Dong quai (Angelica sinensis)


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Evidence

These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider.

Amenorrhea (lack of menstrual period)
There is limited evidence of dong quai as a part of herbal combinations given for amenorrhea (lack of menstrual period). Additional research is necessary before a firm conclusion can be drawn. 		C
Arthritis
Dong quai has been traditionally used in the treatment of arthritis. However, there is insufficient reliable human evidence to recommend it alone or in combination with other herbs for this condition. Further research is needed. 		C
Cerebral ischemia (lack of blood flow to the brain)
Limited research indicates that people treated with dong quai may experience improved blood flow and reduced memory damage after an acute ischemic stroke. According to animal research, dong quai may prevent cerebral thrombosis (blood clots in the brain). Further research is needed before dong quai may be recommended as a treatment for cerebral ischemia. 		C
Death and dying (rhesus incompatibility)
There is insufficient evidence to support the use of dong quai as a treatment for rhesus (Rh) incompatibility, a condition that occurs when a woman with Rh-negative blood type is exposed to Rh-positive blood cells (typically a fetus that has Rh-positive blood). Further research is necessary. 		C
Dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain)
Limited research indicates that dong quai in combination with other herbs may be beneficial in treating dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain). However, reliable scientific evidence for dong quai alone in humans with dysmenorrhea is currently not available. Further studies are needed. 		C
Glomerulonephritis (a kidney disease)
There is insufficient evidence to support the use of dong quai as a treatment for kidney diseases such as glomerulonephritis. Further studies are necessary. 		C
Heart disease
Cell culture studies show that dong quai may have protective effects on vascular endothelial cells and reverse the damaging effects of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. According to animal studies, dong quai in combination with Astragalus mongholicus may reduce hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol levels). In humans, dong quai in combination with astragalus and ginseng (Yiqi-Huoxue) may improve symptoms of coronary heart disease. However, there is a lack of human research examining the utility of dong quai alone in the treatment of heart disease. Further studies are necessary. 		C
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (low count of blood-clotting cells)
Although there is promising evidence from a combination study, there is a lack of available evidence in support of dong quai alone for the treatment of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), the condition of having an unusually low platelet count (the cells in the blood that lead to clotting). Further research is required. 		C
Lichen planus (itchy rash)
There is a lack of sufficient evidence for or against the recommendation of dong quai in the treatment of atrophic lichen of the vulva. Studies utilizing a randomized, control, double-blind design are necessary. 		C
Menstrual migraine headache
Although there is promising evidence from a combination study, there is a lack of research investigating dong quai alone for the treatment of menstrual migraine headaches. Further research is needed. 		C
Pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs)
Limited research in humans has found that dong quai may improve pulmonary hypertension, blood thickness, and the volume of red blood cells in the blood. Further research is needed. 		C
Ulcerative colitis (an inflammatory bowel disease)
Platelets, or the cells in the blood that lead to clotting, may be significantly activated in ulcerative colitis (UC). According to limited research, dong quai may inhibit platelet activation. Further research in this area is necessary. 		C
Menopausal symptoms
Dong quai is used in traditional Chinese formulas for menopausal symptoms, but the clinical evidence in this area is lacking. Several combination studies have reported that formulations containing dong quai are effective for menopausal symptoms. However, the only clinical study using dong quai alone found no efficacy for dong quai in the treatment of menopausal symptoms. Well-designed large studies are still needed to provide conclusive evidence. 		D

Key to grades
A Strong scientific evidence for this use
B Good scientific evidence for this use
C Unclear scientific evidence for this use
D Fair scientific evidence against this use (it may not work)
F Strong scientific evidence against this use (it likely does not work)

Grading rationale

Uses based on tradition or theory

The below uses are based on tradition or scientific theories. They often have not been thoroughly tested in humans, and safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider.

Abdominal pain, abnormal fetal movement, abscess (pus collection), acne vulgaris, age-related nerve damage, AIDS, allergy, amnesia, analgesia (pain killing), anemia, anorexia nervosa, antiaging, antibacterial, anticoagulant, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, antispasmodic (muscle spasm-reducing), antiviral, anxiety, aphrodisiac, arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm), asthma, atherosclerosis (cholesterol plaque in the heart arteries), back pain, bladder disorders, bleeding, bleomycin-induced lung damage, blood clot prevention (menstruation), blood flow disorders, blood purifier, blood stagnation, boils, bone loss, bowel disorders, breast enhancement, bronchitis, cancer, central nervous system disorders, cervicitis (inflammation of the cervix), chilblains (inflammation of toes, fingers, ears, or face with exposure to cold), cholagogue (promoting bile flow), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic pelvic pain, chronic rhinitis (long-term nasal allergies), cirrhosis (a type of liver disease), colchicine-induced learning impairment, congestion (chronic nasal and sinus), congestive heart failure, constipation, cough, cramps, dermatitis (skin inflammation), diabetes, digestive disorders, diuretic (urine promoting), dysentery (inflammation of the intestines), dyspepsia (heartburn), eczema, edema (swelling), emmenagogue (increased menstruation), emotional instability, endometriosis (growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus), estrogenic effects, expectorant (dissolves mucus), eye problems, fatigue, fibrocystic breast disease, flatulence (gas), fluid retention, gastric ulcer, glaucoma (eye disorder), hay fever, headache, healing time reduction, heart conditions, heartburn, hematopoiesis (stimulation of blood cell production), hemolytic disease of the newborn (blood disease of the newborn), hemorrhoids, hepatitis (long-term), hepatoprotection (protection of the liver), hernia, herpes zoster (chicken pox), hormonal abnormalities, hyperlipidemia (cholesterol-lowering), hypertension (high blood pressure), immune cytopenias (decreased number of immune cells in the blood), immunomodulator, infections, infertility, irritable bowel syndrome, joint pain, kidney problems, labor, laxative, leukorrhea (vaginal discharge), lung disease, malaria, menorrhagia (excessive menstruation), menstrual cramping, metrorrhagia (painful menstruation), miscarriage prevention, muscle relaxant, myocardial ischemia (decreased blood flow to the heart), nerve pain, neurodermatitis (long-term itching or scaling of skin), osteoporosis, ovarian cysts, ovulation abnormalities, pain, palpitations (abnormal heart beats), pelvic congestion syndrome, pelvic inflammatory disease, peripheral edema (leg swelling from fluid accumulation), peritoneal dialysis (treatment for severe kidney disease), pernicious anemia (decrease in red blood cells), phytoestrogen, placental detachment, pleurisy (inflamed lungs), pneumonia (infants), postpartum weakness, pregnancy, premenstrual syndrome, prepare uterus for labor, prolapsed uterus, psoriasis (an inflammatory skin condition), pulmonary fibrosis (scarring or thickening of the lungs), Raynaud's disease, reperfusion injury (damage to tissue caused by increased blood supply after a lack of oxygen), reproductive organ problems, renal impairment (kidney dysfunction), respiratory disorders (breathing disorders), rheumatic diseases (joint disorders), sciatica (back and leg pain), sedative, sepsis (infections), shingles, skin pigmentation disorders, skin ulcers, stiffness, stress, stroke, thrombosis (blood clot), tinnitus (ringing in the ears), tonic (blood purifier), toothache, urticaria (severe hives), uterine fibroids (noncancerous tumors of the uterus), uterine tonic, vaginal atrophy (thinning and inflammation of vaginal walls), vaginal dryness, vascular disorders (disorders of the blood vessels), vasodilation (widening of the blood vessels), vision problems, vitamin B12 deficiency, vitamin E deficiency, vitiligo (loss of skin pigmentation), wound healing.

Dosing Related terms
NS_patient-dongquai Portions of this document last updated: Sept. 1, 2012

THIS EVIDENCE-BASED MONOGRAPH WAS PREPARED BY
THE NATURAL STANDARD RESEARCH COLLABORATION
(www.naturalstandard.com)

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