Dan Shen (Red Sage Root) Extract

Dan Shen (Red Sage) has a long history of use in traditional Western herbalism as well as in traditional Chinese medicine. Dan Shen can help to improve heart health and blood circulation. The healthy circulation of oxygenated blood throughout the body is crucial for maintaining optimal functioning of many body systems.

Dan Shen, also called Red Sage and Salvia miltiorrhiza, is considered “a super herb” in traditional Chinese nedicine (TCM). The roots of Dan Shen are noted in the classical Chinese Materia Medica written during the Qin dynasty (around 221 BCE). This designation means that the herb lacks any observable toxicity while being beneficial to health in many ways. In addition to cardiovascular health, Red Sage root is thought to support healthy bones, blood sugar, and liver function.

Salvia miltiorrhiza  is a hardy deciduous perennial that belongs to the Lamiaceae (Mint) family. It has purple flowers and is best known for its long, thin, deep red roots. The plant prefers moist, sandy, well-drained soil in full sun. The most potent roots come from plants grown in high-altitude conditions. Dan Shen herbal extract tastes slightly bitter with a woody flavor.

We source our Dan Shen herbal extract from the hillsides of Tibet.

Read the DanShen FAQ

Dan Shen Extract Health Benefits

More than 200 phytocompounds have been identified in the extracts of Salvia miltiorrhiza. The constituents include lipophilic diterpenoids and water-soluble phenolic acids. The best-studied compounds are tanshinones, abietane diterpenes, and salvianolic acids. These are generally known to have adaptogenic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive, and pro-circulatory effects. Recent research suggests that some of these compounds may block the breakdown of collagen in bones and connective tissues.

Dan Shen extract may also help reduce joint pain and help support healthy digestive function. Regular use can improve the heart’s exercise tolerance. Dan Shen used as part of a health regimen may help reduce the risk of stroke or negative myocardial events. In addition, Red Sage shows potential in reducing hepatic and pulmonary fibroids by inhibiting proliferation, adhesion, and migration of fibroblasts.

Dan Shen is known to help relax the body and mind and provide neuroprotective benefits (protecting dopaminergic neurons). It may improve sleep quality and reduce anxiety.

Optimize Your Health with Dan Shen Extract (Red Sage)

Dan Shen (Red Sage) herbal extract shows promise as a highly effective cardiovascular support and anti-inflammatory agent that may support the health of all major body systems. Due to its broad-spectrum activity, Dan Shen could be a highly beneficial supplement to health protocols for anyone seeking to improve cardiac function and optimize overall health.

Resources:

Traditional Chinese medicine and other traditional medicine systems suggest Dan Shen herbal extract (Red Sage) may support:

Serving Suggestion

Suggested Use: Consume 1-2 grams of extract per a day. Mix into your non-dairy drink of choice. For example, add 1-2 grams to a large mug of tea, or dissolve 1 gram into 8oz of hot water. Drink 2-3 times a day.

Additional Information

Traditional Uses >

Traditional Chinese medicine uses Dan Shen extract to support heart health, digestion, and blood circulation. It is considered an astringent, antispasmodic, cardiotonic, emmenogenic, and hypotensive agent. Ethnomedical traditions include using Red Sage root as an antidepressant, a diuretic, and support for improved warmth in the extremities. Other traditional uses include supporting clarity of thought and promoting free breathing.

Other Names >

Dan Shen, Danshen, Chinese Salvia, Red Sage, Redroot Sage, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Tan-shen

Phytochemicals >

Diterpenoids:

11, 12, -dioxoabieta-8, 13-dien ( = miltirone), oleoyl neocryptotanshinone, 7β-hydroxy-8, 13-abietadiene-11, 12-dione, miltionone I, 4-methylenemiltirone, oleoyl danshenxinkun A, 2-isopropyl-8-methylphenanthrene-3, 4-dione, dihydroisotanshinone I, methylenedihydrotanshinquinone, isotanshinone I, 1, 2, 5, 6-tetrahydrotanshinone I, isototanshinone, methylenetanshiquinone, 1-ketoisocryptotanshinone, 3-hydroxymethylenetanshinquinone, neocryptotanshinone, tanshinone IIA, isotanshinone IIA, tanshindiol A, isotanshinone IIB, tanshindiol B, isocryptotanshione II, tanshindiol C, danshexinkun C, 3α-hydroxytanshinone IIA, danshexinkun D, tanshinone IIB, sibiriquinone A, methyl tanshinonate, sibiriquinone B, tanshinaldehyde, trijuganone A, nortanshinone, ferruginol, 15, 16-dihydrotanshinone I, sugiol, tanshinone I, 6, 12-dihydroxyabieta-5, 8, 11, 13-tetraen-7-one ( = montbretol), formyltanshinone, 11, 12-dihydroxy-20-nor-5(10), 6, 8, 11, 13-abietapentaen-1-one ( = arucadiol) [2], tanshinol A, neotanshinlactone, przewaquinone B, salvianan, cryptotanshinone, neosalvianen, isotanshinone II, salvianen, przewaquinone A, salviadione, hydroxytanshinone IIA, microstegiol, przewaquinone C, epi-cryptoacetalide, methyl dihydronortanshinonate, cryptoacetalide,1, 2-dihydortanshinquinone, 70 epi-danshenspiroketallactone, 1, 2-dihydrotanshinquinone, danshenspiroketallactone, dihydronortanshinone, 9-isopropyl-2, 2, 5-trimethyl-8H-phenaleno[1, 9bc]furan8-one ( = salvilenone), 1, 2-didehydromiltirone, miltipolone, dihydroisotanshinone II, salviacoccin, 1-dehydrotanshinone ⅡA, sclareol, 1-dehydromiltirone, salviolone, tanshinone Ⅴ, tanshinlactone, neo-przewaquinone A, salvilenone, saprorthoquinone, miltionone II, neocryptotanshinone II, danshenol A, danshenxinkun B, danshenol B, (−)-danshexinkun A

Phenolic acids:

caffeic acid, salvianolic acid N, isoferulic acid, salvianolic acid I, danshensu, salvianolic acid J, 3-(3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl)-(2R)-lactamide, salvianolic acid E, salvianolic acid F, salvianolic acid B, salvianic acid C, lithospermic acid B, rosmarinic acid, ethyl lithospermate B, methyl rosmarinate, magnesium lithospermate B, salviaflaside, ammonium-potassium lithospermate B, salvianolic acid D, protocatechuic acid, prolithospermic acid, protocatechuic aldehyde, salvianolic acid G, 2-(3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-(3-hydroxypropyl)-7- methoxybenzofuran-3-carbaldehyde, salvinal, ailanthoidol, 1-hydroxy-pinoresinol-1-O-β-D-glucoside, salvianolic acid L, lithospermic acid, dimethyl salvianolic acid B, litherospermic acid monomethyl ester, dimethyl heptamethylsalvianolate B, litherospermic acid dimethyl ester, salvianolic acid K, ethyl lithospermate, ferulic acid, salvianolic acid C, salvianolic acid T, methyl salvianolic acid C, salvianolic acid U, dimethyl lithospermate, salvianolic acid A, 9′′-methyl lithospermate

Others:

uvaol, isoleucine, α-amyrin, phenylalanine, β-sitosterol-β-D-glucoside, valine, luteolin, threonine, baicalin, arginine, daucosterol, serine, β-sitosterol, tyrosine, shanzhiside methyl ester, hydrolysis amino acid, manool, calcium, 3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl ethanol ketone, hexadecane, copper, octadecanol, magnesium, palmitic acid, fructose, nickel, saccharose, zinc, rafitrinose, stachyose, vitamin E, stannum, glutamic acid, alanine, aspartic acid, manganese, histidine, selenium

Possible Side Effects >

Dan Shen may interact with prescription drugs used to treat heart disease. If you are taking medication for a heart condition, talk to your healthcare provider before taking Dan Shen herbal extract.