Super Foods Blog

The health benefits of dong quai

This remedy is as old as the hills and has been used by Asian women for thousands of years as a tonic for the reproductive system. Dong quai is a herb that has been regularly used in countries like China and Japan and probably ranks just below ginseng when it comes to the extent of its usage.

What really is dong quai? In Japan it comes from the A. acutiloba plant’s root and in China it is obtained from the root of the angelica sinensis. Both these plants have stems that are hollow and grow up to a height of eight feet and have white flowers that bloom in clusters in the shape of an umbrella. The flowers of both these species resemble Queen Anne’s lace. In Modern Europe people use dong quai to cure a large variety of symptoms. These symptoms could be either non-gynecological or gynecological in nature.

Dong quai is used more among women as it helps improve uterine health, which in turn regularizes menstrual cycles. Dong quai contains coumarins and these are very effective in dilating blood vessels, increasing the blood flow in the body and helping in the stimulation of the nervous system. Coumarins reduce menstrual cramps by relaxing the uterus muscles.

Dong quai helps reduce PMS symptoms and also helps in regularizing menstrual cycles and this is just the reason why that it is so popular among women. Amenorreha is a condition in which the periods are either missed or are irregular and dong quai is used for the treatment of this condition. Dong quai is also used when there are heavy or prolonged periods. The herb has anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties that are responsible for alleviating these conditions.

When dong quai is used along with chasteberry, it reduces pain that arises due to endometriosis. Hot flashes that are related to menopause can be controlled if dong quai is used with ginseng, chasteberry and black cohosh.

Dong quai is rich in vitamin B12 and helps the body to produce more red blood cells. If it is used along with other herbs then the blood vessels get dilated slightly which results in increasing the flow of blood and also increases the pumping action of the heart. Traditional Chinese doctors swore by it to improve circulation of blood in the body and to treat high blood pressure.

Dong quai is available in different forms like capsules, tinctures, liquids, soft gels and tablets. It can be bought from health food stores and herbal medicine stores where it is sold as a dried herb. This herb can be used to make tea that has a soothing and calming effect.

While shopping for dong quai one must remember to buy standardized brands that have a liguistilide concentration ranging between 0.8 percent and 1.1 percent. You could choose from soft gels, capsules and tablets. What is most effective for menstrual cramps is taking a dong quai 200 mg pill thrice a day or 30 drops, that is 1.5ml, of dong quai in liquid form thrice a day.

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