Limited evidenceHeart & metabolic

Danshen (Salvia Miltiorrhiza)

A traditional Chinese root used for angina and circulation. Hundreds of Chinese trials look positive, but they are of poor methodological quality, and the one rigorous Western trial found nothing.

Evidence last reviewed: August 2026

What the science says

Angina pectoris Limited evidence
A meta-analysis of 109 randomised trials with 11,973 participants found danshen dripping pills better than isosorbide dinitrate for symptoms and ECG changes (odds ratios around 2.4–2.9), but the authors judged the risk of bias high for randomisation and blinding across almost all included studies, and the comparator was an active drug rather than placebo.
Cardiovascular risk factors Limited evidence
A randomised, double-blind crossover trial in 20 hyperlipidaemic, hypertensive adults in the Netherlands found danshen root water extract had no beneficial effect on blood pressure, endothelial function or lipids, and LDL was slightly higher on danshen than placebo.
Circulation and blood flow Limited evidence
Much of the Chinese evidence comes from intravenous danshen injections given in hospital, which say nothing about what an oral capsule does; oral supplement data are sparse.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseChinese trials of compound danshen dripping pills typically used 10 pills three times daily. Western extracts are usually labelled at 1–2 g of root equivalent per day. No dose-finding work supports supplement labelling.

SafetyDanshen has a clinically important interaction with warfarin: it potentiates anticoagulation and has caused bleeding, and it may also interact with antiplatelet drugs. Stop it before surgery. Avoid in pregnancy and in people with bleeding disorders. Quality varies, and injectable forms used in Chinese trials are not comparable to supplements.

Scientific references

How Efficacious is Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) Dripping Pill in Treating Angina Pectoris? Evidence Assessment for Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Jia Y, Leung SW — J Altern Complement Med, 2017
Salvia Miltiorrhiza Root Water-Extract (Danshen) Has No Beneficial Effect on Cardiovascular Risk Factors. A Randomized Double-Blind Cross-Over Trial
van Poppel PC, Breedveld P, Abbink EJ — PLoS One, 2015

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