Postmodern Research of Red Sage root...

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Considerations of Danshen.

Red sage root Extract INCI Name Salvia Miltiorrhiza Extract CAS 90106-50-6 EINECS ELINCS No 290-273-4 Dan-shen Extract Salvia miltiorrhiza BUNGE photo picture image Dan shen is used in tea and tincture forms. For angina and other circulatory problems, you should use this herb only under professional supervision.

 Long-term use of dan shen for fibroids or menstrual problems can be harmful, since the herb stimulates estrogen production. Dan shen should be used for such conditions only under the supervision of a knowledgeable practitioner and for no more than twenty-eight days at a time, followed by a four-week break. You should not use dan shen at all if you have an estrogen-sensitive disorder such as breast cancer. People taking warfarin (Coumadin), aspirin, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on a regular basis also should avoid dan shen entirely, because it increases the risk of bleeding. You should inform your physician or dentist prior to any surgical or dental procedure if you are taking this herb.

 In traditional Chinese medicine, danshen has been used to treat heart conditions and strokes. Results from animal and human studies support these uses of danshen to some extent. Danshen is known to decrease the blood?s ability to clot in at least two ways ? first, it limits the stickiness of blood components known as platelets and it also decreases the production of fibrin -- threads of protein that trap blood cells to form clots. Both these effects help to improve blood circulation. In addition, chemicals in danshen may relax and widen blood vessels, especially those around the heart. Some research also suggests that danshen potentially may increase the force of heartbeats and slow the heart rate slightly. All these effects need more study before they can be recommended.

 In animal studies, danshen has appeared to interfere with the development of liver fibrosis ? the formation of scar-like fibers in the liver. Because the non-functioning fibers crowd out active liver tissue, liver function decreases gradually as the amount of fibrous tissue increases. Chronic hepatitis and drinking large amounts of alcoholic beverages are the major causes of liver fibrosis. Damage from exposure to chemicals or certain drugs may also result in liver fibrosis. Because danshen may also increase blood flow into the liver, the length of time that potentially damaging substances stay in the liver may be reduced, also reducing the possible damage they may cause. Both of these possible liver-protective actions need further study.

 Recently, some results from laboratory studies show that danshen may have some activity against human cancer cells and HIV (the virus that causes AIDS). Danshen may stop the spread of several different cancer cells types by interrupting the cell division process and also by causing cancer cells to disintegrate. For HIV, chemicals in danshen may block the effectiveness of an enzyme, HIV-1 integrase, that the virus needs to replicate. Neither of these potential uses of danshen has been tested in humans.

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last edit date:10th,June.2009.