Dong Quai Root
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Form: Powder
Food source: Plant
Benefits of Dong Quai
- Relieves hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings and insomnia
- Headache relief
- Relieves cramps
- Calm
What is Dong Quai?
Dong Quai, also known as the ‘Chinese angelica root’ and the ‘Female ginseng’, is a herb that grows in the mountainous regions of China, Japan and Korea. The extracted and dried root has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for around 2000 years by herbalists and traditional healers as a therapeutic remedy to support blood quality and flow by opening blood vessels as well as stimulating and supporting the relaxation of muscles in the uterus.
Dong Quai was only introduced to Western scientists in the 20th century, and scientific research on the herb is in its early stages and there have been few comprehensive reviews. Studies suggest that Dong Quai may be effective at relieving symptoms of menopause on account of its oestrogen-like qualities. This can include hot flushes, night sweats, insomnia and mood swings. Discover the ‘12 most common symptoms of menopause’ and ‘8 unusual symptoms of the menopause’.
Women on their period may find Dong Quai ‘soothing’ as it is often used to treat PMS symptoms including mood swings, headaches and breast tenderness. Dong Quai has also been suggested to help with bloating as it contains antispasmodic properties that help relieve abdominal cramps by suppressing muscle spasms. You may also enjoy reading ‘Nutrition for PMS Symptoms’ and ‘What PMS type are you?’.
