Dong Quai

Dong Quai and Balance

By the same token, although dong quai is commonly combined with other herbs, in those studies with different combinations, it is possible that the negative results were the result of combing dong quai with herbs that limited its benefit. The problem is, there is no way to determine what is true.

It is the root of the dong quai that is used for medicinal purposes. The root can be ground into a powder, steeped into a tea, or the components of the dong quai root can be extracted and turned into a liquid or other compound.

In Chinese medicine, dong quai is used on people who are considered to be unbalanced. Not in a mental capacity, but someone with low energy levels, some who is pale, unmotivated and so on. Dong quai is believed to bring balance to the human body.

Dong Quai Components

In the absence of clinical trials, many supplement companies consider the components of a plant or herb to determine if there is value in creating a product using that plant or herb. In the case of dong quai the components are:

• Folic acid is used to prevent birth defects, prevent heart defects, prevent premature labor, and relaxes the blood vessels, which may result in some heart healthy benefits. Folic acid is also being studied as a possible preventative measure in certain types of cancer.
• Folinic acid boosts serotonin levels. Low serotonin levels can result in depression and it is believed that folinic acid can help treat depression.
• Vitamin A exists in dong quai in very small quantities, so small it is unlikely that it has an effect on the benefits of dong quai. Vitamin A aids in healthy teeth, skin, bones and muscle.
• Vitamin E also exists in small quantities in dong quai. Vitamin E protects the skin from cell damage by eradicating free radicals.
• Biotin , or vitamin B7, aids in hair growth, maintains healthy sugar levels, produces fatty acids and then aids in the metabolizing of that fat to create energy. Biotin is incredibly important to the body as it is present in every cell in the human body.
• Pantothenic acid , or vitamin B5, aids in relief of stress. In addition, it is a key component in preventing allergy attacks.
• Vitamin B12 is a major part of the dong quai root. In the human body it is responsible for blood production, the proper functioning of the brain, energy production and the way the nervous system functions.
• Phytoestrogen  may aid in production of estrogen in women. This can be viewed as a negative or a positive, depending on why you are taking dong quai. Because it may produce estrogen, it may be beneficial for menopausal women. However, because it increases the production of estrogen, there is an increased risk of cancer after long term use.

It is these components that lead to the assumption of what dong quai has to offer. Unfortunately, there are no clinical studies to back up these assumptions. Furthermore, there is some evidence that taking dong quai during pregnancy can cause miscarriage and birth defects

Dong Quai Benefits

Dong quai has predominately been used for menopausal women to treat their symptoms, to treat painful periods, cramps, irregular or infrequent periods and PMS. As mentioned above, it is believed in Chinese culture that dong quai brings balance to the body.

Many doctors in China continue to use dong quai for all of these purposes. However, a double blind study conducted several years on 71 menopausal women showed that women taking dong quai had no relief from their menopausal symptoms. There results were the same as the women who were on placebo.

Dong quai is also used to treat anemia, joint pain, ulcers, constipation, hypertension, allergy attacks and even for weight loss. However, as mentioned before, no studies are available to support these claims.

Some companies sell a dong quai cream that is meant to be applied to the penis about an hour before intercourse and washed off prior to intercourse. There is some belief that dong quai cream can prevent premature ejaculation.

Dong Quai Side Effects, Interactions and Warnings

The side effects of dong quai can include:

• Diarrhea
• Sun sensitivity, which can lead to easy burning, rash and inflammation when the skin is exposed to the sun
• Miscarriage in pregnant women
• Blood thinning
• Increase in blood sugar levels

You should not take dong quai if you are on any blood thinning medications, warfain or anticoagulants. In addition, when combined with some other herbs, the blood thinning effect can be dangerous. That is why it is important not to combine dong quai with garlic, cloves, ginger, willow, red clover, angelica, ginkgo or any other herbs with a blood thinning warning.

Many people believe that as long as they are taking herbs they are safe from interactions or side effects. This just isn’t so. It is important for your safety and your health that you are aware of all of possible side effects or interactions of any supplement that you take.

Dong quai should not be taken by nursing women because there are no studies showing whether or not this product is safe for your nursing child. In addition, because dong quai may cause birth defects and can cause miscarriage, you should not take it prior to or after you become pregnant.

If you have breast cancer, uterine cancer, uterine fibroids, endometriosis or ovarian cancer, then you should not take dong quai. Studies show that phytoestrogen can cause these types of cancers to progress more rapidly.

If you have any medical conditions or if you are taking any medications, you should consult your physician before you take dong quai or any other type of supplement. Because dong quai is less studied you will want to discuss taking it with your physician.

If you are looking for some of the benefits offered by many of the components in dong quai, you will be happy to know that most of them are available in supplement form for you to take on its own. Use the supplement finder to the nutrients you need now!