One of the major herbs used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine , Angelica sinensisis 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 xueis 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.
Side effects
Dong quai is associated with fever, gynaecomastia and increase risk of photo sensitivity. You should avoid prolonged exposure to the sun or other sources of ultraviolet radiation while taking dong quai.
Contraindications
Dong Quai is contraindicated in pregnancy and nursing women because of its possible hormonal and blood thinning properties. Patients who have diabetes, bleeding disorders, chronic diarrhea and women with heavy menstrual flow should not use Dong quai.
As a safety precaution, your doctor may advise you to stop taking dong quai at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Drug interactions
Dong quai may increase the effects of anticoagulants such as Coumadin and aspirin. Patients who are using any of these drugs should not take the herb to prevent the risk of bleeding.
Laboratory research shows that Dong quai may increase the effects of drugs used to treat heart rhythms, anti-cancer drugs and certain antidepressantsgenerally 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. 1 Side effects are rare and primarily consist of mild gastrointestinal distress and occasional allergic reactions (such as rash).
Contrary to popular belief, dong quai does not appear to have estrogen-like actions. 2 However, according to an article in the Singapore Medical Journal, a 35-year-old man who used a prepared herbal formula called Dong Quai pills developed enlargement of his breasts. 3 Such enlargement would typically result if a man used estrogen. The authors of the article blamed the dong quai itself. However, a more likely explanation is that the prepared herbal formula was "spiked" with synthetic estrogen. There are numerous reports of prepackaged Asian herb products containing unlabeled constituents, including conventional medications designed to enhance their effect. 4 Interestingly, in a test-tube study, dong quai was again found to be nonestrogenic, and yet it nonetheless stimulated the growth of breast cancer cells. 5 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 warfarin (Coumadin), increasing the risk of bleeding, according to one case report. 6 Dong quai might also conceivably interact with other blood-thinning drugs, such as heparin , aspirin , clopidogrel (Plavix), ticlopidine (Ticlid), or pentoxifylline (Trental).
Certain constituents of dong quai can cause photosensitivity (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. 7
If you are taking blood-thinning drugs, such as warfarin (Coumadin) , heparin , clopidogrel (Plavix), ticlopidine (Ticlid), pentoxifylline (Trental), or aspirin , dong quai might interact and increase the risk of bleeding.
Dong quai is often recommended as a treatment for menstrual cramps , premenstrual syndrome (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. 1-5 2 3 4 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. 6 5 (For more information on why double-blind studies are so important, see Why Does This Database Rely on Double-blind Studies? )
References
One of the major herbs used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine , Angelica sinensisis 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 xueis 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.
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 size 00 gelatin capsule, 3 times daily.
( One of the major herbs used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine , Angelica sinensis)
Dong quai is a plant native to China and Japan. It has been used as a traditional medicine for thousands of years. Dong quai remains among the most popular plants in Chinese medicine, and is valued for its effectiveness for treating a wide range of health conditions. Dong quai root is believed to have tonic and blood thinning effects. Dong quai is also considered as "female ginseng" because it balances the female hormonal system, which helps resolve irregular menstrual periods, infertility and menopausal symptoms. This traditional medicine][2]
is reported to be a blood strengthener and has been used for treating cardiovascular conditions, inflammation, headache, infections, allergy symptoms and nerve pain. Today, dong quai is marketed for similar uses.
Dong quai is available in tablet, liquid extract, and raw root forms. In Chinese medicine, it is often boiled or soaked in wine. The root is removed and the liquid is taken by mouthis 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 xueis 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.
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 size 00 gelatin capsule, 3 times daily.
Dong quai is often recommended as a treatment for menstrual cramps , premenstrual syndrome (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. 1 2 3 4 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. 5 (For more information on why double-blind studies are so important, see Why Does This Database Rely on Double-blind Studies? )
