Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis) Benefits for Women: The Blood Herb and How to Use It

Written and reviewed by Dr. Michael Koh, Chinese herbal medicine practitioner at The Oriental Herb, Cliffside Park, NJ

Dang Gui – Angelica sinensis, sometimes sold as “dong quai” – is the most prescribed herb in Chinese gynaecology and the one women most often ask us about by name. It both nourishes and moves the Blood, which is why it fits so many of the problems that run through a woman’s life: painful or irregular periods, the pallor and fatigue of heavy bleeding, postpartum recovery, and the dryness and mood swings of menopause. This post explains the dang gui benefits, the formulas it anchors, how it is traditionally cooked, and the situations where it should not be used.

What Dang Gui does

Sweet, pungent and warm, Dang Gui tonifies Blood, invigorates Blood, regulates menstruation, relieves pain and moistens the intestines. The combination of nourishing and moving in one herb is unusual and is the reason it suits both the woman who is pale and depleted and the one with dark, clotted, painful periods. Different parts of the root do different jobs: the body nourishes, the tail moves. A herbalist chooses accordingly.

The conditions it is used for

• Painful periods and PMS – with Chuan Xiong, Bai Shao and Xiang Fu; see menstrual cramps and PMS.
• Light, late or absent periods and Blood deficiency – pale face, dizziness, dry skin, poor sleep; see Blood deficiency.
• Heavy periods and iron-deficiency fatigue – paradoxically, by regulating the cycle and rebuilding; combined with Huang Qi (Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang) and iron-rich foods. Heavy bleeding still needs a doctor’s assessment.
• Fertility preparation – building the lining in the first half of the cycle; see fertility.
• Postpartum recovery – the Dang Gui chicken soup tradition (below) exists for a reason.
• Menopause – for dryness, palpitations and low mood of the Blood-deficient type, with Shu Di Huang and Bai Shao; see menopause and hot flashes. On its own it has not performed well in hot-flash trials – it works in formulas, not alone.
• Dry constipation in the elderly and after childbirth.

Si Wu Tang – the four-substance decoction

Dang Gui, Shu Di Huang, Bai Shao and Chuan Xiong: the base formula of Chinese gynaecology, nourishing and moving Blood in balance. Almost every women’s formula is Si Wu Tang with additions – Tao Hong Si Wu Tang for clots and pain, Ba Zhen Tang with Qi tonics for exhaustion, Wen Jing Tang for cold and infertility.

Dang Gui chicken soup

A few slices of Dang Gui with jujube dates, goji, a little ginger and a chicken leg, simmered an hour. Traditionally eaten in the week after the period ends and in the postpartum month; warming, nourishing and the gentlest way to take the herb. Not for the days of heavy flow, and not with a cold or fever.

Precautions

Dang Gui moves Blood and should be avoided during heavy menstrual bleeding, in pregnancy unless specifically prescribed, before surgery, and with warfarin or other blood thinners. It is mildly photosensitizing in large doses. People with loose stools from weak digestion tolerate it poorly without balancing herbs. Estrogen-sensitive conditions: the evidence does not show Dang Gui acts as an estrogen, but discuss it with your oncologist if you have had breast cancer.

FAQ

Is dong quai the same as Dang Gui?

Yes – the same root, different romanisation. Quality varies enormously; the best comes from Gansu province.

Can men take it?

Yes, for Blood deficiency, dry constipation and some pain patterns; “women’s herb” refers to its most common use, not a restriction.

Capsules or soup?

For a condition, a formula from a practitioner; for maintenance, the soup once or twice a month. We stock sliced root in our store.

This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Chinese herbs are not a replacement for diagnosis or treatment from your physician. Always tell your doctor and your herbalist about every medication and supplement you take.