Common Names: Dong Quai, Female Ginseng, Chinese Angelica, Dang-gui or Dang-qui, Japanese Angelica, Toki, European Angelica, Wild Celery, Master Wort, American Angelica

Botanical Names: (Chinese) Angelica sinensis or Angelica polymorpha; (Japanese) Angelica acutiloba; (European) Angelica archangelica, (American) Angelica atropurpurea

Nutritional Support at a Glance: Used as nutritional support by persons with Dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation), Metrorrhagia (abnormal menstruation), Amenorrhea (absence of menstruation), Menopausal symptoms (hot flashes in some women, including my wife), Estrogen imbalances, Cardiovascular problems, Pre-Atherosclerosis, High platelet count, High blood pressure, Decreased Libido, Immune system problems, Abdominal pain, Arthritis, Migraine headaches, Anemia, Liver problems, Decreased blood clotting time, Colds, Flu, Asthma, Constipation, Traumatic injuries, Bruising, Swelling, Tinnitis, Blurred vision, Palpitations, Infections and Cancer.

Notice to Consumers: No information is provided as an enticement to purchase and in accordance with section 201(g) of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, is not intended to treat, prevent, cure or mitigate any disease and is for your perusal and to be used in concert with your physician.

To view product formulation Angelica (Dong Quai)

Origin: The Chinese have used the root of Angelica (Dong Quai) for thousands of years as a tonic and a spice to protect women’s health. Dong Quai actually means, dang gui, which is to say “to return” and if an irritable woman doesn’t want to be near her husband, she should take Dang-gui. J Angelica archangelica was used in all European countries and highly praised in old herbal texts for curing just about everything and legend has it that it blooms on the feast day of Michael the Archangel, hence it’s name, and why it was viewed as protection against all evil spirits and witches. When European colonists arrived, they found Indian tribes in North America using American angelica the same way they were using the European angelica, to treat respiratory problems and it is reported that they used very large doses to induce abortions. American Eclectic physicians of the 19^th century recommended angelica for indigestion, heartburn, bronchitis, typhoid, and malaria.

Parts Used Medicinally: Dried root and/or extracts from the root prepared as capsules, tinctures and teas (that have a bitter taste), however, seeds and leaves are also used in decoctions and infusions.

Traditional and/or Historical Use: Angelica (Dong Quai) reputation, in Asia, as a medicinal herb is second only to Ginseng and primarily used as a female remedy for painful menstruation, promote a healthy pregnancy and easy delivery, menopausal symptoms, however, traditional Chinese and Indian Ayurvedic physicians still prescribe it for menstrual problems as well as for arthritis, abdominal pain, colds and flu.

In the 17^th century it became popular for treating respiratory problems under the Doctrine of Signatures (a belief that the physical appearance of the plant reveals its healing power) e.g. hollow-stemmed plants were considered for treating a wide variety of respiratory problems. An interesting note to this concept is that German researchers have concluded that angelica does relax the windpipe and may have some potential in the treatment of asthma, bronchitis, flu and colds and also relaxes the intestines which may be the reason that it was used for digestive disorders.

The primary traditional view is that Angelica (Dong Quai) strengthens the liver, heart and lung meridians, tonifies, invigorates and harmonizes the blood and lubricates the bowels as well as regulating menstruation and important in treating gynecologic problems and used to treat blood coagulation, bruises and blood deficiency disorders, traumatic injuries, swellings, contusions, blurred vision, tinnitus and palpitations.

Japanese researchers have found that angelica has anti-inflammatory effects and may be useful in treating arthritis. Chinese researchers have found that angelica increases red blood counts and decreases blood clotting time as well as improving liver function in persons with chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis. Researchers have found that Angelica (Dong Quai) has demonstrated good uterine tonic activity with increased initial uterine contraction followed by relaxation (in experimental animals) and that ferulic acid inhibits uterine movement when administered IV. Clinical trials have supported its use to relieve dysmenorrheal, treat infertility, chronic hepatitis, and cirrhosis of the liver.

Active Biochemical’s or Phytochemical’s and/or Mechanisms of Action: The various phytosterols; ferulic acid and coumarins; including osthole (0.2%), angelicin, umbelliferone, bergapten, ostruthol, and osthenol and the essential oils(0.4-0.7%); primarily ligustilide and n-butylphthalide with sesquiterpene, safrol, isosafrole, n-tetradecanol, n-dodecanal, carvacrol, cadinene, palmitic acids, linoleic acids, and the flavonoid caffeic acid along with the volatile oils approx. (1.0%); beta-phyllamdrene, borneol, limonene, alpha-pinene, and macrocylic lactones are mainly responsible for the physiologic effects. Scientific evidence shows that it produces a balancing effect on estrogen activity and a tonic for the uterus. Angelica (Dong Quai) demonstrated improvement in abnormal protein metabolism as well as efficacy in the treatment of constrictive aortitis and when combined with dan shen improved peripheral vascular disorders, stroke, and decreased angina pain.

One study showed increased sexual activity in female animals. Butylidene phthalide showed antispasmotic activity by inhibiting rat uterine contractions and another demonstrated that intraperitoneal injection of Angelica (Dong Quai) increased the body’s ability to protect the rat ovaries from gamma radiation. It can also prolong the hearts refractory period and corrected experimental atrial fibrillation induced by electrical stimulation, pituitrin, strophanthin, acetylcholine, atropine as well as inhibit platelet aggregation and serotonin release.

Angelica (Dong Quai) stimulates hematopoiesis in bone marrow, reduces atherosclerosis formation, lowers blood pressure, blood cholesterol, reduces respiratory rate, dilates the coronary vessels, and increases coronary flow. Angelica (Dong Quai) has demonstrated efficacy in decreasing tissue response to induced injuries to rat lungs by releasing inflammatory factors and also inhibited the asthmatic reaction of acetylcholine and histamine in guinea pigs as well as increasing the metabolic rate and oxygen utilization of the liver with increased glutamic acid and cysteine oxidation reported. Hepatoprotective activity was also reported against carbon tetrachloride toxic hepatitis and prevented liver glycogen loss. Marked improvement was noted in the treatment of dysmenorrhea in several studies using Angelica (Dong Quai) or ligustilide separately or in combination with other herbs and drugs.

Recommended Dosage: Dried root extract: standardized to 8,000 ppm to 11,000 ppm of ligustilide  from Angelica  sinensis, A. polymorpha, & A. acutiloba  in 200 mg capsules from Asia, primarily China, Korea, Japan) suggested use is 1 capsule 3 times daily or as directed by your physician. Also available as tinctures, 1:5 ratio take 3 to 5 ml; Fluid extracts, 1:1 ratio take 0.5 to 2 ml and as a Tea made from dried root take 1 to 2 grams boiled in water or a directed by your physician.

Toxicity, Cautions, Contra-Indications: There is no known human toxicity and is generally recognized as safe when prepared properly and the LD50 of the extract is measured at 100 g/kg of body weight in rats and therefore appears to be very safe when used as directed, but it is rumored that fresh angelica roots are poisonous and must be dried prior to use, but that has not been confirmed in the literature.

Angelica (Dong Quai) does contain photo-reactive substances (psoralens),
especially the European and American varieties, and over exposure to sunlight should be avoided also, St. John’s Wort may increase the photosensitivity when used with Angelica (Dong Quai).

Note to amateur botanists;
angelica is easily confused with hemlock Cicuta maculatl, which is extremely poisonous. 

Angelica (Dong Quai) is contra-indicated in the first trimester of pregnancy especially in higher doses. Possible side effects include gastrointestinal disturbances and fever.

Taking the following nutritional supplements/herbs with Angelica (Dong Quai) may increase the risk of bleeding and might also affect platelet aggregation:
Garlic, Ginger, Ginkgo Biloba, and Turmeric.

Warning: 
Angelica (Dong Quai) may alter blood lab testing results by increasing prothrombin time (PT) and plasma international normalization ratio (INR) in individuals Warfarin with Angelica (Dong Quai).

Drug Interactions: George T. Grossberg, M.D. & Barry Fox, Ph.D reports,”Taking Dong Quai with these drugs may increase the risk of bleeding and bruising: abciximab, alteplase, antithrombin III, argatroban, aspirin, aspirin and dipyridamole, bivalirudin, celecoxib, choline magnesium trysalicylate, clopidogrel, daltiparin, danaparoid, diclofenac, diflunisal, dipyridamole, drotrecogin, enoxaparin, eptifibatide, etodolacm fenoprofen, flurbiprofen, fondaparinux, heparin, hydrocodone and aspirin, hydrocodone and ibuprofen, ibritumomab, ibuprofen, indobufen, indomethacin, ketoprofen, ketorolac, leprirudin, meloxicam, nabumetone, nadroparin, naproxen, oxaprozin, piroxicam, reteplase, rofecoxib, salsalate, streptokinase, sulindac, tenecteplase, tiaprofenic acid, ticlopidine, tinzaparin, tirofiban, tolmetin, urokinase, valdecoxib, warfarin. Taking dong quai with the following drugs may enhance the drug’s therapeutic and/or adverse effects: acebutolol, amiodarone, atenolol, benzepril, bepridil, betaxolol, bisoprolol, bumetanide, candesartan, captopril, carteolol, carvekilol, cilazapril, clonidine, cyproterone and ethinyl estradiol, diltiazem, doxazosin, enalapril, eprosartan, estradiol, estrogens (conjugated A synthetic and equine), estrogens (esterified), estropipate, ethinyl estradiol, ethinyl estradiol and ethynodiol diacetate, ethinyl estradiol and etonogestrel, ethinyl and levonorgestrel, ethinyl estradiol and norenthindrone, ethinyl estradiol and norgestimate, ethinyl estradiol and norgestrel, felodipine, fosfomycin, furosemide, hydralazine, hydrochlorothiazide, indapamide, irbesartan, isradipine, labetalol, lisinopril, losartan, metolazone, metoprolol, moexipril, nadolol, nicardipine, nifedipine, nimodipine, nisoldipine, norgestrol, oxprenolol, perindopril erbumine, pindolol, parzosin, propranolol, quinapril, ramipril, telmisartan, terazosin, torsemide, trandolapril, valsartan, verapamil. Taking Dong quai with the following drugs may alter/interfere with the action of the drug, and is best avoided by those with estrogen-dependent tumors: anastrozole, carbocysteine, cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, epirubicin, exemestane, fluorouracil, megestrol, mitomycin, mitoxantrone, paclitaxel, tamoxifen, thiotepa, vinblastine. Taking dong quai with these drugs may increase skin sensitivity to sunlight: bexarotene, bumetanide, celecoxib, chlorpromazine, ciprofloxacin, dacarbazine, demeclocycline, doxycycline, enalapril, etodolac, fluocinonole and hydroquinone and tretinoin, fluphenazine, fosinopril, furosemide, gatifloxacin, gemifloxacin, hydrochlorothiazide, hydrochlorothiazide and trimterene, ibuprofen, isotretinoin, ketoprofen, ketorolac, lansoprazole, levofloxacin, lisinopril, lomefloxacin, loratadine, methotrexate, methotrimeprazine, metolazone, minocycline, naproxen, nortriptyline, ofloxacin, olanzapine, omeprazole, phenytoin, piroxicam, prochlorperazine, quinapril, risperidone, rofecoxib, sparfloxacin, sulfadiazine, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim, sulfasalazine, sulfinpyrazone, sulfisoxazole, tetracycline, thioridazine, tretinoin (oral), trifluoperazine, trovafloxicin, zuclopenthixol.”

General References: Balch, J. and Balch, P., (1997) Prescription for Nutritional Healing. Garden City Park, New York: Avery Publishing Group. Castleman, M., (1991) The Healing Herbs. Emmaus, Pennsylvania: Rodale Press. Chopra, D., (1993) Alternative Medicine. Fife, Washington: Future Medicine Publishing, Inc. Flynn, R. and Roest, M., (1995) Your Guide to Standardized Herbal Products. Prescott, Arizona: One World Press. Murray, M., (1996) Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements. United States of America: Prima Publishing. Murray, M. and Pizzorno, J., (1998) Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. United States of America: Prima Publishing. Null, G., (1998) The Complete Encyclopedia of Natural Healing. New York, New York: Kensington Publishing Corp. Werbach, M., (1993) Nutritional Influences of Illness. Tarzana, California: Third Line Press. Melvin R. Werbach, M.D. & Jeffrey Moss, D.D.S., C.N.S., C.C.N. (1999) Textbook of Nutritional Medicine. Third Line Press, Inc. Tarzana, CA. Simon Mills, MCPP, FNIMH, MA & Kerry Bone MCPP FNHAA FNIMH BSc (Hons) (2000) Principles and Practices of Phytotherapy. New York, NY Churchill Livingstone. Joseph Pizzorno, Jr. & Michael Murray, (1999) Textbook of Natural Medicine. New York, NY, Churchill Livingstone. M. Murray, N.D.(1995) The Healing Power of Herbs. New York, NY, Gramercy Books. Melvin R. Werbach M.D. & Michael T Murray, N.D., (2000) Botanical Influences on Illness. A Sourcebook of Clinical Research. Tarzana, CA, Third Line Press. George T. Grossberg, M.D. & Barry Fox, Ph.D. (2007) The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide. New York, NY, Broadway Books. James F. Balch, M.D. & Mark Stengler, N.D., (2004) Prescription for Natural Cures. Hoboken, NJ, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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