BY THE CINNABAR ROOTS

One of the more useful drugs in the Chinese herbal pharmacopoeia is radix salvia miltiorrhiza (danshen), which is known as red sage in English.
The preparation that's most commonly available is danshen pian (丹参片 "cinnabar root tablet"), which benefits circulatory function and ameliorates cardiovascular problems. It is also prescribed for ischemia.

A cautionary note, however: even if the dosage is standard, there may be variable strength from batch to batch. Which could be problematic.


丹參片
[Daansaam pin]

It is recommended that you consult a qualified Chinese doctor of herbal medicine, preferably one with years of experience dealing with older people, rather than one who specializes in bruises, bumps, and contusions.

And no, I shall not recommend any one in Chinatown, because of liability issues with doing that. But there are a few.


Read more about danshen here:
https://www.drugs.com/npp/danshen.html


And do please note that danshen may interfere with other medicines, causing complications that your relatives should find educational.
So know what the heck you are doing before you do it.


The good news is that it also has some benefits in reducing cholesterol, may help against some cancers, and the toxic dosage is difficult to achieve. And again, see both the cautionary note about batch strength, as well as the suggestion that a Chinese doctor of herbal medicine be involved.



AFTERWORD

Last week Jenny poured the bookseller and myself two glasses each of a hot herbal decoction made of red dates, apricot kernels, and wolfberry (紅棗、杏仁、枸杞). If you experiment, go by taste; the red dates should contribute most of the flavour, and it should be relatively mild and weak enough that you can drink multiple glasses throughout the evening.
It is gently tonifying and helps clear toxins.
Good for anemia and circulation.
Plus other things.


紅棗 ('hong jou'): Chinese dried red dates.
杏仁 ('hang yan'): Apricot kernels.
枸杞 ('gou geui'): Wolfberry (Lycium chinense).

All three can be found at dried goods and herb stores.
And they are often used in old grannie soups.
Which children generally dislike.




==========================================================================
NOTE: Readers may contact me directly:
LETTER BOX.
All correspondence will be kept in confidence.
==========================================================================