Dong Quai
当归 · Dāng Guī
Builds blood and eases painful periods
Properties
WarmingWarming botanicalSweet, Pungent
What it does
Dang Gui rebuilds blood for the fatigue, dizziness, and pale complexion that come from menstrual loss or postpartum depletion. In TCM, it both nourishes blood and moves it, easing painful periods, irregular cycles, and stuck-blood pain. Sometimes called 'the women's ginseng,' it's the lead herb in Si Wu Tang. It also moistens the intestines for blood-deficient constipation.
How to take it
Decoct 6–12g of dried Dang Gui in 4 cups water for 30 minutes. Drink 1 cup, 1–2x daily. Common in chicken-and-Dang-Gui soup for postpartum recovery.
Try a Dang Gui chicken soup during the week after your period
Take a standardized Dang Gui capsule (typically 500–1000mg) once or twice daily with food. Look for products labeled with ferulic acid content.
Try a daily capsule during the week before your period for cramp support
Safety
- Skip during pregnancy. Strong blood-moving action
- May increase bleeding risk with anticoagulants like warfarin
- Photosensitivity possible. Limit sun exposure during high-dose use
- Skip with heavy menstrual flow or active diarrhea
- Talk to your doctor before starting, especially if you take medication
Formulas it's in
Four Substances
四物湯 · sì wù tāng
The foundational TCM formula for nourishing blood. Often called the women's tonic.
Free and Easy Wanderer
逍遙散 · xiāo yáo sǎn
One of the most-prescribed TCM formulas in the world, used for stress, PMS, and the feeling of being emotionally stuck.
Restore the Spleen
歸脾湯 · guī pí tāng
TCM's classical formula for the trifecta of anxious overthinking, exhaustion, and poor sleep.
Tonify the Middle & Augment Qi
補中益氣湯 · bǔ zhōng yì qì tāng
TCM's foundational formula for low energy that comes from the digestion being run-down for a long time.
Where it comes from
Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis) is one of the most-used women's herbs in TCM, with cultivation centered in Gansu province. The Chinese name Dāng Guī roughly translates to 'should return,' a romantic reference from a Tang Dynasty poem about a husband's hoped-for return. It's the lead herb in Si Wu Tang (Four Substance Decoction), the foundational blood-tonic formula prescribed worldwide for menstrual irregularities. One systematic review covers safety in pregnancy.