Herb Corner Issue 27

Hi all,

This month I would like to share a bit about Dong Quai.

Dong Quai, or Angelica sinensis, is closely related to the celery plant. It has a purple stem and bears winged fruit. Flowers bloom from May to August and have a greenish white color. The roots are a yellowish brown color and is the main source of it’s medicinal properties. Dong Quai flourishes in wet places like meadows and along river banks.

Dong Quai has been used for thousands of years in China, Korea, and Japan for women’s problems. Like: painful menstruation, cessation of menstruation, bleeding of the uterus, and menopause. It has been used almost as much as Licorice and is often combined with Ginseng. This herb has also been a basis for several formulas made to correct liver qi and spleen deficiency. Chinese used it to restore balance to the blood and the body’s energies.

In the 1800’s an extract of Dong Quai called Eumenol became popular for the treatment of gynecological problems. According to legend, an angel appeared and said that dong quai would help in fighting the bubonic plague.

Today it is used for both men and women for blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems. It is used to purify the blood stream, improve circulation, prevent anemia, even out blood sugars, and is an aid for relaxation. Dong Quai is an excellent source of Vitamin E and aids in increasing blood flow and elasticity in the veins. Reduces inflammation and aids in increasing the amount of red blood cells and platelets.


Hope you all have a great St. Patrick's Day,