Dong Quai

Women have valued dong quai for centuries as an important contributor to their overall health. This member of the carrot and parsley family has been a mainstay in traditional Chinese medicine for over 2000 years. Today it is the second most popular herb in China, rivaling licorice in popularity. It is often called “female ginseng” because of its overall tonic affect. Dong quai is often used in combination with other herbs like Black Cohosh or Astraglus for maximum effect. Herbalists primarily use dong quai for issues related to the menstrual cycle and for the transition to menopause.

Research is on-going into how dong quai works but scientists have isolated compounds that can positively impact pain, open blood vessels, and stimulate as well as relax smooth muscles like those found in the uterine walls. Ferulic acid, for example, is a pain reliever estimated to be 1.7 times as effective as aspirin. It also is a muscle relaxant. It is these compounds that apparently account for dong quai’s positive effects on menstruation and menstrual pain. Much of menstrual pain is related to cramps which dong quai may help ease. Dong quai may also assit in restoring normal monthly cycles after ending use of birth control pills.

Dong quai’s action as an anti-spasmodic helps it dilate large blood vessels. Both men and women may find it helps lower elevated blood pressure.