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Angelica sinensis (Dong Quai)

One of the major herbs used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine, Angelica sinensis is closely related to European Angelica archangelica, a common garden herb and the flavoring in Benedictine and Chartreuse liqueurs. The carrot-like roots of this fragrant plant are harvested in the fall after about 3 years of cultivation and stored in airtight containers prior to processing.

Traditionally, dong quai is said to be one of the most important herbs for strengthening the xue. The Chinese term xue is often translated as "blood," but it actually refers to a complex concept in traditional Chinese medicine, of which the western notion of blood is only a part. In the late 1800s, an extract of dong quai known as Eumenol became popular in Europe as a "female tonic," and this is how most people consider it in the West.

What Is Dong Quai Used for Today?

Dong quai is often recommended as a treatment for menstrual cramps, PMS, and other problems related to menstruation, as well as hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms. However, the scientific evidence supporting these uses is very weak, consisting primarily of test tube and animal studies, as well as a few open studies of people. Only double-blind, placebo-controlled studies can actually show a treatment effective, and a 24-week study that compared the effects of dong quai against a placebo in 71 postmenopausal women found no benefit.

Dosage

We recommend using dong quai under the supervision of an herbalist qualified in traditional Chinese herbal medicine, not because the herb is dangerous, but because it is difficult to self-prescribe Chinese herbal formulas.

If you wish to self-treat with dong quai, a typical dosage is 10 to 40 drops of dong quai tincture 1 to 3 times daily, or 1 standard 00 gelatin capsule 3 times daily.

Safety Issues

Dong quai is generally believed to be nontoxic. According to Chinese studies, which may not have been up to current scientific standards, very large amounts have been given to rats without causing harm. 7 Side effects are rare and primarily consist of mild gastrointestinal distress and occasional allergic reactions.

In a test-tube study, dong quai was found to be non-estrogenic, and yet it nonetheless stimulated the growth of breast cancer cells. Although the mechanism of this effect is not known, the results suggest that women who have had breast cancer should avoid using dong quai.

Dong quai may interact with the blood-thinning drug Coumadin, increasing the risk of bleeding, according to one case report. Dong quai might also conceivably interact with other blood-thinning drugs, such as heparin, aspirin, Plavix, Ticlid, or Trental.

Certain constituents of dong quai can cause increased sensitivity to the sun, but this has not been observed to occur in people using the whole herb.

Safety in young children, pregnant or nursing women, or those with severe liver or kidney disease has not been established. One case report suggests that dong quai usage by a nursing mother caused elevated blood pressure in both the mother and child.

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