Evidence supporting the use of: Dong quai root
For the health condition: Blood Clots (prevention of)

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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) for promoting blood circulation and addressing various gynecological conditions, including menstrual disorders and recovery after childbirth. In the context of blood clots, dong quai is traditionally believed to "invigorate the blood" and "dispel blood stasis," terms used in TCM to describe the prevention of abnormal clotting or stagnation of blood. While these concepts are not directly equivalent to biomedical understandings of blood clot prevention, they suggest a traditional rationale for its use in conditions where blood flow should be improved, which could loosely encompass the prevention of blood clots.

Some limited laboratory studies have reported that dong quai contains compounds (such as ferulic acid and coumarins) that may exhibit mild anticoagulant (blood-thinning) effects. However, robust clinical trials in humans demonstrating efficacy or safety for the explicit prevention or treatment of blood clots are lacking. Most of the available evidence comes from animal studies, in vitro research, or anecdotal traditional use. Thus, while there is a traditional basis for using dong quai in this context, there is insufficient scientific validation to recommend its use for blood clot prevention, especially given potential interactions with anticoagulant medications and the risk of bleeding.

In summary, dong quai's use for blood clot prevention is rooted in tradition rather than solid scientific evidence, and caution is warranted until more rigorous clinical studies are available.

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