Dong Quai Root
Dong quai root mainly grows in Min County of Gansu and Qinling of Shaanxi in China. Usually angelica sinensis root can be divided into three parts, namely the head part, the body part and the end part. Each part of it has different pharmacological effects due to it contains different chemical composition.
Normally herbalist believe that the head part mainly works to stop bleeding, the body part mainly to nourish blood while the end part mainly to promote blood circulation for removing blood stasis. Clinically you can either consume each part alone, or you can use the whole root. It is said that the whole root works to harmonize the blood, namely combining both effects of nourishing blood and promoting blood circulation for removing blood stasis.
The name of Dang Gui (Pinyin)
In general, there are several versions of where does the name of Dang Gui (dong quai root) come from. And the most popular are these following two. Actually, the word of “Dang Gui” in Chinese means it is the right time to go home.
- According to the comments from “Compendium of Materia Medica” by Li Shizhen in Ming Dynasty,
“Dong quai is good at regulating blood imbalance, which is one of the most important herbs for women. Its name implies a woman missing her absent husband. Therefore it is called Dang Gui in Chinese.”
- According to the description in “Anecdotes of Materia Medica” by Chen Cheng in Song Dynasty,
“Dang Gui governs and regulates blood and Qi so that they can stay where they should be. I am afraid that it is the reason why it is called the name of Dang Gui.”
Both versions make sense but personally I prefer the latter.
Different parts of angelica sinensis root
From the perspective of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), different parts of Angelica Sinensis root can be used separately for different purposes. This is quite different from any menopause herbs like chaste tree berry, red clover, and black cohosh root.
- The head is good at stopping bleeding and tends to rise upward;
- The body is good at enriching blood and moistening the bowel and tends to stay in middle burner;
- The end is good at unblocking blood stasis without causing bleeding;
- The whole root is good at invigorating blood circulation and stopping the pain.
Normally the head is suitable for headache caused by blood deficiency; the body is suitable for body weakness while the end is suitable for muscles pain and numb hands/feet.
How to make full use of Dong Quai root benefits?
The Dong quai root head is the thickest part. The person will feel comfortable heat in head and face immediately after they use fresh head part. On the contrary, the end of beard of the root will make people feel blood and Qi running downwards. The symptoms thus caused include neck soreness and stiffness, dizziness, crown emptiness, or mild pain on crown, which are all caused by the failure of blood supplying to the head.
Benefits of Dong quai root head
Therefore, taking the head makes sense for all kinds of physical weakness and elderly people. The head part can benefit people by significantly increasing the blood supply to the head, the face and the brain without causing dryness inside. But for men, they’d better use the whole root except the end part, which plays an important role in promoting blood circulation for removing blood stasis. What’s more, its property is quite gentle.
Benefits of angelica sinensis root end
Compared with head and body, the end is seldom used as today most people are of deficiency of both blood and Qi. However, if someone takes too much spicy food and is prone to angry, the purgation effect of the end is the right remedy.
As for the dosage of dong quai tea and powder a person should take on daily basis, it varies from person to person. It makes sense to take a small half a teaspoon once a day after the meal at the beginning. It is highly recommendable that the dosage should be gradually increased, especially for those physically weakness and during pregnancy.