Dong quai (dang gui)

Angelica sinensis

In Chinese medicine one of the most important herbs to 'nourish the blood', especially for menstrual complaints. Western studies found no clear effect on menopausal symptoms.

Safety notes

May increase the effect of blood thinners such as warfarin. Avoid in pregnancy or hormone-sensitive conditions. May increase sun sensitivity.

Cautions by tradition (1)

Chinese materia medica: Not with diarrhoea, a distended abdomen from dampness or yin deficiency with heat. Consult a doctor if you take blood thinners and during pregnancy.

Preparation

The root as decoction, often combined with other herbs, or in soup. No dosage is given here.

Use in traditions

Dong quai has been used in Chinese formulas for about two thousand years and is sometimes called 'female ginseng'. Ody describes it as a cornerstone of Chinese women's medicine.

Applications

Use by tradition

How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.

Chinese materia medica

Nature and taste: sweet, pungent, bitter, warm
Meridians: heart, liver, spleen

Attributed effects

The most important blood tonic for women: for pallor, blurred vision, palpitations and menstrual complaints from blood deficiency, constipation from blood deficiency and pain from cold and blood stagnation. Both strengthening and blood-moving.

Preparation and amount

Traditional dosage: 3–9 g a day, usually in a decoction. The name means 'must return', after an old legend about a young man and his wife. Japanese kampo uses Angelica acutiloba.

Combinations

With prepared rehmannia, white peony and chuanxiong in si wu tang for blood deficiency
With huang qi for anaemia

Caution: Not with diarrhoea, a distended abdomen from dampness or yin deficiency with heat. Consult a doctor if you take blood thinners and during pregnancy.

Sources

All herbs from Asia →