DONG QUAI

Angelica sinensis: Asteraceae

PART USED: root

PLANET: Jupiter

ELEMENT: Air

TASTE: acrid, sweet, bitter

WARMTH: warm

MERIDIANS: heart, liver, spleen

ACTIONS: alterative: builds blood, alleviates anemia; emmenagogue: regulates menstruation, increases fertility, relieves menstrual cramps, alleviates all symptoms of menopause; sedative, anodyne, laxative, hepatic: increases metabolism and detoxification in the liver; prevents lipid deposits in arteries, inhibits bacterial growth.

INDICATIONS: dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, anemia, any pain caused by stagnation of blood, constipation caused by dry bowls, hypertension, headache

PRECAUTIONS: Uterine stimulant; don't use during pregnancy. Coumadins in this herb may cause excessive bleeding if used during menstruation or menopausal bleeding.

CONSTITUENTS: 40% sucrose, 0.2-0.3% essential oil containing carvacrol, safrol, isosafron, alcohols, sesquiterpenes, cadinene, n-dodecanol, n-tetradecanol, Vit B12, carotene, succinic acid, ferulic acid, nicotinic acid, uracil, adenine, Vit E, palmitic acid, angelic acid, angelol, myristic acid, angelicone, a water soluble component caused uterine contraction and a volatile oil component causes relaxing effect; the emmenagogue effect is not estrogenic

PREPARATION AND USE:
-boil one ounce of root and three dates in three cups of water; boil down to one cup. Drink one half cup twice daily
-may also be taken in tincture or capsule

NUTRITIONAL USE: root can be sliced into soups...used especially in recouperative foods for post partum.

USE IN MAGIC: none found

USE IN PERSONAL GROWTH:
-builds yin or feminine creative energy.
-increases fertility for new inspirations and their manifestation

"I bring forth my creations with joy. I love and nurture them to fruition."