Danshen for Health & Longevity - Quick Reference Sheet
evipedia.ai
← Back

Danshen for Health & Longevity

Created on 08/25/2026 – Quick Reference based on Evidence Review created using AI4L / Opus 5 – Audit

A traditional Chinese root with a very large but uneven body of research. The most consistent signal is relief of stable chest pain when added to standard heart medicines, with smaller changes in blood pressure, blood thickness, and kidney measures. Bleeding is the main hazard. Cheap and generally well tolerated; what is in the bottle varies widely between brands. (Full Review)

Protocol

Standard crude-root dose
9–15 g daily
Dried root as a decoction — the reference point from which most product doses are derived
Standardised extract protocol
1,000 mg twice daily
Capsule trials in hypertension; 400–800 mg daily of a root extract for urinary symptoms
Time of day
Morning and evening with meals
Dietary fat aids absorption of the oil-soluble tanshinones and food reduces gastrointestinal upset
Time to effect
Angina symptoms
2–4 weeks
Symptom endpoints in the angina trials
Blood pressure
2–4 weeks
Symptom endpoints in the hypertension trials
Viscosity, inflammatory and kidney markers
8–12 weeks
Time taken to separate from control

Benefits

Contraindications
  • Warfarin or another anticoagulant
  • Inherited bleeding disorder (haemophilia, platelets below 100 × 10⁹/L)
  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding
  • Within 2 weeks of scheduled surgery, dental extraction, or spinal procedure
  • Active peptic ulcer or gastrointestinal bleeding within the previous 90 days
  • Haemorrhagic stroke within the previous 90 days, or untreated intracranial aneurysm
  • Symptomatic hypotension with systolic pressure below 100 mmHg
  • Severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class C)
    •
Key Interactions
  • Antiplatelet drugs (aspirin, clopidogrel, ticagrelor)
  • Digoxin
  • Antihypertensives (amlodipine, lisinopril, losartan, thiazides)
  • CYP3A4 and CYP2C9 substrates (simvastatin, midazolam, ciclosporin)
  • Over-the-counter NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen, high-dose aspirin)
  • Bleeding-prone supplements (fish oil, ginkgo, garlic, nattokinase, high-dose vitamin E, curcumin)
  • Co-formulated herbs (Panax notoginseng, borneol, Panax ginseng)
  • Eccentric resistance training
    •

Risk & Side Effects

  • High: Increased bleeding risk and potentiation of anticoagulants
    •
  • Medium: Hypersensitivity and infusion reactions with injectable preparations; falsely altered serum digoxin measurements; gastrointestinal intolerance and dizziness
  • Low: Excessive blood pressure lowering with antihypertensive drugs; inconsistent exposure from variable product quality; adverse LDL cholesterol change with aqueous extracts
  • Speculative: Methemoglobinemia; altered exposure to other liver-metabolised drugs

Monitoring

Marker Target Why
INR 0.9–1.1 if not anticoagulated; individual target (usually 2.0–3.0) if on warfarin Detects the main interaction hazard
Platelet count 175–250 × 10⁹/L Contextualises added antiplatelet effect
Haemoglobin 13.5–15.0 g/dL (men), 12.5–14.5 g/dL (women) Detects occult blood loss
Blood pressure 110–120 / 70–75 mmHg Captures the most reproducible measured effect
hs-CRP < 1.0 mg/L Tracks the inflammatory pathway Danshen acts on
LDL-C < 100 mg/dL, or < 70 mg/dL with established coronary disease Detects the adverse lipid signal seen with water extracts
ALT < 25 U/L (men), < 20 U/L (women) Screens for hepatic irritation
eGFR and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio eGFR > 90 mL/min/1.73 m²; ratio < 10 mg/g Tracks the kidney endpoints where benefit was measured
HbA1c 4.8–5.4% Contextualises use in diabetic kidney and viscosity trials
Free digoxin 0.5–0.9 ng/mL in heart failure; otherwise track against the individual's own pre-Danshen level Bypasses assay interference

Cadence: Baseline panel before starting (plus INR or free digoxin for anyone on warfarin or digoxin); home blood pressure twice daily for the first 4 weeks; clotting and full blood count at 4 weeks; full panel at 12 weeks and every 6–12 months thereafter while use continues.

Qualitative Assessment

  • Frequency and severity of exertional chest tightness or breathlessness
  • Exercise tolerance — distance or workload before symptoms appear
  • Light-headedness on standing, which signals additive blood-pressure lowering
  • Unusual bruising, gum bleeding, or prolonged bleeding from small cuts
  • Cold hands and feet, a traditional proxy for peripheral circulation
  • General energy and mental clarity across the day
Not medical advice. Educational distillation of a single evidence review. Confirm any decision with a qualified clinician, especially in the presence of prescription drugs or chronic conditions.