得发良。恶麦冬。伏丹砂、雄黄、硫黄。苦、微酸、涩，微寒。入手阳明、足厥阴经。
专理下焦血分，除下焦湿热。
治吐衄崩中，肠风血痢脓血，诸 疮疡恶肉，虎犬蛇虫伤毒，及产后阴气散失。亦敛盗汗。
得犀角，治热痢。
（心热下血。）配黄芩，治疮痒。（火盛则痛，火微则痒。）配苍术，治肠风痛痒不止。佐砂
仁、甘草，治下血腹痛。
止血，炒黑用上截。其梢能行血。
一名赤参，一名奔马草。
畏盐水。反藜芦。苦，微寒。入手少阴、厥阴经血分。养血活血，生新血，去宿血。治
风邪留热，除产后烦热
，开心腹结气，调女人经脉，有孕能安，死胎可落，愈冷热痨，止骨节痛。配白芷、芍药、
猪脂，敷乳痈。配查炭、益母草，酒炒，清血瘀。丹参、茯神、犀角、川连辰炒、赤石脂、
淡竹叶、玄明粉，俱治心经之火，而用之各有攸当。心血不足以养神，神不安而虚火动者，
丹参补之。心怯弱而火气欲发者，茯神镇之。心怯甚而虚火上炎、惊悸毕见者，辰砂降之。
心血亏而心火横发者，赤石脂敛之。心受暑热而脉来混浊者，淡竹叶清之。热邪炽盛而心脉
劲急者，川连平之。心火郁结而心脉沉急者，犀角发之。心火燔灼而病多狂躁者，玄明粉涤
之。若不分轻重以治，非但治之无效，抑且阴受其殃。
(Diyu) promotes the generation of fresh blood. It is incompatible with Ophiopogonis Radix (Maidong). It is adverse to Cinnabaris (Danisha), Realgar (Xionghuang), and Sulfur (Liuhuang). Bitter, slightly sour and astringent, slightly cold in nature. Enters the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian and Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian.
It specifically regulates the Blood aspect of the Lower Jiao and eliminates damp-heat from the Lower Jiao.
It treats hematemesis, epistaxis, metrorrhagia, intestinal wind bloody dysentery with pus and blood, various malignant ulcers and necrotic flesh, poison from tiger, dog, snake, or insect bites, as well as the dissipation of Yin Qi after childbirth. It also arrests night sweats.
Combined with Rhinocerotis Cornu (Xijiao), it treats heat-type dysentery.
(For lower bleeding due to Heart Heat.) Combined with Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin), it treats ulcer itching. (Excessive Fire causes pain, while mild Fire causes itching.) Combined with Atractylodis Rhizoma (Cangzhu), it treats persistent pain and itching caused by intestinal wind. With Amomi Fructus (Sharen) and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao) as assistants, it treats lower bleeding accompanied by abdominal pain.
To stop bleeding, use the upper part of the root, stir-baked until charred. The tips can promote blood circulation.
(Danshen), also known as Chishen, and another name Benma Cao.
It fears salt water. It is contrary to Veratri Rhizoma (Lilu). Bitter, slightly cold in nature. Enters the Blood aspect of the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian and Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. It nourishes and invigorates blood, generates fresh blood, and removes old blood. It treats residual heat from pathogenic wind, eliminates postpartional vexation and heat, resolves stagnation of Qi in the heart and abdomen, regulates menstruation in women, calms the fetus during pregnancy, and expels retained dead fetus. It cures cold and hot consumption (lao disease), and stops bone and joint pain. Combined with Angelicae Dahuricae Radix (Baizhi), Paeoniae Radix (Shaoyao), and Porcine Fat (Zhuzhi), applied externally for mastitis. Combined with Crataegi Fructus Carbonisum (Zha Tan) and Leonuri Herba (Yimucao), wine-fried to clear blood stasis. Danshen, Poria (Fushen), Rhinocerotis Cornu (Xijiao), Coptidis Rhizoma (Chuanlian) stir-baked with Cinnabar (Chen), Red Halloysite (Chishizhi), Lophatheri Herba (Danzhuye), and Mirabilite (Xuanmingfen) all treat Fire in the Heart Meridian, but each has its specific appropriate application. When Heart Blood is insufficient to nourish the Spirit, causing restlessness and moving deficient Fire, Danshen tonifies it. When Heart Qi is timid and Fire Qi desires to erupt, Fushen anchors it. When Heart Qi is extremely timid with deficient Fire flaming upward and full manifestation of palpitations and fright, Chen Sha (Cinnabar) descends it. When Heart Blood is deficient and Heart Fire flares horizontally, Chishizhi astringes it. When the Heart is affected by summer-heat and the pulse is turbid, Danzhuye clears it. When pathogenic heat is rampant and the Heart pulse is tense and urgent, Chuanlian (Coptis) pacifies it. When Heart Fire is constrained and the Heart pulse is deep and urgent, Xijiao (Rhinoceros Horn) disperses it. When Heart Fire is blazing and the disease manifests mostly as mania and restlessness, Xuanmingfen (Mirabilite) purges it. If one does not distinguish severity to treat accordingly, not only will the treatment be ineffective, but the Yin will suffer collateral damage.