Can Sanqi and Danshen be taken together?
May 29, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, Panax notoginseng (Sanqi) and Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen) can be taken together and have a synergistic effect. However, they should be used reasonably under a doctor's guidance to avoid overdose or adverse reactions. These two herbs do not have conflicting properties. Sanqi primarily functions to stop bleeding and resolve blood stasis, whereas Danshen mainly promotes blood circulation and unblocks the meridians. When used together, their combined effect in promoting blood circulation and resolving stasis is enhanced, leading to more effective improvement of blood circulation, unblocking meridians, and relieving pain caused by blood stasis.
Generally speaking, Panax notoginseng (Sanqi) and Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen) can be taken together under normal circumstances and demonstrate synergistic effects. However, they should be used rationally under a doctor's guidance to avoid overdose or adverse reactions. The analysis is as follows:
Sanqi is warm in nature, with a sweet and slightly bitter taste, and enters the liver and stomach meridians. It functions to resolve blood stasis and stop bleeding, promote blood circulation to relieve pain, and is commonly used to treat symptoms of blood stasis such as traumatic injuries, external bleeding, and gastric hemorrhage. Danshen is slightly cold in nature, bitter in taste, and enters the heart and liver meridians. It has effects of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, regulating meridians and relieving pain, cooling blood to reduce swelling and abscesses, and is commonly used to treat blood stasis-related conditions such as irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, and chest and heart pain caused by angina.
These two herbs do not conflict in medicinal properties. Sanqi primarily focuses on stopping bleeding and dispersing blood stasis, while Danshen mainly promotes blood circulation and unblocks the meridians. When used together, their combined effect enhances blood circulation and removal of blood stasis, more effectively improving blood circulation, unblocking meridians, and alleviating pain caused by blood stasis.
Both Sanqi and Danshen can promote blood circulation, reduce blood stasis, lower blood viscosity, and prevent thrombosis. Used together, they can reduce the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, such as coronary heart disease and cerebral infarction, and help maintain normal function of the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems.
The use of traditional Chinese herbs should be conducted under the guidance of a doctor. Pregnant women, lactating women, women during menstruation, and individuals with allergic constitutions should use them cautiously or avoid them altogether. Both Sanqi and Danshen are warming herbs, and excessive consumption may cause symptoms of excessive internal heat, such as thirst, dry throat, nosebleeds, oral ulcers, and other related symptoms.
