Salvia Miltiorrhiza

[Rand56]

Salvia Miltiorrhiza...AKA.....Red Sage or Danshen. Not to be confused with Salvia Divinorum which some use recreationally as a dissociative and hallucinogen. It has peaked my interest not only as an antioxident and anti-inflammatory, but also it's effects on dopamine and a possible antidepressant...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvia_miltiorrhiza

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of selected Chinese medicinal plants and their relation with antioxidant content....

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23038995

Antidepressant-like effects of Salvianolic acid B in the mouse forced swim and tail suspension tests.

http://lib.bioinfo.pl/pmid:22683428


Is anyone familiar with this herb and/or have used it? Pros? Cons?

Rand

 

[ellenelle]

I take dan shen for heart problems, its primary use. It helps noticably with shortness of breath, palpitations, and chest pain. I haven't noticed any particular effects on mood or cognition. Happy to say I haven't had any negative effects, either.

Ellen

 

[RYO]

I can across an article that studied effects of Salvia Miltiorrhiza on Interleukin-12 and interferon gamma. It states Salvia Miltiorrhiza can decrease levels of IL-12 and gamma interferon.

Interferon gamma is often sited as a cytokine that is elevated in CFS/ME patients. It would be an interesting study to see if this chinese herb can ameliorate CFS/ME symptoms.

Please note that Salvia Miltiorrhiza has blood thinning effects and should not be take with other prescription blood thinners or antiplatelet agents. Use should also be avoided before any surgery.

 

[alex3619]

Gamma interferon is looking like a major problem in ME. Herbs like this might be useful, but many of them are still largely unknown in the community.

 

[RYO]

Apparently vitamin D3 can reduce gamma interferon levels. It would an interesting study to evaluate different doses and their effect on gamma interferon levels.

Also, certain miRNA can regulate gamma interferon levels. There are numerous articles that are very interesting regarding viral and host miRNA function.

 

[RYO]

It is also interesting to read about adverse reactions to gamma interferon as a treatment for chronic granulomatous disease.

Upset stomach, nausea, flu-like symptoms, headache, lightheadedness, mental/mood changes, muscle aches, confusion, depression, irregular heartbeat, joint pains.

Sound familiar?

 

[Sherlock]

1989
The regulation of interferon production by aspirin, other inhibitors of the cyclooxygenase pathway and agents influencing calcium channel flux.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1807783/

...when acetylsalicylic acid (10 ugm/ml) was added to the cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells yields of gamma interferon increased more than threefold. When examining the effects of acetylsalicylic acid on human alpha interferon production, we were also to enhance interferon harvests although we could not demonstrate an adverse effect of prostaglandins on the production of these bioactive proteins. Addition of acetylsalicylic acid and prostaglandins simultaneously to our cultures had a negative effect on gamma interferon production, but still was associated with enhanced yields of interferon alpha.