dang gui

当归·Radix Angelicae Sinensis

Chinese angelica

About dang gui

Dang Gui (当归) is the root of Chinese angelica, a member of the carrot family, recorded as Radix Angelicae Sinensis. It is sweet, acrid and bitter in flavour, warm in temperature, and enters the Heart, Liver and Spleen channels. The catalogue files it first among the herbs that tonify Blood, and its recorded uses turn on patterns of Blood deficiency and Blood stasis.

Names

Pinyindang gui
Chinese当归·當歸
Latin NameRadix Angelicae Sinensis
English NameChinese angelica·Chinese Angelica Root
Japanesetoki
Koreandanggwi

Classification

Channels
Spleen, Heart, Liver
Flavour
Acrid, Sweet, Bitter
Temperature
Warm
Family
Apiaceae
Species
Angelica Sinensis
Tags
Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Tonifies Blood and regulates menstruation

  • Blood deficiency of the Heart and Liver: a pale or sallow face, pale brittle nails, dry hair, blurred vision, ringing in the ears and palpitations
  • Scanty, irregular, painful or absent periods arising from Blood deficiency

Invigorates Blood, disperses Cold and relieves pain

  • Abdominal pain from Blood stasis, particularly with Deficiency Cold
  • Pain and swelling after traumatic injury
  • Menstrual pain or amenorrhea from Cold with stagnant Qi and Blood
  • Postpartum disorders
  • Long-standing Wind-Damp Bi with Blood deficiency

Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels

  • Constipation from dry Intestines due to Blood deficiency, common in older people, after childbirth and in chronic illness

Reduces swelling, expels pus, generates flesh and relieves pain

  • Sores, abscesses and carbuncles, taken internally or applied externally

Stops cough and calms wheezing

  • Cough and breathlessness, as a supporting herb

Combinations

Dosage

AgeRawGranuleTinctureConcentrateFrequency
Any 3-15g; Tincture: 2-4ml3-15 g2-4 ml

Cautions

Interactions

Drug interactions

Prepared forms (1)

dang gui Jiu Zhi

酒当归·Radix Angelicae Sinensis - Wine Fried

Dang gui jiu (酒当归) is the wine-fried form of dang gui, the root of Chinese angelica, an Apiaceae species supplied as Radix Angelicae Sinensis Preparatum. The catalogue files it among the substances that tonify Blood, on the Heart, Liver and Spleen channels.

The catalogue records no separate actions, dose or cautions for this preparation. Unless noted above it follows dang gui.