Dong Quai

This section is compiled by Frank M. Painter, D.C.
Send all comments or additions to:    Frankp@chiro.org

Thanks to the University of North Carolina School of Pharmacy

Christy Walker, Amy Bigus, and Deanna Massengill

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Common Names

• "Empress of the Herbs"
• "Sovereign herb for women"
• "The Female Ginseng"

General description

• biennial and perennial plants
• hollow fluted purple stems rising 3 to 7 feet tall
• greenish-white flowers bloom from May to August
• leaves resemble those of carrots, celery or parsley
• root is harvested for medicinal effects when 1 year old

Chemical Composition

• Composed of various coumarins and flavonoids which are responsible for medicinal actions

Essential oil contains:

• n-butylphthalide
• linoleic acid
• cadinene
• palmitic acid
• carvacrol
• safrole
• n-dodecanal
• sequiterpene
• isosafrol
• n-tetradecanol

History and Folk Use

• Regarded as a "female" remedy

• dysmenorrhea
• anemia
• amenorrhea
• arthritis
• metrorrhagia
• migraine headache
• menopausal symptoms
• assure healthy pregnancy and easy delivery
• abdominal pain
• injuries

Pharmacology

• Relates to high coumarin content.

Phytoestrogen activity

• contains highly active phytoestrogens (lower in activity than animal estrogens)
• used in conditions of high and low estrogens
• demonstrate an alterative effect by competing with estrogen for binding sites
• exert some estrogenic activity when estrogens are low
• reduce overall estrogenic activity by occupying estrogen receptor sites when estrogen levels are high
• basis of use in amenorrhea & menopause
• Japanese angelica (thought to be very similar to Chinese angelica) has uterine tonic activity: causes an initial increase in uterine contraction followed by relaxation

Cardiovascular effects

• not used historically for these purposes
• significant hypotensive action due to vasodilator activity
• dihydropyranocoumarins and dihydrofuranocoumarins possess coronary vasodilatory, spasmolytic, and cyclic-AMP-phosphodiesterase inhibitory properties
• result of calcium channel antagonism
• also may have negative inotropic & antiarrhythmic action

Smooth muscle relaxing activity

• Calcium channel blocking compounds are capable of relaxing smooth muscle of visceral organs like the intestines and the uterus (essential oil)
• The water extract produces an initial contraction and then a prolonged relaxation

Analgesic activity

• Pain relieving and mild tranquilizing effects
• Analgesic action was found to be 1.7 times that of aspirin
• Analgesic activity combined with smooth muscle relaxing activity support use in uterine cramps, trauma, headaches & arthritis

Anti-allergy and Immuno-modulating activity

• Used in prevention and treatment of allergic symptoms
• Inhibits production of IgE in a selective manner
• Coumarin compounds demonstrate immune-enhancing activity in healthy and cancer patients
• Coumarins stimulate macrophages & phagocytosis – offers protection against metastasis and growth of tumor cells
• May possess mitogenic activity to B-lymphocytes, interferon-producing activity, anti-tumor activity, & complement-activiating activity to support historical anti-cancer effects and use as adjunct to current cancer therapy

Antibacterial activity

• Possess activity against both gram negative and gram positive bacteria
• Other herbs, however, have much greater antimicrobial activity

Clinical Applications

• treatment of disorders of menstruation
• menopause (especially hot flashes)
• atopic conditions
• smooth muscle spasms

• (uterine cramps, migraines, abdominal spasm)

• possibly as an immunostimulatory adjunct in cancer therapy

• The whole root is used:

• the head staunches bleeding
• the body preserves the internal organs and nourished the blood
• the tail moves the blood

• As a whole, the root "harmonizes" the blood.
• Eliminate discomforts of PMS
• Help women resume normal menstruation after going off "the pill"
• May prevent anemia due to richness in vitamins & minerals (A, B12, & E)

Drug and Disease Interactions

• Should not be used during pregnancy or mestruation
• Should not be taken with blood thinning agents

Dosage

• Standard dose for dried root or rhizosome:

• 1-2 gram orally or by infusion TID

• Tincture (1:5)

• 3-5 mL TID

• Fluid extract (1:1)

• 0.5-2.0 mL

Toxicity

• Extremely low toxicity
• Contains many photoreactive substances that may induce photosensitivity

Recipe:

• 1 oz Dong Quai
• 1/2 cup black beans
• 1 pint water
• 1 clove garlic, diced
• 2 slices of licorice root
• Seasonings to taste

Soak the beans overnight. Discard water. Combine beans & Dong Quai and cook for 2 hours, skimming surface foam periodically. In last 15 minutes of cooking, remove Dong Quai, which is bitter and add licorice slices. Makes 4 servings.

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References

• Murray MT. The Healing Power of Herbs. Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing, 1996, pp. 43-49.
• Pizzorno JE and MT Murray. "Angelica species," A Textbook of Natural Medicine. Bothell, WA: Bastyr University Publications, Vol. 1, 1996.

Internet sites:

• http://www.frontierherb.com/herbs/notes/herbs.notes.no5.html

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