Dang Gui - 当归 - Radix Angelicae Sinensis - Tang-Kuei - Dong Quai
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Radix Angelicae Sinensis |
| Common English: | Chinese Angelica Root Dong Quai Root Tang-Kuei |
Category
Herbs that Tonify the BloodProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Sweet Acrid Bitter | Warm | Heart Liver Spleen | 3-15g Tincture: 2-4ml 4.5-15g (Secondary source) |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Tonifies the Blood and regulates the menses | Blood Deficiency, especially when affecting the Heart and Liver with pale, ashen complexion, lusterless nails, tinnitus, blurred vision and palpitations Blood Deficiency associated irregular menstruation, amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea |
| Invigorates and harmonizes the Blood and disperses Cold (stops pain due to Blood Stasis) | Blood Stasis causing abdominal pain and carbuncles and pain due to Blood Stasis from traumatic injury, especially when accompanied by Deficiency Cold Postpartum menstruation Pregnancy (use with caution) Blood Deficiency with chronic Wind-Damp-Bi |
| Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels | Dry Intestines due to Blood Deficiency |
| Alleviates pain, Expels pus, Generates flesh, Reduces swelling | Sores and abscess (Chuang Yung), internally and topically |
| Stops coughing and treats dyspnea | Used adjunctively for coughing |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
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Major Combinations
| Rx. Astragali | Rx. Paeoniae Alba | Sm. Persicae |
| Pallor, debility, fatigue and/or low grade fever due to excessive Blood loss. Ulcerated abscesses with insufficient drainage or which drain a clear thin discharge. Many Blood Deficiency patterns. Qi and Blood Deficiency. | Menstrual irregularity, amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea due to Blood Deficiency or Blood Stasis. | Amenorrhea, pain, swelling and other symptoms associated with Blood Stasis. |
| Rx. Paeoniae Alba | Rx. Paeoniae Alba | Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata |
Blood Deficiency Heat. Regulates and harmonizes Qi and Blood. | Hematuria, hematemesis and epistaxis due to Xue Stage Heat. | Heat symptoms due to Yin Deficiency and Devastated Blood. |
| Rz. Cyperi | Rx. Astragali | Rx. Salviae Miltiorrhizae |
Dysmenorrhea. | Postpartum abdominal pain and hernial pain due to Deficiency Cold and other symptoms of exhaustion and debility. | Pain due to Blood Stasis in the extremities. |
| Ram. Cinnamomi | Hb. Cistanches | Flos Lonicerae Or Flos Lonicerae (large dose) |
Wind-Damp Bi. Dysmenorrhea and delayed menstruation due to Cold. | Chronic constipation due to Blood Deficiency. | Reduces swelling of abscesses and sores. Alleviates pain. |
| Rx. Astragali | Per, Citri Reticulatae | Rx. Glycyrrhizae |
Expels pus and generates flesh in chronic non-healing sores. | Coughing during the night, dyspnea and profuse and salty-tasting sputum due to Kidney and Lung Yin Deficiency. | Moderates spasms and relieves abdominal pain. |
| Rx. Paeoniae Alba | Olibanum | Rx. Bupleuri |
Menstrual irregularity, amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea due to Blood Deficiency with concurrent Heat symptoms. Deficiency or Blood Stasis with concurrent Heat symptoms. | Strains and fractures. | Dysmenorrhea from Liver Qi Stagnation and Blood Deficiency. |
| Rx. Paeoniae Alba | Rx. Sophorae Flavescentis | Sm. Cuscutae |
Diarrhea during pregnancy with mild abdominal pain. | Urinary difficulty during pregnancy with a normal appetite. | Restless fetus disorder with lower back and abdominal pain. |
| Rz. Chuanxiong | Ram. Cinnamomi | Hb. Cistanches |
Postpartum Blood Deficiency with Cold. | Patients with Blood Deficiency who experience cold extremities due to Cold entering the channels. | Chronic constipation due to Qi and Blood Deficiency. |
| Rx. Polygoni Multiflori | Fr. Perillae | Per. Citri Reticulatae |
Moistens the intestines and treats constipation. | Coughing and wheezing due to Phlegm clogging the airways. | Lung and Kidney Yin Deficiency with overflowing water turning to Phlegm, with coughing, wheezing and nausea marked by profuse, salty sputum. |
| Per. Citri Reticulatae | Rz. Chuanxiong | Rz. Cyperi |
Coughing attacks at night. | Harmonizes, nourishes and invigorates the Blood and disperses Blood Stasis. Abdominal pain. | Tonifies the Blood and moves Qi, for premenstrual symptoms, menstrual pain and irregular menstruation. |
| Flos Lonicerae | Sm. Phaseoli | Hb. Cistanches |
Reduces obstruction and toxicity for swollen, painful sores and necrosis of surrounding tissue. | Resolves toxicity, disperses Blood and expels pus, for Intestinal Wind due to Damp-Heat (the passage of Blood preceding the stool) or Lung or Large Intestine abscesses or bleeding hemorrhoids. | Constipation due to Dryness of the Intestines. Blood Deficiency failing to supply the sinews of the Intestines, interfering with peristalsis. Constipation in the elderly with insufficiency of Yin and Blood. (caution with Yin Deficiency Heat) |
| Rx. Linderae | Rx. Ginseng | Cx. Moutan |
Disperses Cold and stops pain, for abdominal pain due to External Cold. Cold dysmenorrhea or postpartum abdominal pain. (powder and take with wine) Combined with appropriate herbs for hernia or dragging Cold pain in the testicles. | Spleen and Heart Deficiency with insomnia, excessive dreaming, worry, fatigue, palpitations forgetfulness and difficulty falling asleep. | Blood Deficiency with Deficiency Heat with hot flashes, irritability and flushed cheeks. |
Rz. Zingiberis Recens | Sm. Persicae | Fr. Evodiae |
Epigastric and abdominal pain. | Amenorrhea due to Blood Deficiency and Stagnation. | Amenorrhea or irregular menstruation due to Deficiency Cold. |
Faeces Trogopterori | Rx. Bupleuri | Cx. Moutan |
Dysmenorrhea due to Deficiency Cold. | Pre-menstrual syndrome and irregular menstruation due to Liver Qi Stagnation. | Early menstruation, bloating during menstruation and irritability due to Qi Stagnation with Heat. |
Rx. Ginseng | Rz. Curculiginis | Rx. Paeoniae Alba |
General menstrual disorders with fatigue and weakness due to Qi and Blood Deficiency. | Menopause symptoms due to Yin Deficiency Heat. | Diarrhea during pregnancy with more severe abdominal pain. |
Rz. Chuanxiong | Rx. Astragali | Rz. Chuanxiong |
Abdominal pain and breech presentation, Lower back pain, Restless fetus. | Postpartum spontaneous sweating, fever, shortness of breath and back and leg pain with inability to turn from side to side. | Postpartum bleeding and lower abdominal coldness and pain due to Blood Deficiency with Cold. |
Rx. Ginseng | Rz. et Rx. Notopterygii | Rx. Bupleuri |
Insufficient milk due to Qi and Blood Deficiency. | Postpartum Bi syndrome. | Trauma to the thoracic cavity. |
Lignum Sappan | Olibanum | Rx. Astragali |
Bruises, redness and swelling from trauma. | Broken or fractured bones. | Numbness due to Blood Deficiency. |
Ram. Cinnamomi | Rx. Astragali | Rx. Angelicae Pubescentis |
Blood and Yang Deficiency with cold extremities, back and/or buttocks. | Bi syndrome with painful joints and/or numbness due to Deficiency of the Ying and Wei. | Liver, Kidney, Qi and Blood Deficiency with a sore and weak lower back and knees. |
Rx. Astragali | Rx. Astragali | Flos Lonicerae |
Slow-healing sores due to Qi and Blood Deficiency. | Toxic ulcers with pus. | Redness, swelling and burning toxic sores. |
Rx. Polygoni Multiflori | Fr. Perillae | |
Constipation due to Blood Deficiency. | Cough, dyspnea, shortness of breath and profuse sputum. |
Notes
- The head, Caput Radicis Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui Tou, is the most tonifying part, though less effective at activating.
- The tail, Extremitas Radicis Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui Wei, tonifies least but activates most.
- The body, Corpus Radicis Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui Shen, tonifies more than it activates.
- In most cases the whole root is used.
- It relieves spasms.
- It removes toxins from the Blood.
- Because it regulates Blood and nourishes the reproductive organs, it is regarded as the foremost herb for women.
- Nearly every formula for nourishing Blood, activating Blood, improving the skin, regulating menstruation and treating abdominal pain includes it.
- Western herbalists hold that it should be avoided in pregnancy, yet it appears in almost every formula for preventing miscarriage and nourishing the Blood when weakness occurs during pregnancy.
- Dang Gui proved effective against amnesia induced by scopolamine and cycloheximide.
- Dang Gui is used for Liver damage caused by acetaminophen.
- It is appropriate for any condition involving Stasis, Dryness, Deficiency or Cold.
- In Blood Deficiency with Heat it is useful, since by generating Blood and enriching Yin it reduces the Heat.
- It both stimulates and relaxes the uterus and raises estrogen and progesterone levels.
- Dry-fried Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Chao Dang Gui has a lower oil content and moistens the Intestines less, so it suits gynecological patients who have diarrhea.
- Wine-fried Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Jiu Chao Dang Gui moistens the Intestines slightly more strongly and suits Blood Stasis accompanied by Blood Deficiency.
- Earth-fried Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Tu Chao Dang Gui has a lower oil content and is guided straight to the Spleen and Stomach. It tonifies Blood in patients with diarrhea or loose stools.
- Vinegar-fried Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Cu Chao Dang Gui is seldom used. Being sour and entering the Liver, it restrains bleeding.
- Charred Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui Tan is in common use; it stops bleeding while also reducing Blood Stasis.
- Dang Gui and Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao both nourish Blood and relieve pain. Dang Gui unblocks, disperses and drains, and lubricates the Intestines, whereas Bai Shao astringes Yin to extinguish Internal Wind and stop sweating, and nourishes Liver blood to soften the Liver, relieving painful cramping and other flank and abdominal pain from Liver disorders.
- Dang Gui and Caulis Spatholobi Ji Xue Teng both tonify and invigorate Blood, relieve pain and regulate menstruation. Dang Gui tonifies and invigorates the Blood and moistens the Intestines, whereas Ji Xue Teng mainly invigorates the Blood and only secondarily tonifies it; it also invigorates the collaterals and relaxes the sinews to treat Wind-Damp Bi.
From Class
- Dang Gui & Chuan Xiong for implantation: Historically used to tonify and invigorate blood simultaneously to support implantation, esp. with blood stasis (unresolved stasis leads to bleeding/loss). (Lewis)
- Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis): Dang Gui, classically a blood tonic, also raises white blood cells (monocytes, T-lymphocytes) — you can't map one Western marker to one herb. (Yuen)
- Rou Gui & Gui Zhi (Kidney → Heart), Ren Shen & Dang Gui: Agitation can harass the child's heart in pregnancy; strengthen the Kidneys supporting the Heart with small amounts of Rou Gui/Gui Zhi; Ren Shen/Dang Gui tonify qi and blood. (Lewis)
- Yi Mu Cao (motherwort) / Dang Gui: Added to move liver blood in the endometrium. (Lewis)
- Angelica / Dang Gui essential oil (base note): Base note for blood stagnation. (Yuen)
- Cang Fu Dao Tan Wan (?) modification: For PCOS-type phlegm in the lower jiao: a month of a phlegm-resolving modification; add Yi Mu Cao and Dang Gui to move liver blood in the endometrium.