Dong Quai

One of North America's foremost experts on holistic medicine incorporating Western, Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa, says dong quai is the most widely used herb in Chinese medicine, and one of the most widely used herbs in the world. He classes dong quai as a long‑term, slow acting tonic remedy. He suggests that due to the hormonal effect it should not be taken until a person is reproductive, so it can be started at puberty. “Then we can start with a very, very small dose taken for the next hundred years every single day…It’s used very casually. It’s cooked into soup. It’s used as a tea. Grandma gives it to all her granddaughters every day,” he says.

Also called ‘female ginseng’, because it is an important herb for the uterus, dong quai is renowned for its use in the treatment of a wide variety of gynaecological conditions and menstrual disorders including endometriosis, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, irregular menstruation, recovery from childbirth and menopausal symptoms (especially hot flushes).

Although dong quai is known as the best Chinese tonic herb for women it can be used for both men and women for strengthening the blood, for heart conditions, high blood pressure, inflammation, headache, infections, nerve pain and liver problems. It is the most highly valued blood tonic in the East and has general and non-specific effects on the blood and circulation. Traditionally it is used to regulate the period and to enhance the fertility of women who are blood deficient.

References

Khalsa KP. Relax, Relax, Part 5: Stress and Anxiety Solutions. Natural Solutions for Stress, Anxiety, and Inflammation. LearningHerbs.com c2019 (accessed 7 Nov 2022). Available from https://herbmentormedia.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Courses/Relax/Relax-KP-Khalsa-Part-4-Transcript.pdf

Trickey R. Women, Hormones and the Menstrual Cycle. 3rd edn. Fairfield: Melbourne Holistic Health Group. 2011. p. 426

Trickey R. Women, Hormones and the Menstrual Cycle. 3rd edn. Fairfield: Melbourne Holistic Health Group. 2011. p. 427