Dong Quai Root

What is Dong Quai Root?

Angelica sinensis is an herb in the family Apiaceae. It is also called dong quai, or female ginseng. Parsley, carrots, celery, and cilantro are also plants that belong to this group. Dong quai grows best in cooler temperatures and is usually found in China, Japan, and Korea's hilly areas. This plant has been an important part of Chinese medicine for hundreds of years. In the past, it was used to treat everything from sadness to diarrhea. Today, people mostly use it to balance hormones and alleviate menstrual symptoms. This Angelica vegetable is beneficial for your health in part because it contains coumarin, which is a natural substance found in many plants. It also has plant chemicals like ferulic acid and phytosterols that are beneficial for you. People often use the roots of dong quai to make a tasty vegetable tea. It tastes strong and bitter, kind of like anise. You can also take products like angelica root or dong quai juice to get an extra dose of health benefits.

How do I use Dong Quai Root?

There are numerous formulations and concentrations of the plant: 3 to 15 g per day for crude root extract by decoction; 1 to 2 g per day for pulverized root, three times daily; and 500 mg tablets, up to six times daily.

Dong Quai Root benefits:

People sometimes refer to dong quai as "female ginseng." Even though there aren't many scientific studies on dong quai, it is sometimes recommended to treat cramps, unpredictable menstrual cycles, occasional periods, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and signs of menopause.

◉ Male Sexual Health: Even though dong quai is very famous for improving the sexual health of women, it is also used in cosmetics to improve the sexual health of men. It is usually mixed with other herbs (Panax ginseng root, Cistanches deserticola, Zanthoxylum species, toroidic seed, clove flower, Asiasari root, cinnamon bark, and toad venom) and put on the skin of the genitalia. This formula is what goes into SS Cream, a skin cream that helps with ejaculation. Researchers conducted a clinical study in 2000 to investigate the potential benefits of SS cream for individuals with long-term problems. Researchers said that it was safe and helped improve the sexual health of men.

◉ Heart Health: People think that dong quai can protect the heart and recommend it along with other traditional Chinese plants like ginseng and astragalus for heart health. A 2000 study also demonstrated the potential of dong quai to support heart health by producing red blood cells.

◉ Digestive Health: People think that dong quai has a gastroprotective effect that keeps the body from making too much stomach acid. This process keeps the gut healthy. When stomach acid wears away at the digestive system, it can cause soreness that lasts for a long time. And if you don't take care of it, it could cause stomach ulcers. When taken as a supplement, dong quai may help the body keep the mucous covering of the digestive system in its normal state.

◉ Bone Health: Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones weaken and become more likely to break. This problem gets worse over time and mostly affects women going through menopause. In a 2002 study, researchers examined how Angelica sinensis (dong quai) affects the growth of human bone cells and suggested that dong quai might play a nutritional role in stimulating these cells, which is beneficial for overall bone health.

Where can I buy Dong Quai Root?

Buy Dong Quai Root from the health food store in the USA, Alive Herbals.

Dong Quai Root information (at a glance):