies have confirmed that Danshen Yin can significantly promote the healing of ulcers in rats, markedly inhibit apoptosis of mucosal cells at the ulcer margin of the gastric ulcer, and simultaneously promote the expression of the apoptosis-inhibiting factor Bcl-2; therefore, promoting gastric ulcer healing through inhibiting the apoptosis and growth-factor pathways may be one of the mechanisms by which Danshen Yin treats gastric ulcer.
TCM holds that Danshen has both the action of activating blood and of nourishing blood; TCM has long had the saying "Danshen alone matches Siwu in effect." Here Siwu refers to the TCM Four-Substance Decoction (Siwu Tang), composed of Dihuang (Rehmannia), Danggui (Angelica), Shaoyao (Peony), and Chuanxiong (Ligusticum), which is a representative TCM formula for treating various blood patterns. When using it to activate blood and stop pain, Dihuang is used as raw Rehmannia (Shengdihuang), Danggui as the tail of Angelica (Dangguiwei), and Shaoyao as red Peony (Chishao); when using it to nourish blood, Dihuang is prepared Rehmannia (Shudihuang), Danggui as the body of Angelica (Dangguishen), and Shaoyao as white Peony (Baishao). Danshen has both the action of activating blood and that of nourishing blood. Danshen dripping pills are a commonly used Chinese patent medicine for the stabbing precordial pain caused by heart disease.
Tanxiang and Sharen both belong to the qi-regulating herbs. Tanxiang excels at regulating qi and stopping pain, while Sharen has the action of moving qi and transforming dampness; modern pharmacological research has found that the water decoction of Sharen promotes gastrointestinal peristalsis. A large amount of Danshen, assisted by a small amount of Tanxiang and Sharen, simultaneously activates blood and resolves stasis while also regulating qi and transforming dampness.
So the formula Danshen Yin is especially suitable for heart and stomach pain caused by qi stagnation and blood stasis and by indigestion. Whatever heart and stomach pain is accompanied by chest tightness and shortness of breath, and gastric and epigastric fullness and glomus, can be treated with it. These symptoms are commonly seen in chronic gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcer, gastric neurosis, angina pectoris, arrhythmia, and other diseases. Gastric cancer patients also often have such symptoms, so Danshen Yin can also be incorporated into common formulas for treating gastric cancer.
The renowned contemporary Chinese physician Mr. Qin Bowei, when using Danshen Yin, often added Yujin (Curcuma) and Ruxiang (Myrrh) to strengthen the pain-relieving effect. The author, when using Danshen Yin to treat stomach ailments, mostly adds Ezhu (Curcuma Rhizome) and Xiangfu (Cyperus) on the basis of this formula, and the effect seems more ideal. It can also be used together with Yuanhu (Corydalis), but Yuanhu is best used as Yuanhu Pain-Relieving Tablets, or ground into powder and taken infused, 1–3g each time; because Yuanhu does not dissolve easily in water, decocting it in a decoction yields little effect. When using Danshen Yin to treat angina pectoris caused by heart disease, one may consider combining this formula with Xiebai Gualou Baijiu Tang (Allium, Trichosanthes, and Wine Decoction) for a better effect.