Witnessed by: TCM · Western
Red sage (Salvia miltiorrhiza), of the Lamiaceae family. Perennial herb with a brick-red root; native range: China and Japan; cultivated across China. Globally recognized as dan shen (丹参) in Chinese, and red sage, danshen, Chinese salvia in English. The part used is root and rhizome. Bitter, cooling, brick-red woody root.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
RED SAGE
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Red sage
- Scientific name
- Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge
- Family
- Lamiaceae
Form
- Part used
- root and rhizome
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- bitter
- Western
- bitter
Temperature
TCM: cool (slightly cold)
Western: cool
convergence: both {witness_count} witnesses reckon it cooling
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Heart · Liver · Pericardium
- Western
- heart · circulation · blood · liver
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- invigorates the blood and dispels stasis, cools the blood and clears heat, calms the shen and reduces abscesses — huo xue qu yu
- Western
- circulatory stimulant, coronary vasodilator, antiplatelet, cardioprotective and antifibrotic; for ischaemic heart and cerebrovascular disease
Cautions
Contraindications: pregnancy; blood stasis without heat; caution with anticoagulant therapy
Toxicity: generally well tolerated; may cause mild gastrointestinal upset
Interactions
- Western
- anticoagulants: potentiates warfarin and adds to antiplatelet effect
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