Evidence supporting the use of: Dong quai root
For the health condition: Estrogen (low)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Dong quai (Angelica sinensis) has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), especially for women's health issues. It is sometimes called "female ginseng" and is traditionally used to support menstrual health, relieve menstrual cramps, and address symptoms considered to be linked to "blood deficiency," which in TCM is thought to include some symptoms of low estrogen, such as irregular periods, hot flashes, and vaginal dryness. Dong quai is frequently included in herbal formulas for menopausal and perimenopausal women and is believed in TCM to have a balancing effect on female hormones, although this is not strictly interpreted as estrogen replacement. Scientific evidence for dong quai's direct effect on estrogen levels or its ability to treat confirmed low estrogen is limited and inconsistent. Some laboratory and animal studies suggest possible phytoestrogenic or hormone-modulating effects, but high-quality human clinical trials are lacking. The best available research suggests that dong quai alone is unlikely to have a significant estrogenic effect. Most studies that show benefit for menopausal symptoms used dong quai in combination with other herbs, making it hard to isolate any specific effect. Overall, its use for low estrogen is primarily based on traditional practice, not robust scientific validation.

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