Fu Fang Dan Shen Wan (复方丹参丸) — Compound Salvia Pill

By Dr (TCM) Attilio D’Alberto — registered Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner (BAcC, RCHM) with over 25 years’ clinical experience.

Fu Fang Dan Shen Wan — “Compound Salvia Pill”, also sold as Dan Shen Pian — is one of the most widely used Chinese patent remedies for the chest, combining salvia and notoginseng to move the Blood. It is used in TCM for Blood-stasis patterns affecting the chest. This is important: heart symptoms need proper medical assessment, and this is a complementary measure that must never replace prescribed cardiac treatment.

On this page

What it is
What it is used for
Key ingredients
Safety and cautions
When to see a practitioner
Frequently asked questions
Related pages

1. What it is

Fu Fang Dan Shen Wan (or Dan Shen Pian) is an over-the-counter formula built around Dan Shen (salvia), a herb used in Chinese medicine to invigorate the Blood. It is popular in China as everyday support for the chest and circulation in Blood-stasis patterns, and is one of the most researched Chinese patent remedies.

2. What it is used for

In TCM it is used for chest Blood-stasis patterns:

A feeling of tightness, oppression or dull discomfort in the chest
Fixed, stabbing chest or upper-back discomfort of the Blood-stasis type
Palpitations on a background of poor circulation
General support for circulation within a TCM Blood-moving strategy

Any chest pain, breathlessness or new heart symptom must be assessed medically — this is not a treatment for heart disease.

3. Key ingredients

It combines Dan Shen (salvia) and San Qi (notoginseng) to move Blood and resolve stasis, with a small amount of Bing Pian (borneol) to open and freshen. It contains no animal products.

4. Safety and cautions

Not a treatment for heart disease. Chest pain, pressure, breathlessness or pain spreading to the arm or jaw is a medical emergency — call 999. Never use a herbal pill in place of investigation or prescribed cardiac medication.
Blood-thinning risk: Dan Shen and San Qi affect the Blood and can add to warfarin, DOACs, aspirin and antiplatelet drugs — do not combine without your doctor’s and pharmacist’s guidance.
Before surgery: stop well in advance and tell your surgeon.
Pregnancy: avoid — Blood-movers are contraindicated. Always have Chinese herbal medicine prescribed by a herbalist registered with the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM).

5. When to see a practitioner instead

A patent remedy is a fixed formula for a passing complaint. Recurrent or persistent symptoms point to an underlying pattern that a one-size-fits-all pill will not resolve — for those, an individualised assessment and a tailored prescription address the root. See Chinese herbal medicine or arrange an online herbal consultation.

6. Frequently asked questions

What is Fu Fang Dan Shen Wan used for?

In Chinese medicine it is used for Blood-stasis patterns affecting the chest — a feeling of tightness or dull, fixed discomfort — and as general support for circulation. It is a complementary measure within a TCM strategy, not a treatment for heart disease, and any chest symptoms need medical assessment.

Is Dan Shen Pian the same as Fu Fang Dan Shen Wan?

They are closely related salvia-based patent remedies; 'Fu Fang' (compound) versions add notoginseng and borneol to the salvia. People use the names loosely for the same category of Blood-moving chest formula.

Can I take it with warfarin or aspirin?

Not without medical guidance. Salvia and notoginseng affect the blood and can add to blood-thinning and antiplatelet medication, increasing bleeding risk. Tell your doctor and pharmacist about everything you take, and never self-combine.

Can it replace my heart medication?

No. It is a complementary measure only and must never replace prescribed cardiac treatment or investigation. Chest pain, pressure or breathlessness is a medical emergency — call 999.