Angelica polymorpha
Scientific Name: Dong Quai
Other Names: Angelica sinensis, Chinese Angelica, Danggui, Tang-Kuei
Should I take it?
Dong quai grows in northern and western areas of China. A perennial plant related to celery, it can grow as tall as 8 feet. It has large hollow stems that are ridged like celery and are often purple in color. Light green or yellow flowers bloom in the summer, small yellow fruits appear in the fall, and the seeds ripen in October or November. The leaves of dong quai are divided into a number of small leaflets and its small flowers are arranged in flat groups. Fresh dong quai stems are sometimes eaten raw and both the stems and the roots may be cooked as a vegetable or included in soups. As a vegetable, dong quai provides moderate amounts of folic acid, iron, and vitamin B12.
Although dong quai stems and seeds are used occasionally in medicine, the main medicinal part is the root, which has a pleasant spicy smell and a sweet-spicy taste. Harvested from plants that are 2 years to 3 years old, the roots resemble parsnips or carrots. They can be used fresh, but more frequently they are dried and powdered to be made into extracts or capsules. Extracts are concentrated liquid preparations usually made by soaking chopped or mashed plant parts in a liquid such as alcohol, and then straining out the solid parts. Dong quai is seldom used alone. Most often it is included with other herbals in combination products.
Dosage and Administration
Although dosing for dong quai varies considerably, a common recommendation for its use to treat menstrual problems is 3,000 mg to 4,000 mg (3 grams to 4 grams) per day in three divided doses. Note that dong quai is usually combined with other herbals for general use. It is rarely taken by itself. Individuals who choose to take a product containing it should follow the directions on the package of the product that is purchased.
Summary
Although Chinese healers have used dong quai for centuries--usually combined with other herbals--to treat conditions such as asthma and high blood pressure, dong quai is best known currently for relieving menstrual and menopausal symptoms. Little evidence exists, however, to prove its effectiveness for treating any medical condition.
Risks
Pregnant women should not take dong quai due to its unpredictable effects on uterine muscles. Men with prostate cancer and women with endometriosis, breast cancer, or cancers of the uterus or ovaries should also avoid taking it. Small children and women who are breast-feeding are also advised not to take dong quai.
Side Effects
Taking dong quai appears to be associated with few major side effects, even though some of the chemicals it contains may be cancer-causing in large amounts. In the amounts used in medicine, the risk of developing cancer is not thought to be significant. Dong quai may make skin more likely to sunburn, however.
Interactions
Dong quai may contain small amounts of chemicals that reduce the blood's ability to clot. Therefore, it could increase the anti-clotting effects of prescription anticoagulants and antiplatelets, aspirin, and other herbal products.
Last Revised August 29, 2007
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Should I take it? 
