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Current Traditional Use:  Dong Quai continues to play a traditional role in promoting female health and well-being. It remains one of the top herbs recommended by herbalists for addressing female complaints, and many women have indeed reported excellent results while using Dong Quai.  Dong Quai is described as "one of the most frequently used, and one of the most important female herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)". 

In TCM, herbs are basically classified according to their flavors and the organs they specifically affect, with the emphasis on the underlying cause and restoring balance. Interestingly, Dong Quai, loosely translated in English means 'return to proper order', which is exactly what it seems to do with the female system. It is classified as sweet and pungent, mildly warming and benefits the heart, liver and spleen. Dong Quai is said to be best suited for the one who is cold, fatigued, pale and anemic (TCM suggests it not be taken by "hot or febrile" people or ones who normally feel hot all the time). Below are just some of the more popular applications:

Female Reproductive Tonic: Dong Quai is also categorized as a blood tonic that nourishes the blood and improves circulation throughout the body, but particularly in the pelvic area. According to renowned herbalist, Christopher Hobbs, "It moves blood into the pelvic area to nourish the uterus and the reproductive organs. The health of internal organs is related to the strength of the blood. The blood brings nourishment to the tissues and carries waste products away, so the quality of the blood circulating through the pelvic area is a major determinate of how healthy those organs will be." 

PMS: Dong Quai helps to maintain a proper balance of female hormones. It is generally agreed that PMS and some menstrual disorders may be caused by hormonal imbalance, particularly too little progesterone and too much estrogen. Master Herbalist, Louise Tenney writes, "When excess estrogen builds up and the liver is unable to detoxify it, there is havoc created in the body- from retention to severe mental anguish." Consequently, it has been used to treat muscle cramps, backaches, and pain associated with difficult menstrual periods. For PMS, she suggests taking Dong Quai at least 5 days before the onset of menstruation, before the body reaches its estrogen-progesterone low; other herbalists suggest 14 days.

Menstrual Disorders: Dong Quai strengthens and regulates the female reproductive cycle because of its hormone-balancing activity. It has subsequently been used to help irregular menstruation, amenorrhea (absence or suppression of menstruation), dysmenorrhea (painful, difficult menstruation), and to help women resume normal menstruation after going off the birth-control pill.

Additional Considerations
Some important things to remember when it comes to hormonal balance, in addition to herbs, we all know that maintaining female health also includes good nutrition and regular exercise. Naturopath and noted health author, Linda Rector-Page also suggests:

• Eat smaller meals. Overeating can suppress hormone production

• Add soy foods to your diet

• Increase consumption of cruciferous vegetables like broccoli to help flush out excess estrogen

There is a wide array of herbs and natural supplements that women can take advantage of: Vitamin B6, Vitamin E, Chasteberry/Vitex, Blessed Thistle, essential fatty acids, Magnesium and Calcium (for vegetarians dark, leafy greens like Kale are said to be wonderful sources, and is believed to be more easily absorbed than milk). 

For authoritative sources on women's health see, Today's Herbal Health For Women, Women's  Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, and Linda Page's Healthy Healing.

Culinary Use: Dong Quai slices can be added to chicken soups or stew recipe.

Tea: Pour one cup of boiling water over 1/2 to 1 teaspoonful of herbs and allow to steep 4 to 7 minutes; strain. Adults only, drink 1 to 2 cups daily; one before breakfast and/or one at bedtime. If desired, add honey and/or lemon to suit taste.

To prepare as "instant" tea: Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoonful of herbal powder. Adults only, drink 1 to 2 cups daily; one before breakfast and/or one at bedtime. If desired, add honey and/or lemon to suit taste.

Capsules: Take as an addition to the daily diet. Take 1 or 2 capsules three times daily with water at mealtimes.

Cautions and Warnings: Herbalists suggest several cautions for Dong Quai: It should not be used by women during pregnancy or by women who experience heavy menstrual flow. It is not recommended for individuals taking aspirin or other blood-thinning drugs on a regular basis. It should not be taken in the presence of diarrhea. Some references suggest it also not be taken by women prone to fibroids or endometriosis.  Some herbalists suggest that women who experience heavy menstrual flow or women who are prone to fibroids & endometriosis not use Dong Quai.

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