Chinese Herbs
Herbal Treatments
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Chinese Herb News
Nov. 08th 2006
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Nov. 03rd 2006
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Chinese Herbs: Dong Quai
Chinese Herb Dong Quai, The Lady Ginseng
The scientific name of Dong Quai is Angelica sinensis. It is an herb native to China. It is a member of the genus
Angelica, under the family Apiaceae. Members of the Apiaceae have umbrella-like bunches called umbels of usually
aromatic flowers. The flowers are radially symmetrical, and their stems are hollow. They have a tap root system
and in some cases the tap roots are grown to be large enough to eat as in the cases of parsnip and carrot. Notable
members of this Chinese herb include common herbs like cumin, parsley, coriander or cilantro, dill, caraway,
fennel, celery, carrot, and parsnip. This family also includes hemlock, a plant with deadly poison.
The genus Angelica has members that can grow up to an amazing 10 feet (3 meters) in height. They have greenish-
white or white flowers. They grow in temperate and sub-arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Angelica
sinensis is also called Chinese Angelica as the scientific name suggests. The root is used in herbal medicine, and
it is also the source of the name "lady ginseng" because the long, twisting root tendrils of the Chinese herb Dong
Quai's roots look like silhouettes of women. The three divisions of the root -- top, bulk, and tips -- are used
for different ailments.
Following the idea of "if it looks like something, it must be good for that", Dong Quai is used as a medicine for
women. Gynecological ailments are said to benefit from the tonic effects of Dong Quai. Hormones are also said to
be regulated by this plant, and it is said to cure high blood pressure by dilating blood vessels and thinning the
blood. It is also used to treat fatigue and mild anemia, because of its high iron content.
This Chinese herb has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and sedative effects. This means it is good for
reducing pain (especially that associated with menstruation), bruises, internal bleeding, and for curing
sleeplessness and reducing stress levels. It is also used as an aphrodisiac. Hot flashes and headaches are also
reduced with this. The hormone regulation effects make menstrual cycles more regular.
Dong Quai is one of the few non-animal sources of cobalamin, or Vitamin 812. The rest of its phytochemicals are
coumarins, flavonoids, phytosterols, ferulates, and polysaccharides. Coumarin reduces appetite, and flavonoids are
antioxidants that slow aging and protect against cancer and heart disease. Phytosterols can reduce cholesterol,
and is sometimes used as a food additive. Ferulate is the sodium salt of ferulic acid, and it is used to treat
cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and to prevent thrombosis. Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates
which provide energy, and in this Chinese herb are manifested as starch and leukocyte-stimulating substances.
There are warnings to remember, though. The hormonal and blood-dilution effects of this Chinese herb may cause
problems in unborn children, so pregnant women are to avoid Dong Quai during pregnancy. Traditional belief holds
that Dong Quai increases the risk of miscarriage. People with low blood pressure must also avoid this as its
dilation of blood vessels can reduce blood pressure to dangerously low levels. Additionally, the anticoagulant and
anti-platelet effects may slow healing. It just goes to show that care should be taken with any drug.