Dong Quai
Also known as: Angelica sinensis, Chinese angelica, Female ginseng, Dang gui
TCM's 'female ginseng' — a coumarin-rich blood mover with thin clinical evidence and real anticoagulant interactions.
In short
Dong quai (Angelica sinensis) is a root used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 2,000 years, most famously for women's health — menstrual irregularities, cramps, and menopause symptoms — earning it the nickname 'female ginseng.' Its pharmacology is real: coumarins and ferulic acid give it antispasmodic and blood-thinning properties, which plausibly explain its traditional role in 'moving blood.' The clinical evidence, however, is thin: Western trials for hot flashes are mostly negative, and menstrual claims rest largely on tradition and small studies. The important modern facts are safety-related: its coumarin content potentiates anticoagulants, and it contains compounds that increase sun sensitivity.
- Angelica sinensis root; TCM staple for 2,000+ years
- Nicknamed 'female ginseng' for menstrual/menopause use
- Coumarins and ferulic acid: antispasmodic, blood-thinning
- Western trials thin; anticoagulant interaction is the key risk
What is Dong Quai?
Dong quai is one of the most prescribed herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine — the 'female ginseng' that anchors countless formulas for menstrual pain, irregular cycles, and menopausal symptoms. Its traditional logic is visible in its chemistry: coumarins that thin the blood and relax smooth muscle, exactly what a 'blood-moving' herb should contain. But tradition and clinical trial evidence diverge here more than for many botanicals: Western studies have largely failed to confirm menopausal benefits, and menstrual evidence is sparse. What is not in dispute is the interaction risk — dong quai genuinely potentiates warfarin and related drugs, which elevates it from curiosity to cautionary case.
Where it comes from
Natural sources
- Root of Angelica sinensis, cultivated in China for millennia
- TCM role: tonify and move blood (xue), harmonize menstruation
- Contains coumarins, ferulic acid, ligustilide, and polysaccharides
How it's made
Sliced dried root for decoction, extracts, and capsules; often blended in TCM formulas.
What it does in products
Benefits
Menstrual cramp relief
emerging evidenceTraditional use is extensive and antispasmodic chemistry supports it, but rigorous trials are lacking; most evidence is observational or within TCM formula studies.
Menopause symptom relief
emerging evidenceRandomized Western trials of dong quai alone found no significant effect on hot flashes versus placebo — the herb's most famous use fails the modern test.
Traditional blood-tonic support
emerging evidenceTCM classifies dong quai as a blood-nourishing tonic for anemia-type presentations; this use rests on tradition and formula studies rather than rigorous trials.
Side effects & safety
Safety considerations
- Avoid — traditional texts warn of uterine stimulation; contraindicated in pregnancy.
- Warfarin and antiplatelets — potentiation with serious bleeding reports
- Hormone therapies — theoretical interaction with estrogen-sensitive conditions
- Photosensitizing drugs — additive sun sensitivity
- Not for: Pregnancy
- Not for: Bleeding disorders or anticoagulant use
- Not for: Heavy menstrual bleeding
How it's used
In supplements
1–4 g/day of root or equivalent extract; traditional decoctions use 3–15 g. Quality varies widely.
In skincare
Occasional TCM cosmetic use; no standard concentration.
Regulatory status
- Sold as a dietary supplement; no FDA-approved disease claims.
- Not applicable.
Popular products containing Dong Quai
- Nature's Way Dong Quai Root — Dried root capsulesNature's Way · Supplement
- Solaray Dong Quai — Root extract capsulesSolaray · Supplement
- Traditional TCM formulas (e.g., Si Wu Tang) — Dong quai-anchored formula blendsVarious · Supplement
Product names and brands are shown for reference and belong to their respective owners.
The evidence gap
A well-designed 1997 randomized trial of dong quai for hot flashes found no benefit over placebo — a result that shaped Western views ever since. Menstrual-cramp evidence comes mostly from TCM formula trials where dong quai is one of several herbs, making single-herb attribution difficult. The herb's reputation is deep, but its Western evidence file is shallow.
The anticoagulant reality
Dong quai's coumarins are structurally related to warfarin's chemical family, and case reports document INR elevation and bleeding when combined. This is the ingredient's most clinically consequential fact — more important than any efficacy claim — and it makes dong quai a poor choice for self-experimentation.
Frequently asked questions
Does dong quai help hot flashes?
Randomized evidence says no for dong quai alone. Some TCM combination formulas perform better, but single-herb trials are negative.
Can I take dong quai during my period?
Traditionally yes — for cramping. But given its blood-thinning effect, women with heavy bleeding should avoid it, and anticoagulant users must avoid it entirely.
Is dong quai the same as garden angelica?
No — Angelica sinensis (dong quai) differs from Angelica archangelica (European angelica), though both contain coumarins.
The bottom line
Dong quai is a deeply traditional women's herb whose modern evidence falls short of its fame — and whose real clinical significance is an anticoagulant interaction that demands caution.
References
- Dong quai for menopausal hot flashes: randomized trial. Fertility and Sterility. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9406424/
- Dong quai — NCCIH. NCCIH. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/dong-quai
- Angelica sinensis pharmacology and coumarin interactions. PubMed Central. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30598855/