Dong Quai

Female Ginseng

Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis), also known as Chinese Angelica, is an aromatic herb that grows in China, Korea, and Japan.

Christopher Allison states in "Powerful and Unusual Herbs from the Amazon and China":

"Dong quai has been called the "female ginseng" and is excellent as an all purpose women's herb. It has been used for centuries in China for regulating the menstrual cycle and easing menstrual pain and cramping.

It can be used to help women regain normal menstrual cycles after taking "the Pill." It has proven helpful for relieving hot flashes during menopause.

Dong quai can be used for insomnia and blood pressure stability for both men and women. (The affect on blood pressure can be an overall lowering although sometimes it may rise slightly first, followed by a decline).

It can reduce PMS and may help anemia, suppressed menstrual flow, uterine bleeding, abdominal pain after childbirth, dry intestines, chronic pelvic disorders and constipation and headaches due to blood deficiency.

Dong quai helps the liver utilize more oxygen and therefore can be useful in treating hepatitis and cirrhosis. It may also help with abnormal protein metabolism.

Dong quai helps dilate peripheral blood vessels, increase circulation, and has been used as a mild laxative.

PRECAUTION: Not to be used during pregnancy."

Medicinal Properties

According to Chinese traditional medicine, Angelica is:

• analgesic (relieves pain)
• blood tonic
• emmenagogue (promotes menstrual flow)
• laxative
• sedative

Traditional Use

In "The Healing Power of Herbs", Michael T. Murray writes:

"For several thousand years, Dong quai has been cultivated for medicinal uses in the treatment of a wide variety of disorders, in particular 'female disorders'. It is often referred to as 'female ginseng'.

In Asia, angelica's reputation is perhaps second only to that of ginseng.

Predominantly regarded as a 'female' remedy, angelica has been use to treat such conditions as dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation), amenorrhea (absence of menstruation), menorrhagia (abnormal menstruation), menopausal symptoms (especially hot flashes), and to assure a healthy pregnancy and easy delivery.

Angelica is also used in the treatment of abdominal pain, anemia, injuries, arthritis, migraine headache, and many other conditions.

Some of the pharmacological activities demonstrated include phytoestrogen activity, analgesic activity, immunomodulating activity and antibacterial activity."

Daniel B. Mowrey, Ph.D, writes in "Herbal Tonic Therapies":

"Next to Panax ginseng, the root of dong quai is undoubtedly the most honored and respected herb in China, and is quickly gaining an equal reputation among users in the rest of the world.

Dong quai is used medicinally as a tonic, cardiotonic, respiratory tonic and liver tonic. It is used to promote circulation, to regulate the menstrual cycle and stop discomforts of menstruation. That means it's good for PMS.

In Western herbal terms, it is used for dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation), metrorrhagia (too much menstruation) and amenorrhea (too little, or no, menstruation)...

Most of the actions of dong quai depend on the presence of coumarins, phytosterols, polysaccharides, and flavonoids."

Research

Daniel Mowrey continues:

"Substantial pharmacological research has validated these properties in dong quai. Anticramping, hypotensive, tonic, antiasthmatic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antiarthritic properties in the root have all been demonstrated by basic research.

It has also been shown to be effective against several strains of microorganisms, especially fungi such as Candida Albicans, the primary causative agent in vaginal yeast infections.

This constellation of properties would help explain the plant's sometimes dramatic effect on the PMS symptoms."

Safety

There are conflicting reports on the wisdom of using Angelica during pregnancy, however traditional Chinese medicine cautions against its use during pregnancy.

Angelica can magnify the effects of warfarin (coumadin) and other blood thinning medicines.

The FDA rates Angelica as "generally safe". James Duke is said to have rated Angelica "as dangerous as coffee".

Disclaimer

The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the US Food and Drug Administration. The products referred to on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition or prescribe any treatment.