IngredientsAngelica sinensis, commonly known as dong quai (simplified Chinese: 当归; traditional Chinese: 當歸; pinyin: dāngguī), or female ginseng, is a herb belonging to the family Apiaceae, indigenous to China. The species name appears in the scientific literature as Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels. It is closely related to A. archangelica, a common European garden herb and the flavoring in Benedictine and Chartreuse liqueurs. Common English-language names include Chinese angelica, tang-kuei, and dang gui; the latter term (danggui or dang gui) is the standard Mandarin pronunciation of the same character string.
Dong quai belongs to the Apiaceae family — also known as the carrot or parsley family — which includes other well-known plants like fennel, celery, and coriander. Like its relatives, dong quai produces a taproot, which is the primary part of the plant used in traditional preparations.
Angelica sinensis is native to high-altitude regions of China, Japan, and Korea, particularly the cool, misty valleys and mountains of western China. It thrives in temperate climates with well-drained soil, and cultivation practices have been refined over centuries to preserve the root's integrity. Traditionally, dong quai is harvested in the fall when the plant's aerial parts begin to die back. The root is dug, cleaned, sliced, and dried for future use.
The carrot-like roots of this fragrant plant are harvested in the fall after about three years of cultivation and are stored in airtight containers before processing. The root is typically yellowish to tan in color, segmented, and aromatic when dried. It may be sliced and used in decoctions or ground into powder form.
Nearly 20% of the traditional Chinese medicinal preparations included in the Chinese Pharmacopeia contain A. sinensis.
Dong quai preparations usually include the plant's root, which contains the highest concentration of the bioactive compounds responsible for its therapeutic effects. The following preparation forms are documented in clinical and reference literature:
In the late nineteenth century, an extract of dong quai known as Eumenol became popular in Europe as a "female tonic," which is how most people consider it in the West.
Chinese angelica root (danggui) has been used in China, Korea, and Japan as a spice, tonic, and medicine for more than 1,000 years, and today is still one of the herbs most commonly used by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners in China as well as Europe.
The history of dong quai dates back to the first century AD when it was described in Shennong Ben Cao Jing (the Classic of the Materia Medica), an ancient Chinese book on farming and medicinal plants. In this book, dong quai was listed as one of the 50 fundamental herbs for treating various illnesses.
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 traditional Chinese medicine, dong quai is classified as one of the "tonic herbs for blood deficiency" because of its potential to nourish the blood and promote healthy blood circulation. It is used most often in combination with other herbs to treat irregular menstruation, absence of menstruation, and menstrual cramps. It is also prescribed by Chinese herbalists to relieve symptoms of anemia, arthritis, and constipation.
Chinese herbalists have used Angelica for thousands of years to strengthen heart, lung, and liver meridians, as well as to lubricate the bowel. It is considered a blood tonic and has been used by generations of women for health concerns such as menstrual pain.
In traditional Chinese medicine, it is known as dang gui and is one of the most frequently prescribed herbs, often appearing in multi-herb formulas rather than being used alone.
In China, Korea, and Japan, it has been used as a spice, tonic, and medicine for more than 1,000 years. In East Asian traditional systems, dong quai has long been viewed as a staple botanical, often combined with other plants in multi-herb formulas. It is known for its role in seasonal practices and wellness rituals involving balance, nourishment, and cyclical rhythms.
The use of dong quai is not limited to Chinese medicine. It can be found in other traditional healing systems, such as Ayurveda and Unani-Tibb (an Arabic system).
It is recommended for anaemia, to promote blood circulation, relieve pain, and treat constipation, but is used mainly for the treatment of women's reproductive problems, such as dysmenorrhea, amenorrhoea, and to "enrich the blood" as an aid to recovery from blood loss after childbirth or surgery. It is also used in TCM for both men and women with cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure and problems with peripheral circulation.
Compounds in dong quai include alkyl phthalides (ligustilides, angelicide, and butylphthalide), furanocoumarin (archangelicin, bergapten, and imperatorin), coumarins (angelol G and angelicone), terpenes (cadinene and carvacrol), phytosterols (beta-sitosterol and stigmasterol), organic acids (ferulic, succinic, and myristic), and an immune-stimulating polysaccharide. Constituents of dong quai are typically identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry or high-performance liquid chromatography techniques.
Bioactive components extracted from A. sinensis roots include Z-ligustilide, ferulic acid, and A. sinensis polysaccharides. Of these, ferulic acid and ligustilide are the most active ones and are widely used to evaluate the quality of dong quai products.
Significant amounts of vitamin A and carotenoids (0.675%), vitamin B12 (0.25–0.40 mcg/100 g), vitamin E, ascorbic acid, folinic acid, biotin, various phytosterols (e.g., beta-sitosterol), calcium, magnesium, and other essential macrominerals are also found in dong quai root.
Phytochemical investigations of dang gui have revealed that this plant is rich in phthalides (e.g., (Z)-ligustilide), phenylpropanoids (e.g., ferulic acid), and polyacetylenes. It has been postulated that the antispasmodic effects of dong quai are related to the volatile oil constituents ligustilide, butylidenephthalide, and butylphthalide, while the uterine-stimulant effect is due to the water-soluble components. Ligustilide (LGT) and n-butylidenephthalide (BLP) in Angelica sinensis both have anticancer actions in vitro.
Ferulic acid in Angelica sinensis primarily has anti-inflammatory and immunostimulatory actions. Ferulic acid improved hypoalbuminemia, hyperlipidemia, and proteinuria in a mouse model of membranous nephropathy. Ferulic acid also reduced the formation of oxidative protein products and increased the synthesis of antioxidant enzymes. The Chinese Pharmacopoeia and European Pharmacopoeia use ferulic acid content as a quality marker for standardization of processed Angelica sinensis root.
In animal models, polysaccharides extracted from dong quai root showed protective effects against cyclophosphamide-induced toxicity, doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity, and radiation-induced pneumonitis.
Coumarins dilate blood vessels, stimulating the central nervous system and increasing blood flow throughout the body. They may also relax the smooth muscles of the uterus. Psoralen and bergapten, two of the furocoumarins found in dong quai, are photoreactive and have the potential to cause severe photodermatitis.
Pharmacological effects of Angelica sinensis relevant to the cardiovascular system include increasing coronary flow, reducing myocardial oxygen consumption, anti-arrhythmia, anti-atherosclerosis, inhibiting platelet aggregation, improving microcirculation, and improving immunity in the body.
Major pharmacological effects of danggui extract or its components include anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, immunomodulatory, anti-cardiovascular, neuroprotective, anti-oxidative, anti-hepatotoxic, and renoprotective activities. Preclinical studies have shown dong quai extracts have anti-inflammatory, estrogenic, anticancer, and neuroprotective effects.
Dong quai is widely used in the United States to treat hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause, despite a lack of clinical data. Results from studies evaluating dong quai's estrogenic effects have been conflicting, possibly due to differences in the preparations studied, and there is some data to suggest serotonergic activity.
Traditionally, dong quai is believed to have a balancing or "adaptogenic" effect on the female hormonal system. Contrary to the opinion of some authors, dong quai does not qualify as a phytoestrogen and does not appear to have any hormone-like actions in the body.
There is debate as to whether there is any estrogenic activity in dong quai, as human studies do not support any estrogenic mechanism of action.
Ligustilide and ferulic acid are the main active compounds of dong quai. The enzymes that contribute the most to their breakdown in the body are CYP3A4, CYP1A2, CYP2C8, and CYP2C9. People may be more or less susceptible to dong quai's effects depending on their variants of these enzymes.
Evidence strength: Weak to mixed, particularly for mono-preparations; marginally better evidence for combination formulas.
In an RCT investigating the effects of dong quai on vaginal cells, endometrial thickness, and menopausal symptoms among 71 women, dong quai was not superior to placebo for the reduction of menopausal symptoms (including vasomotor symptoms) and did not show any estrogenic effects in endometrial tissues or vaginal cells.
Specifically regarding that landmark 1997 trial: Hirata and colleagues studied 71 postmenopausal women with hot flashes in a well-designed, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Subjects were randomized to treatment with a placebo or 4.5 g/d of a standardized dong quai root product (500 mg/capsule; 3 capsules three times daily) for 24 weeks. Subjects were evaluated for serum hormone concentrations, vaginal cell maturation, endometrial proliferation, and menopausal symptoms. There were no statistically significant differences between the dong quai group and the placebo group in any parameter that was tested.
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of A. sinensis as a single agent and in combination found no difference for dong quai over placebo for menopausal vasomotor symptoms. No effect on endometrial thickness or on the level of estradiol or estrone was found in a trial of dong quai alone.
When tested in combination formulas, results were more variable. In an RCT comparing a combined preparation of A. sinensis and Matricaria chamomilla (i.e., Climex) to placebo among 55 women reporting hot flashes and refusing hormone therapy, the herbal preparation demonstrated clinically significant improvement in the frequency and intensity of hot flashes (90%–96%) compared with placebo (15%–20%) over the 3-month trial. However, it is difficult to determine the effects of A. sinensis from these trials due to the use of combined preparations.
In a randomized trial of 100 women with acute menopausal symptoms, an oral formula containing dong quai was found to be superior to placebo against mild hot flushes alone (from 18.9 ± 23.5 at baseline to 8.6 ± 17.1 at 6 months in the treatment group, P < .01). The authors did not find any significant difference between the two groups in the overall treatment of vasomotor symptoms.
The North American Menopause Society concludes that dong quai is no more effective than placebo and that data on estrogenic activity are inconclusive. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada revised clinical practice guidelines (2021) on managing menopausal vasomotor symptoms note that safety and efficacy data are insufficient to recommend dong quai root.
Dong quai was also ineffective against hot flashes in men (studied in the context of androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer).
Evidence strength: Preliminary; animal data are suggestive; clinical trial quality is limited.
In vivo animal studies suggest that the basis for dong quai use in dysmenorrhea lies in its action of increasing excitability of the uterus; the rhythm of contraction changed from fast, weak, and irregular to slow, strong, and more regular.
Limited clinical trials have been conducted in settings other than China, and those for which efficacy is suggested often utilise multi-ingredient preparations. Ethnic differences in hormonal levels and menopausal symptoms may account for variation in attribution of effect. Reviews suggest evidence for effect in dysmenorrhea exists; however, studies included were of short duration and low quality.
A systematic review determined benefits of dong quai against amenorrhea induced by antipsychotic drugs.
Evidence strength: Preclinical evidence is substantial; direct human clinical evidence as a monotherapy is limited.
Reported cardiovascular effects include inhibition of platelet aggregation via inhibition of platelet serotonin release; prolongation of the refractory period; and reduction of atherosclerotic plaque formation.
Formulas containing dong quai improved clinical outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome and mild-to-moderate renal insufficiency, and prevented radiation-induced dermatitis in breast cancer patients. These findings, however, involve multi-herb formulations in which attribution to dong quai alone cannot be established.
It has been used to reduce pulmonary hypertension in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Evidence strength: Mechanistically plausible based on constituent analysis; controlled human clinical data are sparse.
It is claimed to stimulate hematopoiesis secondary to its vitamin B12 (0.25–0.4 mg/100 g dried root), folinic acid, and biotin content.
Dong quai extracts demonstrated hematopoietic effects in vitro. Epidemiological data suggest positive associations between dong quai use and reduced risks of overall diabetes-related mortalities.
Evidence strength: Preclinical; human evidence is largely absent for dong quai as a standalone agent.
Angelica sinensis is a medicinal plant widely utilized for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Dang gui is rich in phthalides (e.g., (Z)-ligustilide), phenylpropanoids (e.g., ferulic acid), and polyacetylenes (e.g., (3R,8S)-falcarindiol). Its dried root is described in TCM as having the effect of nourishing and tonifying the blood.
In menopausal rats, different dong quai herbal mixes prevented osteoporosis, reduced the thinning of the uterus, vagina, and breast glands, and restored hormone balances by increasing estradiol and reducing FSH and LH levels. These findings are from animal models and have not been confirmed in human clinical trials.
Evidence strength: Well documented in cell and animal models; human clinical confirmation is lacking.
Ferulic acid and ligustilide have well-documented anti-inflammatory properties in cell and animal models. Ferulic acid is also found in many other plant sources and has consistent antioxidant activity.
Dong quai extracts demonstrated antitumor, pro-apoptotic, anti-metastatic, anti-tuberculosis, and neuroprotective effects in vitro.
Evidence strength: Preclinical only.
The findings of an in vitro study in murine neurocyte culture suggest dong quai may accelerate the growth of neurocyte processes and prevent decline in process branch number. Dong quai may promote neurocyte growth and delay age-related nerve atrophy. These findings remain unconfirmed in human subjects.
Evidence strength: In vitro and preclinical animal data only; human evidence is absent.
Polysaccharides from Angelica sinensis can inhibit proliferation of leukemia cells as well as colorectal carcinoma cells. A number of papers discuss generalized anticancer actions against multiple types of cancer cells to promote apoptosis (cell death) of tumor cells or have antiangiogenic effects.
An important safety caveat exists in this domain: dong quai showed estrogenic activity in vitro, stimulated proliferation of MCF-7 cells, and promoted growth of estrogen receptor-positive breast tumors in a murine model.
Evidence strength: Preclinical (animal model); human evidence is limited.
The methanol layer of A. sinensis extract exhibited a therapeutic effect on membranous nephropathy–induced proteinuria. Ferulic acid improved the hypoalbuminemia, hyperlipidemia, and proteinuria in both prevention and post-induction groups. Ferulic acid also reduced the formation of oxidative protein products and increased the synthesis of antioxidant enzymes. These results are from a mouse model.
Formulas containing dong quai improved clinical outcomes in patients with mild-to-moderate renal insufficiency. Again, multi-herb context limits attribution.
Based on the convergence of traditional use documentation and preclinical or clinical research, the following body systems and health areas are associated with dong quai:
Several forms of the plant exist and dosages vary widely: crude root extract by decoction ranges from 3 to 15 g/day; powdered root, 1 to 2 g three times a day; and tablets 500 mg up to 6 times a day.
In a clinical trial investigating use in menopause, dong quai 4.5 g was administered daily for 24 weeks. In combination preparations, dong quai 100 mg standardized to 1% ligustilide was similarly used daily.
The dose of dong quai is usually 4–15 g in many oral formulations. Because Western medicine focuses on single chemical components, North American consumers can also purchase dong quai as a single herbal preparation that contains about 0.5 g/capsule.
There is no standardized dosage range for dong quai, and the effectiveness can vary widely depending on the specific formulation and preparation. The minimum effective dose is not well established due to the variability in study designs and outcomes.
A. sinensis is most commonly administered as a multi-ingredient preparation (often combined with Astragalus membranaceus), making both attribution of effect and comparison of traditional Chinese medicine applications with Western medicine difficult.
Research has shown that the concentrations of the marker compounds ferulic acid and Z-ligustilide vary by production area; higher amounts of ferulic acid were found in plant material from Yunnan compared to Gansu. A negative relation of root length with both ferulic acid and Z-ligustilide was also found. These variations complicate cross-study dosage comparisons.
Dong quai (Angelica sinensis), containing vitamin K antagonists and ferulic acid, enhances warfarin's anticoagulant effect, increasing bleeding risk.
Angelica contains coumarin-like active ingredients such as parsley oil methyl ether, psoralen, and bergamot lactone, which can inhibit thromboxane formation and platelet aggregation; it is also possible that warfarin can displace angelica from its binding to plasma proteins, which elevates the blood concentration of coumarin-like ingredients; ferulic acid in angelica can inhibit PAF and platelet aggregation reaction when administered in vivo or in vitro, which enhances warfarin's anticoagulant effect.
Dong quai may have an additive anticoagulant effect with anticoagulants. However, this appears to be limited in a human study. Case reports exist of fever, gynecomastia, and bleeding with concurrent warfarin use.
Prolonged use of dong quai can induce CYP3A4 by activating pregnane X receptor. This may reduce the blood levels and effectiveness of substrate drugs. Clinical relevance is not known.
Plants in the Angelica group contain furanocoumarins — the same class of compounds in grapefruit that can interact with many medications, including certain cholesterol-lowering and anti-seizure drugs.
Coadministration with dong quai significantly altered the pharmacokinetics of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin and clopidogrel with increased systemic exposure in a murine model. Clinical relevance is not known.
Dong quai was found to be a moderate-to-strong inducer of clozapine metabolism in two case reports.
The presence of photosensitizing linear furanocoumarins in the root indicates that plant parts should be used with caution during exposure to sunlight. Psoralen and bergapten, two of the furocoumarins found in dong quai, are photoreactive and have the potential to cause severe photodermatitis.
Uterine stimulant and relaxant activity have been reported with A. sinensis. Although it is usually well tolerated in general use, it may increase the risk of bleeding in patients taking warfarin and antiplatelet drugs and cause photosensitivity reactions. Dong quai is best avoided during breastfeeding.
Dong quai has no generally recognized lactation-related uses, although some midwives in the United States reportedly have used it for postpartum blues or depression.
Important safety concerns exist regarding A. sinensis, including interactions with other medications and herbs, photosensitization, anticoagulation, and possible carcinogenicity. Relative contraindications exist in patients receiving warfarin, heparin, or other anticoagulant/antiplatelet therapy, in those with breast cancer, or in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Angelica sinensis can cause hypertension. A 32-year-old woman, 3 weeks post-partum, developed acute headache, weakness, light-headedness, and vomiting, with a blood pressure of 195/85 mmHg, after taking dong quai for postpartum weakness. Her 3-week-old son's blood pressure was raised to 115/69 via breastmilk. Dong quai medication of the mother and breastfeeding were discontinued and blood pressure normalized in both patients within 48 hours.
Despite its long history of traditional use, clinical evidence for most of its claimed benefits is limited, and some studies have found it performs no better than placebo for its most popular uses.
Clinical evidence is limited and it can interact with drugs or cause side effects. More research is still needed to validate its therapeutic potential and safety.
Health conditions that Dong quai may help support.
Dong Quai's ferulic acid and ligustilide are well-characterized free radical scavengers with documented DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity. Ferulic acid also increases antioxidant enzyme activity in vivo, while polysaccharides contribute to antioxidant defense. These findings are supported by multiple in vitro and animal studies. Human clinical data specifically for Dong Quai's antioxidant effects are limited.
Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis) contains coumarin constituents (ferulic acid, osthole) that inhibit platelet aggregation by blocking thromboxane A2 production and prolonging prothrombin time. Animal studies confirm significant PT prolongation without altering warfarin pharmacokinetics. It is listed among natural products with direct anticoagulant effects in authoritative medical literature.
Dong Quai has documented vasodilatory effects mediated by ligustilide (calcium channel inhibition), coumarin derivatives, and antispasmodic actions on arterial smooth muscle. Pharmacological studies support blood pressure-lowering potential; TCM has used the herb for hypertension for centuries. Clinical trial evidence for antihypertensive effects of Dong Quai as monotherapy is limited.
Dong Quai's key constituents — ferulic acid, ligustilide, and polysaccharides — have demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity in cell and animal studies. Ferulic acid modulates NF-κB, MAPK, and JAK/STAT pathways and suppresses TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Water extract of A. sinensis showed notable anti-inflammatory effects in LPS-stimulated macrophages in vitro. Human clinical evidence for isolated Dong Quai as an anti-inflammatory agent remains limited; findings largely derive from preclinical models.
Dong Quai has well-documented vasodilatory, antithrombotic, and blood viscosity-reducing properties driven by ligustilide (calcium channel inhibition), coumarin derivatives, and ferulic acid (thromboxane A2 inhibition). These circulatory effects are supported by pharmacological studies and some TCM combination clinical trials, though large-scale monotherapy RCTs are lacking. TCM has used Dong Quai as a 'blood-moving' tonic for thousands of years, specifically targeting peripheral circulation.
Pharmacological research demonstrates that A. sinensis and its constituents protect cardiac myocytes, reduce myocardial injury, inhibit platelet aggregation, and exhibit antiarrhythmic effects. Ferulic acid has shown clinical utility in coronary atherosclerotic disease in Chinese trials. Both in vitro and in vivo studies support cardioprotective actions, though large Western RCTs are absent.
Animal studies demonstrate that A. sinensis extract significantly increases bone mineral density in ovariectomized rats via estrogen-independent mechanisms. Ligustilide promotes bone formation via the GPR30/EGFR pathway. Ferulic acid promotes bone remodeling toward an osteoblastic phase and increases serum estrogen and ALP activity. These findings are entirely preclinical; no human clinical trials have been conducted.
Multiple preclinical studies demonstrate that A. sinensis extracts and its polysaccharides suppress key RA pathogenic mechanisms: they inhibit synovial fibroblast proliferation, downregulate COX-2, PGE2, and matrix metalloproteinases, and restore macrophage M1/M2 balance. Ferulic acid suppresses RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation. Evidence is entirely preclinical; no human RCTs for Dong Quai in RA have been identified.
Dong quai (Angelica sinensis) is the primary blood tonic herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine, used for over 2,000 years for blood deficiency (anemia-like states). It is a key ingredient in classic formulas (Si Wu Tang, Ba Zhen Tang) shown in systematic reviews of RCTs to raise hemoglobin. Isolated dong quai evidence is limited; formula-level evidence is emerging but methodologically mixed.
Chinese herbalists have prescribed Dong Quai for arthritic joint complaints since ancient times, and it is listed in naturopathic references for arthritis. Preclinical evidence shows that A. sinensis modulates inflammation induced by monosodium urate crystals with dramatic reduction in neutrophilic infiltration, suggesting relevance to gouty and other inflammatory arthritis. No dedicated human clinical trials for arthritis have been published.
Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis) is a classical TCM herb used for centuries as a blood tonic for fatigue, weakness, and anemia—particularly in women. Its use for fatigue is directly tied to blood deficiency (anemia-related fatigue) in TCM. The WHO traditional medicine monograph acknowledges its use for fatigue and blood deficiency.
Dong Quai has a long-documented traditional use for constipation, described in classical TCM texts as 'moistening the intestines.' The EMA and WHO monographs for A. sinensis radix both list constipation among traditional indications. The mechanism is attributed to smooth muscle relaxation by ligustilide and lubrication of the bowel by the root's oil content. No rigorous clinical RCTs specifically testing Dong Quai for constipation have been published.
Dong quai (Angelica sinensis) is a core traditional Chinese medicine herb for female reproductive disorders, used for centuries to treat 'blood stasis' and associated conditions including endometriosis-like presentations. It acts as an anti-inflammatory, emmenagogue, and female hormone normalizer, and is traditionally combined with Vitex for endometriosis pain. Clinical evidence for endometriosis specifically is limited to traditional use and combination formula studies.
Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis) is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years to regulate female hormones, treat menstrual irregularities, and alleviate menopausal symptoms. Scientific evidence for direct estrogenic activity is conflicting; no estrogenic compounds have been definitively isolated, and clinical RCTs have not confirmed reliable estrogenic effects.
Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis) is a foundational herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine used for thousands of years to regulate menstrual cycles, address blood deficiency (xue xu), and support uterine tone in women with menstrual irregularities and fertility concerns. Scientific evidence in humans is limited; most support is traditional.
Dong Quai is recorded in classical TCM texts as treating headaches, including an explicit reference in the Ming Dynasty Compendium of Materia Medica. Its vasodilatory and smooth muscle relaxant properties provide a plausible mechanistic basis. No clinical RCTs specifically evaluating Dong Quai for headache have been identified.
Dong Quai has a well-documented traditional use in TCM for menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding) and is listed among the principal proposed uses in authoritative herbal databases and the EMA assessment report. Its uterine tonic and hemostatic actions in TCM are complemented by a plausible pharmacological mechanism involving uterine smooth muscle modulation. Clinical trial evidence for Dong Quai monotherapy for heavy periods is lacking.
Dong quai (Angelica sinensis) has been used for over 2,000 years in Traditional Chinese Medicine for menopausal complaints including hot flashes, typically in multi-herb formulas. Controlled clinical trials of dong quai used alone have not demonstrated significant hot flash improvement, placing evidence primarily in the traditional category.
Dong quai (Angelica sinensis) has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 2,000 years as a primary herb for menstrual irregularity, classified as a 'blood tonic' to regulate and normalize the cycle. It is the chief herb in the classic formula Si Wu Tang for blood nourishment. Standalone Western clinical evidence is limited, but TCM use for irregular cycles is extensively documented.
Dong quai (Angelica sinensis) has been a cornerstone of Traditional Chinese Medicine for women's health, including menopausal complaints, for over 2,000 years. It is known as 'female ginseng' in TCM. However, clinical trial evidence as a monotherapy has not confirmed estrogenic effects or significant reduction of hot flashes versus placebo.
Dong quai (Angelica sinensis) is a central herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine, long used for menstrual irregularities and dysmenorrhea. Its ligustilide component relaxes uterine smooth muscle. It is classified as a uterine tonic and antispasmodic in TCM formulary, though standalone clinical RCT evidence for dysmenorrhea remains limited.
Dong Quai is listed in TCM and naturopathic sources as a traditional remedy for migraine, particularly those related to poor peripheral circulation and smooth muscle spasm. A. sinensis smooth muscle relaxant and vasodilatory properties are the proposed mechanisms. No human RCTs of Dong Quai monotherapy for migraine have been found.
Dong Quai is used in TCM for smooth muscle spasm and cramps, particularly uterine cramps, abdominal spasm, and by extension musculoskeletal cramps. Ligustilide and phthalides are documented antispasmodic agents that inhibit smooth muscle contractions. This use is supported by pharmacological data but not by clinical RCTs targeting skeletal muscle cramps specifically.
Dong quai (Angelica sinensis) has been used for over 2,000 years in traditional Chinese medicine as the foremost female tonic herb for menstrual irregularity, amenorrhoea, and gynecological complaints—conditions central to PCOS. Scientific evidence is preliminary, but it is among the most historically documented herbs for female reproductive disorders.
Dong quai (Angelica sinensis) has been used for over two millennia in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for female hormonal complaints including menstrual irregularity, menopausal symptoms, and insomnia. Scientific RCT evidence when used alone shows no significant benefit over placebo for hot flashes, but combination TCM formulas show positive results.
Dong quai (Angelica sinensis) has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 2,000 years as a primary women's tonic for menstrual irregularity, PMS, dysmenorrhea, and amenorrhea. It is considered 'female ginseng' in TCM. However, no placebo-controlled RCTs specifically for PMS have been conducted.
Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis) is a foundational herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine postpartum recovery, used for over 2,000 years to nourish blood, support uterine involution, and improve circulation after childbirth. It is a primary component of the classical postpartum formula Sheng Hua Tang. A PMC observational study confirmed it is one of the most commonly used TCM herbs in the first postpartum month.
Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis) has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 2,000 years as a primary uterine tonic, prescribed for dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, and menstrual irregularities. Its bioactive compound Z-ligustilide has shown uterine smooth muscle antispasmodic activity in animal studies. Clinical human evidence remains limited and mixed.
Body systems that Dong quai may help support.
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