Safety is often a common concern when people consider using herbal supplements. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not regulate herbal supplements for safety, effectiveness or purity so you may question the use of supplements for medicinal purposes. Herbalists have used Angelica sinensis, or dong quai, for thousands of years to treat high blood pressure and gynecological orders. Dong quai is generally considered safe for healthy people but there are possible negative side effects you should discuss with your physician before use.
Side Effects
Drugs.com explains that researchers consider dong quai safe for healthy adults when taken in recommended dosages. However, when taken in large doses dong quai may increase your sensitivity to sunlight, causing painful inflammation. You should wear sunscreen or stay out of the sun when using dong quai.
Drug Interactions
Dong quai may interact with other drugs. The herb can intensify anticoagulant medications such as aspirin, heparin, lovenox and warfarin, increasing the risk of bruising and bleeding. You should not take dong quai if you are taking anticoagulant medications or you have a clotting disorder unless under a physician's supervision.
Herbal Interactions
Many other herbal supplements affect the body's ability to clot blood and taking them with dong quai can intensify effects causing bleeding. The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that these herbs include feverfew, ginger, garlic, ginkgo, licorice, turmeric, Chinese skullcap and ginseng.
Precautions
When dong quai is reduced, to an essential oil, it contains small amounts of a cancer-causing substance and you should not take it internally. The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that researchers believe that dong quai contains estrogen-like substances that may interfere with hormone-related illnesses, such as ovarian, breast, uterine and prostate cancers as well as endometriosis. If you have any of these conditions, you should only use dong quai after consulting with your physician and under his supervision.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
If you are pregnant, you should not use dong quai, according to Drugs.com. Midwives commonly use dong quai to help induce labor as it stimulates the uterus while strengthening and coordinating contractions. When used in early pregnancy, dong quai may induce a miscarriage or pre-term labor. You should also avoid dong quai during breastfeeding, as information regarding safety on the fetus is inconclusive.
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