Angelica sinensis
(Dong quai)

Therapeutic Actions:

• Analgesic activity
• Antispasmodic if made as a proper infusion or a liquid extract
• Calcium channel blocker
• Dilates coronary blood vessels
• Dilates peripheral blood vessels
• Enhances leukocyte numbers
• Enhances phagocytic activity
• Enhances interferon production
• Enhances macrophage activity
• Enhances tumor cell destruction
• Hormone balancing
• Hypotensive - dilates coronary vessels and relieves vasospasms
• Increases blood flow to heart, brain and extremities
• Inhibits platelet aggregation
• Inhibits synthesis of allergy related antibodies - IgE
• Relaxes smooth muscles in the intestines and uterus
• Stimulates nonspecific host defense mechanisms
• Stimulates uterine cell multiplication
• Strengthens heart contractility while decreasing the rate of contractions
• Uterine tonic if the volatile oil is decocted

Clinical Indications:

• Allergies
• Amenorrhea
• Asthma
• Fertility/Infertility
• Headaches
• Hypertension
• Menopause
• Osteoarthritis
• PMS
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Alcoholism
• Anemia
• Arrhythmia
• Cancer
• Constipation
• Hot flashes associated with menopause
• Intestinal spasms/cramps
• Menstrual irregularities
• Sciatica
• Uterine cramps
• Vasculitis

Contraindications:

• Gastroesophageal reflux due to the gastric stimulating effects
• Pregnancy
• Women with heavy menstrual flow due to the uterine vasodilatory effect

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• No interactions have been reported

Chemical Constituents:

• Coumarins:
  
  Archangelicine
  Berapten
  Osthole
  Osthenol
  Ostruthol
  Umbelliferone
• Flavonol glycosides
• Folinic acid
• Nicotinic acid
• Phytoestrogens
• Vitamins:
  
  Biotin
  Folic acid
  Vitamin B12
  Vitamin E
• Volatile oil containing:
  
  Caninene
  Carvacrol
  Isosafrole
  Linoleic acid
  n-butylphthalide
  n-dodecanol
  n-tetradecanol
  Palmitic acid
  Safrole
  Sequterpenes

Toxicity:

• Very low toxicity, but the furocoumarins could cause photosensitivity

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).