Angelica Dahurica Root
白芷 · Bái Zhǐ
Relieves frontal headaches and opens blocked sinuses
Properties
WarmingWarming botanicalPungent
Concerns
What it does
Angelica dahurica root suits one headache in particular: the frontal kind, sitting across the forehead and above the eyes with sinus pressure behind it. Acrid, warm, and aromatic, it travels the yang brightness channel through the nose, cheeks, and forehead, clearing wind-cold from the face. That is why it sits in Xanthium Powder. It also helps toothache and facial swelling from skin infections.
Safety
- Limit sun exposure while taking it. It contains furanocoumarins, which can cause a burn-like skin reaction.
- Skin allergic reactions are reported, and the fresh herb can cause contact dermatitis when handled.
- High doses of 30g or more can cause vomiting, dizziness, palpitations, convulsions, and breathing trouble.
- Not for headaches from heat in the blood or yin-deficiency fire; its dispersing nature worsens those.
- Aromatic and drying by nature. Avoid prolonged use beyond a few weeks, especially in those who run dry.
- No established safety data during pregnancy. Consult a practitioner before using.
- AHPA Safety Class 1, Interaction Class A, with no known contraindications or drug interactions.
How to take it
Decoct 3–9g in 3 cups of water for 20–25 minutes. Strain and drink warm. Typically combined with other herbs rather than used alone. The standard dose range is 3–9g.
Combine 6g with 6g magnolia flower bud for frontal sinus headache with nasal congestion
Take 1–3g of the ground root in warm water once or twice daily, staying within the 3–9g daily total. In classical texts it was taken as a powder with tea.
Small dose of powder in warm water for frontal headache during allergy season
Where it comes from
Angelica dahurica root has appeared in Chinese medicine since the Divine Husbandman's Classic of the Materia Medica. It grows throughout northern China, Korea, and Japan, and two varieties are used: Angelica dahurica and Angelica dahurica var. formosana (the Hangzhou trade variety, called 杭白芷). It was a key ingredient in classical formulas for wind-cold headache and remains one of the highest-volume herbs in Chinese patent medicine.