Practitioners and herbalists have been using Angelica sinensis, or dong quai, medicinally for centuries. Many people believe that dong quai can help to treat many illnesses, from cardiac problems to psychological disorders. Many practitioners and holistic physicians have used dong quai to help treat post-menopausal effects in women. Before you take dong quai or any herbal supplement, you should consult your physician.
History
Dong quai is a member of the celery family and goes by other common names such as danggui and tang-kuei. The perennial grows in the damp, cold high altitudes in the mountains of Korea, Japan and China. It has a purple stem and umbrella shaped clusters of white flowers, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. People have used dong quai medicinally for a thousand years. In traditional Chinese medicine, practitioners have used dong quai for centuries to treat many gynecological problems.
Benefits
Dong quai is purported to help with a lack of menstruation, angina, painful menstruation, arthritis, kidney disease nerve pain, pulmonary hypertension, menstrual migraines and menopausal symptoms, though MayoClinic.com explains that the research is limited and more research is necessary. Before you use dong quai, you should consult your physician to weigh the risks and benefits and determine if this herbal supplement is right for you.
Safety
If you have an allergy to Angelica radix or any other member of the Apiaceae/Umbelliferae family such as anise, celery, dill, parsley, carrot or caraway, you should avoid using dong quai. In some patients, the use of dong quai has caused skin rash or asthma, according to MayoClinic.com. Dong quai is approved by the FDA as a food additive, but not enough research has been done to approve its use medicinally. Chemicals in dong quai may cause increased sun sensitivity. Safrole, an oil in Dong quai, may cause cancer.
Warning
If you have glucose intolerance or diabetes, you should use dong quai cautiously and only with your physician's approval, as dong quai contains high levels of sucrose. The National Institutes of Health explains that if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should avoid using dong quai due to its potential effects on hormone levels as well as its anticoagulant properties. Not enough research exists to determine its safety. Dong quai may interact with blood clotting medications such as warfarin and aspirin and may cause excess bleeding. Side effects of the herb can include rash, sunburn, change in skin color and moles as well as unusual bleeding or bruising.
Considerations
You should not take dong quai without discussing it with your physician. If you decide to use dong quai, do your research and find a holistic practitioner or certified herbalist. Many commercial companies that use dong quai as an ingredient in their teas have agreed to use the FDA standards and are considered generally safe to use.
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