Dong Quai, referred to as the 'female ginseng', is rich in vitamins and minerals and is one of the most widely used herbs in traditional Chinese medicine. It is effective for female disorders such as menstrual disturbances, PMS and hot flashes due to its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiseptic, bactericidal and vasodilative effects. The herb is also used to regulate menstrual cycles, relieve menstrual cramps and alleviate symptoms related to PMS.

'Herbal Tonic Therapies,' Daniel B. Mowrey, Ph.D:

'Next to Panax ginseng, the root of dong quai is undoubtedly the most honored and respected herb in China, and is quickly gaining an equal reputation among users in the rest of the world.. Dong quai is used medicinally as a tonic, cardiotonic, respiratory tonic and liver tonic. It is used to promote circulation, to regulate the menstrual cycle and stop discomforts of menstruation. That means it's good for PMS. In Western herbal terms, it is used for dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation), metrorrhagia (too much menstruation) and amenorrhea (too little, or no, menstruation). Dong quai is also often recommended during pregnancy to ease delivery, reduce pain and discomfort and eliminate complications as much as possible. Most of the actions of dong quai depend on the presence of coumarins, phytosterols, polysaccharides, and flavonoids.'

'Dong quai contains estrogenic substances that may exert some regulating effect on estrogen levels and on estrogenic biological mechanisms. They seem to enhance estrogenic effects when estrogen levels are too low, and compete when levels are too high. This would be in keeping with the idea of a menstrual tonic. It is doubtful if dong quai has any direct estrogenic effects.'

'Substantial pharmacological research has validated these properties in dong quai. Anticramping, hypotensive, tonic, antiasthmatic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antiarthritic properties in the root have all been demonstrated by basic research. It has also been shown to be effective against several strains of microorganisms, especially fungi such as Candida albicans, the primary causative agent in vaginal yeast infections. This constellation of properties would help explain the plant's sometimes dramatic effect on the PMS symptoms.'

http://www.herbmed.org/Herbs/Herb90.htm:

Clinical Trials

Review indicates Dong quai may have some efficacy for PMS in traditional Chinese formulas. For relief of menopausal symptoms, Black Cohosh root and Dong Quai have good safety profiles, but only black cohosh has demonstrated efficacy for this Hardy 2000

Serum gastrin levels in cirrhosis patients decreased after intravenous perfusion of Radix Angelicae Sinensis and fell nearly to normal with long-term administration Huang 1994

Cerebral thrombosis benefit for 70 patients given Xijian Tongshuan (Siegesbeckia orientalis, Moschus moschiferus, Hirudo nipponica, Prunus Persicae, Carthamus tinctoruis, Ligusticum wallichi, Panax notoginseng, Angelica Sinensis, Borneolum, etc) Zhao 1994

Abdominal pain treatment with Danggui Funing in 162 patients was 93% effective, compared with 97% for atropine (n=35) and 0% for placebo (n=10). Danggui Funing blocks M, alpha and H1 receptors Sun 1992

Pulmonary arterial pressure was decreased and cardiac output, PaO2 were increased by Angelica sinensis plus nifedipine, more than either alone or the placebo group in a study with 40 COPD cases with pulmonary hypertension Xu 1992

Thrombocytopenic purpura treatment for 41 children by replenishing Qi and tonifying Kidney with Rehmanniae, Angelicae Sinensis, Paeoniae Rubra, Rubiae, Fructus Psoraleae, Radix Astragali, Semen Cuscutae, Caulis Spatholob; Jujubae, Rhei Shi 1991

Coronary patients improved with Yi-qi Huo-xue (Ginseng, Astragalus and Angelicae Sinensis): angina frequency and severity decreased 90%, treadmill tolerance increased from 348 to 503, ventricular function and ischemic ST-T improved, etc Liao 1989

Observational Studies/Case Reports

A patient with anemia of chronic renal failure who was resistant to erythropoietin benefit had marked improvement after self-initiating the Chinese herb Dang qui (Angelicae sinensis) Bradley 1999

Review indicates many alternative therapies for menopausal hot flashes, such as vitamin E, primrose oil, dong quai, and black cohash have anecdotal support but have not been thoroughly studied. Some have found benefit with relaxation and exercise Shaw 1997

Portal hemodynamics improved in cirrhotic patients given 20 mg/kg/min i.v. of Angelicae sinensis root Huang 1996

Gout pain and uric acid were not reduced in patients by Danggui-Nian-Tong-Tang, a Chinese antirheumatic whereas indomethacin and allopurinol gave benefit Chou 1995

Infantile pneumonia treated with Huayu (Angelica sinensis, Paeonia lactiflora, Ligusticum wallichii, Spathollobus suberectus, Hirudo nipponica, Tabanus bivittatus, Paeonia suffroticosa, Astragalus membranaceus) Zong 1993

Dysmenorrhea and high prostaglandin F2 alpha were more effectively treated after 3 months with Danggui Shaoyao Powder than Tianqi Dysmenorrhea Capsule [Article in Chinese] Xie 1990