Dong quai (Angelica sinensis [Oliv.] Diels)

Mayo Clinic Health Manager

Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.

Get Started

Free

E-Newsletter

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

  • Housecall
  • Alzheimer's caregiving
  • Living with cancer

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 poor-quality study of Dong quai as a part of herbal combinations given for amenorrhea. Additional research is necessary before a firm conclusion can be drawn. 		C
Angina pectoris / coronary artery disease
There is insufficient evidence to support the use of Dong quai for the treatment of heart disease. 		C
Arthritis
Dong quai is traditionally used in the treatment of arthritis. However, there is insufficient reliable human evidence to recommend the use of Dong quai alone or in combination with other herbs for osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. 		C
Dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation)
There are unclear results of preliminary, poor-quality human research of Dong quai in combination with other herbs for dysmenorrhea. Reliable scientific evidence for Dong quai alone in humans with dysmenorrhea is currently not available. 		C
Glomerulonephritis
There is insufficient evidence to support the use of Dong quai as a treatment for kidney diseases such as glomerulonephritis. Preliminary poor-quality research of Dong quai in combination with other herbs reports unclear results. 		C
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
A poor-quality study reports benefits of Dong quai in patients diagnosed with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). However, these patients were not compared to individuals who were not receiving Dong quai, and therefore the results can only be considered preliminary. 		C
Menstrual migraine headache
The effects of Dong quai alone for this condition are not clear, and further research is necessary before a clear conclusion can be reached. 		C
Nerve pain
There is insufficient evidence to support the use of Dong quai as a treatment for nerve pain. High-quality human research is lacking. 		C
Pulmonary hypertension
It remains unclear if Dong quai is beneficial for other causes of pulmonary hypertension. Further research is needed before a strong recommendation can be made. 		C
Menopausal symptoms
Dong quai is used in traditional Chinese formulas for menopausal symptoms. It has been proposed that Dong quai may contain "phytoestrogens" (chemicals with estrogen-like effects in the body). However, it remains unclear from laboratory studies if Dong quai has the same effects on the body as estrogens, blocks the activity of estrogens, or has no significant effect on estrogens. 		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, abnormal heart rhythms, abscesses, age-related nerve damage, AIDS, allergy, anemia, anorexia nervosa, anti-aging, antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, anti-tumor (brain tumors), antiviral, anxiety, asthma, back pain, bleomycin-induced lung damage, blood flow disorders, blood purifier, blurred vision, body pain, boils, bone growth, breast enlargement, bronchitis, Buerger's disease, cancer, central nervous system disorders, cervicitis (inflammation of the cervix), chilblains, chronic hepatitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic rhinitis, cholagogue (promotes the flow of bile), cirrhosis, colchicine-induced learning impairment, congestive heart failure (CHF), constipation, cough, cramps, dermatitis, diabetes, digestion disorders, dysentery, eczema, emotional instability, endometritis, expectorant, fatigue, fibrocystic breast disease, flatulence (gas), fluid retention, gastric ulcer, glaucoma, headache, heartburn, hematopoiesis (stimulation of blood cell production), hemorrhoids (bleeding), hemolytic disease of the newborn, hernia, high cholesterol, hormonal abnormalities, immune cytopenias, immune suppressant, infections, infertility, irritable bowel syndrome, joint pain, labor aid, laxative, leukorrhea (vaginal discharge), liver protection, lung disease, malaria, menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding), menstrual cramping, miscarriage prevention, morning sickness, muscle relaxant, osteoporosis, ovulation abnormalities, pain, pain from bruises, palpitations, pelvic congestion syndrome, pelvic inflammatory disease, peritoneal dialysis, pleurisy, post-partum weakness, pregnancy support, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), psoriasis, prolapsed uterus, pulmonary fibrosis, Raynaud's disease, reperfusion injury, respiratory tract infection, rheumatic diseases, sciatica, sedative, sepsis, shingles (herpes zoster), skin pigmentation disorders, skin ulcers, stiffness, stomach cancer, stress, stroke, tinnitus (ringing in the ear), toothache, uterine fibroids, vaginal atrophy, vitamin E deficiency, wound healing.

Dosing Synonyms

NS_patient-dongquai

Portions of this document last updated:

Sept. 1, 2009

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


Text Size: smaller largerlarger