Dong quai
Scientific names: Angelica sinensis, Angelica polymorpha var. sinensis
Family: Apiaceae/Umbelliferae
Alternate names: Angelica China, Angelicae Gigantis Radix, Angélique Chinoise, Angélique de Chine, Chinese Angelica, Dang Gui, Danggui, Danguia, Dang Gui Shen, Dang Gui Tou, Dang Gui Wei, Don Quai, Female Ginseng, Kinesisk Kvan, Ligustilides, Phytoestrogen, Radix Angelicae Gigantis, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Tan Kue Bai Zhi, Tang Kuei, Tanggwi, Toki
Actions: Antiarrhythmic, Anticoagulant, Antihypertensive, Anti-inflammatory, Antineoplastic, Antiplatelet, Antiulcer, Cardiovascular, Genitourinary, Hematologic, Hepatologic, Hormonal, Immunologic, Muscular, Pulmonary
Background
Dong quai (Angelica sinensis) is a plant that has been used for a variety of conditions, with little evidence. It may be unsafe when too much is consumed.
Dong quai is a member of the same plant family as parsley, celery, and carrots. It's popular in Chinese medicine for female health concerns. The root might affect estrogen and other hormones.
People commonly use dong quai for menopausal symptoms, menstrual cramps, migraine, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Dong quai is a member of the same plant family as parsley, celery, and carrots. It's popular in Chinese medicine for female health concerns. The root might affect estrogen and other hormones.
People commonly use dong quai for menopausal symptoms, menstrual cramps, migraine, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: Dong quai is possibly safe when taken for up to 6 months. It's been safely used in combination with other ingredients in doses up to 150 mg daily. It might make the skin extra sensitive to sunlight. Common side effects include burping, gas, and high blood pressure.
Taking dong quai in higher doses for more than 6 months is possibly unsafe. Dong quai contains chemicals that might cause cancer.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if dong quai is safe or what the side effects might be.
Breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if dong quai is safe to use when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Bleeding disorders. Dong quai might slow blood clotting and increase the chance of bruising and bleeding in people with bleeding disorders.
Hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids: Dong quai might act like estrogen. If you have any condition that might be made worse by estrogen, don't use dong quai.
Surgery: Dong quai might slow blood clotting. It might increase the risk of bleeding during and after surgery. Stop taking dong quai at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Taking dong quai in higher doses for more than 6 months is possibly unsafe. Dong quai contains chemicals that might cause cancer.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if dong quai is safe or what the side effects might be.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy: Taking dong quai by mouth during pregnancy is possibly unsafe for the baby. Dong quai seems to affect the uterus. Some research suggests that taking dong quai with other herbs during the first 3 months of pregnancy can increase the risk of birth defects. Do not use dong quai if you are pregnant.Breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if dong quai is safe to use when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Bleeding disorders. Dong quai might slow blood clotting and increase the chance of bruising and bleeding in people with bleeding disorders.
Hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids: Dong quai might act like estrogen. If you have any condition that might be made worse by estrogen, don't use dong quai.
Surgery: Dong quai might slow blood clotting. It might increase the risk of bleeding during and after surgery. Stop taking dong quai at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Effectiveness
Effective Effectiveness definitions
There is interest in using dong quai for a number of purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.
Dosing & administration
Dong quai is most often used in combination products. There isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of dong quai might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Estrogens
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Dong quai might act like the hormone estrogen. When taken together, dong quai might increase the risk of estrogen side effects.
Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Dong quai might slow blood clotting. Taking dong quai along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.
Warfarin (Coumadin)
Interaction Rating=Major Do not take this combination.
Warfarin is used to slow blood clotting. Dong quai might also slow blood clotting. Taking dong quai along with warfarin might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding. Be sure to have your blood checked regularly. The dose of your warfarin might need to be changed.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Herbs and supplements that might slow blood clotting: Dong quai might slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might increase the risk of bleeding in some people. Examples of supplements with this effect include garlic, ginger, ginkgo, nattokinase, and Panax ginseng.
Interactions with foods
There are no known interactions with foods.
Products
View all productsPer capsule:
- Angelica polymorpha (Dong quai) ext. 400 mg
- Schisandra chinensis ext. 240 mg
- Brassica oleracea var. italica ext. 400 mg
- Punica granatum ext. 200 mg
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) 80 mg
- Citrus bioflavonoids extract 40 mg
- Selenomethionine 149.2 µg equiv. selenium 60 µg
- Reynoutria japonica ext. 260 mg
- Silybum marianum ext. 200 mg
- Zinc citrate dihydrate 37.4 mg equiv. zinc 12 mg
- Chromium picolinate 402.4 µg equiv. chromium 50 µg
- Mecobalamin (Vitamin B12) 4 µg
- Curcuma longa ext. 300 mg
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Per tablet:
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Per 1.2 g:
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Per tablet:
Practitioner product
Per tablet:
- Angelica polymorpha (Dong quai) ext. 150 mg
- Silica - colloidal anhydrous 161 mg equiv. silicon 75 mg
- Dunaliella salina ext. 25 mg
- Biotin 2.5 mg
- Manganese (II) glycinate 13.16 mg equiv. manganese 2.5 mg
- Copper sulfate pentahydrate 200 μg equiv. copper 50 μg
- Selenomethionine 125 μg equiv. selenium 50 μg
- Potassium iodide 65.5 μg equiv. iodine 50 μg
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) 125 mg
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 109.2 mg equiv. pantothenic acid 100 mg equiv. calcium 9.17 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 30.39 mg equiv. pyridoxine 25 mg
- Inositol 50 mg
- d-alpha-Tocopheryl acid succinate 41.3 mg equiv. vitamin E 50 IU
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 25 mg
- Lycopene 2.5 mg
- Zinc glycinate monohydrate 53.2 mg equiv. zinc 15 mg
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Per capsule:
- Angelica polymorpha (Dong quai) ext. 125 mg
- Withania somnifera ext. 75 mg
- Vitex agnus-castus ext. 100 mg
- Silybum marianum ext. 2.86 mg
- Paeonia lactiflora ext. 750 μg
- Melissa officinalis ext. 10 mg
- Brassica oleracea var. italica ext. 10 mg
- Asparagus racemosus ext. 150 mg
- Zinc glycinate 26.6 mg equiv. zinc 7.5 mg
- Selenomethionine 93.1 μg equiv. selenium 37.5 μg
- Potassium iodide 98.1 μg equiv. iodine 75 μg
- Chromium picolinate 201.1 μg equiv. chromium 25 μg
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 3.28 mg equiv. pantothenic acid 3 mg
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Per capsule:
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Per capsule:
- Angelica polymorpha (Dong quai) ext. 81.9 mg
- Rehmannia glutinosa ext. 81.9 mg
- Paeonia lactiflora ext. 81.9 mg
- Ligusticum striatum ext. 56.4 mg
Practitioner product
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Angelica polymorpha (Dong quai) ext. 70 mg
- Vitex agnus-castus ext. 70 mg
- Paeonia lactiflora ext. 55 mg
- Glycyrrhiza uralensis ext. 55 mg
- Tetradium ruticarpum ext. 70 mg
- Ligusticum striatum ext. 55 mg
- Cinnamomum cassia ext. 55 mg
- Epimedium sagittatum ext. 55 mg
- Zingiber officinale ext. 55 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 10 mg equiv. pyridoxine 8.23 mg
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 5 mg
Practitioner product
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Per capsule:
- Angelica polymorpha (Dong quai) ext. 63.2 mg
- Bupleurum falcatum ext. 75 mg
- Paeonia lactiflora ext. 63.2 mg
- Cyperus rotundus ext. 63.2 mg
- Poria cocos ext. 63.2 mg
- Paeonia suffruticosa ext. 42.4 mg
- Gardenia jasminoides ext. 42.4 mg
- Glycyrrhiza uralensis ext. 31.8 mg
- Mentha haplocalyx ext. 21.4 mg
- Zingiber officinale ext. 21 mg
- Atractylodes macrocephala ext. 63.2 mg
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Angelica polymorpha (Dong quai) ext. 50 mg
- Asparagus racemosus ext. 133.33 mg
- Anemarrhena asphodeloides ext. 85 mg
- Epimedium sagittatum ext. 43.33 mg
- Curculigo orchioides ext. 71.43 mg
- Actaea racemosa ext. 100 mg
- Vitex agnus-castus ext. 25 mg
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Per tablet:
- Angelica polymorpha (Dong quai) ext. 50 mg
- Dioscorea oppositifolia ext. 40 mg
- Paeonia lactiflora ext. 28.57 mg
- Bupleurum falcatum ext. 20 mg
- Cholecalciferol 2.5 μg equiv. vitamin D3 100 IU
- Vitex agnus-castus ext. 10 mg
- Rehmannia glutinosa ext. 200 mg
- Calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate 350 mg equiv. calcium 81.6 mg equiv. phosphorus 63 mg
- Calcium amino acid chelate 50 mg equiv. calcium 10 mg
- Magnesium amino acid chelate 50 mg equiv. magnesium 10 mg
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Per tablet:
- Angelica polymorpha (Dong quai) ext. 50 mg
- Dioscorea oppositifolia ext. 40 mg
- Paeonia lactiflora ext. 28.57 mg
- Bupleurum falcatum ext. 20 mg
- Ziziphus jujuba ext. 200 mg
- Vitex agnus-castus ext. 10 mg
- Rehmannia glutinosa ext. 200 mg
- Magnesium amino acid chelate 50 mg equiv. magnesium 10 mg
- Cholecalciferol 2.5 μg equiv. vitamin D3 100 IU
- Rehmannia glutinosa ext. 633.33 mg
- Calcium amino acid chelate 50 mg equiv. calcium 10 mg
- Calcium hydrogen phosphate 350 mg equiv. calcium 81.6 mg
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Per capsule:
- Angelica polymorpha (Dong quai) ext. 49.5 mg
- Panax ginseng ext. 49.5 mg
- Poria cocos ext. 49.5 mg
- Dimocarpus longan ext. 49.5 mg
- Ziziphus jujuba ext. 33 mg
- Astragalus membranaceus ext. 49.5 mg
- Bupleurum falcatum ext. 49.5 mg
- Gardenia jasminoides ext. 33 mg
- Ziziphus jujuba ext. 49.5 mg
- Zingiber officinale ext. 12 mg
- Glycyrrhiza uralensis ext. 11.5 mg
- Polygala sibirica ext. 49.5 mg
- Atractylodes macrocephala ext. 49.5 mg
- Citrus reticulata ext. 15 mg
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Angelica polymorpha (Dong quai) ext. 38.7 mg
- Paeonia lactiflora ext. 38.7 mg
- Poria cocos ext. 38.7 mg
- Bupleurum falcatum ext. 29.1 mg
- Atractylodes macrocephala ext. 38.7 mg
- Paeonia suffruticosa ext. 38.7 mg
- Gardenia jasminoides ext. 38.7 mg
- Glycyrrhiza uralensis ext. 12.9 mg
- Zingiber officinale ext. 9.6 mg
- Mentha haplocalyx ext. 16.2 mg
Practitioner product
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This monograph was last reviewed on 17/06/2024 10:00:00 and last updated on 08/10/2020 03:03:56. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
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