Dang Gui is known as a supplement for menstrual good health. What is not generally known is that dang gui is a versatile blood tonic with many other uses.
Always Combine Dang Gui with Other Herbs
Angelica sinensis is rarely used alone as a single herbs. Rather it is combined with other herbs to bring out its potency, extend its versitlity, and reduce it's unwanted side-effects.
Dang gui can be combined with astragalus to treat exhaustion from blood loss. The lifting quality of the astragalus can help to neutralize the downward draining property of Dang Gui, helping to prevent diarrhea. The same combination is used to treat pustules and abcesses which resist draining.
More commonly, dang gui is combined with liguisticum, peony, and foxglove roots to create the famous formulas for building the Blood - Si Wu Tang (4 substances formula and Ba Zhen Wan (Eight Treasures Pill) . This formula is basic to treating amenorrhea (missed periods) and dysmenorrhea (awful periods). Cinnamon twig is added if menstrual pain is due to cold uterus.
Cook dang gui with meat and ginger for exhaustion following childbirth.
Combine dang gui with crushed cannabis seeds and walnuts to treat chronic constipation caused by deficient Qi and Blood.
Kinds of Dang Gui
There are two kinds of dang gui. The root body is called dang gui shen. It is a blood builder. Its branches are called dang gui tails. The tails are more vitalizing (Blood moving) and are used more for pain.
Properties: Pungent and sweet in flavour, warm in nature, it effects the heart, liver and spleen channels. Replenishes blood; and promotes blood circulation, regulates menstruation and relieves pain. Used to treat any syndromes of blood-deficiency, various kinds of pain due to blood stasis, swellings and traumatic ecchymoma, etc. It also functions in nourishing blood and lubricating the bowel, for constipation due to blood deficiency and dryness in the bowel.
Dosage and Administration: Whole: 6-12g. Boil 20-40 minutes.
ANGELICA SINENSIS (Tang Kuei, Dong Quai) -
The Best Way to Take Dang Gui
Women's Precious Pills
aka Eight Treasures
for Menstrual Good Health
WOMEN'S PRECIOUS PILLS Also known as: Tang Kwei Pill, Dang Gui Pill, Women's Precious Pill, Eight Treasures, Ba Zhen Wan
TRADITIONAL USES
Used to benefit the body's nourishing flows of Blood (nourishment) and Qi (energy). When Blood and Qi are weak, the body goes hungry regardless of diet.
Dr. Shen's Woman's Precious Pill is used as a daily supplement to boost and maintain Blood and Qi. Though this pill is used by both men and women, it is most often used by women to supplement regular blood loss due to menstruation. Especially useful for women who eat little or no red meat.Though this formula is traditionally recommended throughout pregnancy and nursing as well as in many cases of infertility, pregnant women should always consult a health practitioner before taking any medicine or supplement.
SOURCE
A powerful version of the classical formula known as Eight Treasures. It was first published in the Zheng Ti Lei Yao (Catalogued Essentials for Correcting the Body) by Dr. Bi Lai Zhai in the year 1529.
PRACTITIONER NOTES The herb angelica sinensis, Dang Gui (tang kwei) should never be administered as a single herb. It is always combined with other herbs.The blend used in Dr. Shen's Woman's Precious Pill is the most widely used of these combinations. It brings out the best qualities of the herbi while eliminating any unwanted effects.Though this formula is used as a daily supplement to maintain good health, it is also used to treat symptoms related to deficiencies such as: Fatigue, weakness, menstual irregularities, tired limbs, pallor, pale tongue, infertility, shortness of breath or palpitations, lightheadedness, reduced appetite.
Dr. Shen's Woman's Precious Pills, like most modern versions of this formula, uses Dang Shen (Codonopsis) instead of Ren Shen (Ginseng), making it cost effective, more tonifying to the Spleen, and helping the user to better assimilate the four Blood tonic herbs.
TRADITIONAL SERVING
Four to Six tablets are recommended daily for health maintenance. Relieving symptoms can require nine to twelve or more tablets daily. Ideally, these are taken in three doses, preferably on an empty stomach. Compliance, however, may improve when taken twice-a-day, half in the morning and half in the evening.
COURSE OF USE
The course of use is a minimum of one month and a maximum of eleven months per year.
The pills can also be taken together with Dr. Shen's Free and Easy Pills (also known as Shao Yao Wan) to help circulation and drainage while still strengthening the Blood.
SUGGESTION
Like most Chinese herbal tonics (strengtheners), discontinue during cold and flu.
INGREDIENTS
Dang Gui also known as Tang Kwei, Dong Guay, Angelica Sinensis Radix, Chinese Angelica Root
Strengthens Blood, Invigorates Blood, Harmonizes Blood, Regulates Menses
Major known constituents: butylidene phthalide, n-valerophenone-o-carboxylic acid, Vitamin B-12, carotene, beta-sitosterol
White Peony Root also known as Bai Shao , Peonia Lactiflora
Nourishes the Blood, Pacifies the Liver, Retains the Yin
Major known constituents:paeoniflorin, paeonol,paeonin, triterpenoids
Chinese Foxglove Root also known as Shu Di Huang , Rehmannia Glutinosa Radix
Tonifies the Blood, Tonifies the Heart, Liver & Kidneys
Major known constituents: B-sitosterol, mannitol, stigmasterol, camesterol, rehmannin
Szechuan Lovage Root also known as Chuan Xiong , Liguistici Wallichi
Invigorates the Blood, Promotes the Circulation of Qi(energy), Expels Wind
Major known constituents: alkaloids, phenols, lactones, ferulic acid
Poor Man's Ginseng also known as Dang Shen, Codonopsis Radix
Benefits the Qi(energy), Nourishes Fluids, Strengthens the Lungs and Digestive Organs
Major known constituents: Saponins, alkaloids, glucose, sucrose, inulin
Bai Zhu also known as Atractylodes Macrocephala rhizome Benefits the Qi(energy),
Tonifies the Spleen, Dries Dampness
Major known constituents: atractylol, atractylon, vitamin A
Fu Ling also known as China-root, Poria Cocos, Sclerotium of Tuckahoe, Hoelen Fungus:
Leeches out Dampness, Strengthens Digestion, Harmonizes the Middle Burner, Calms the Spirit, Improves the performance of other tonifying herbs
Major known constituents: B-pachyman, tumulosic acid, 3B-hydtoxylanosta-7, chitin, protein, lecithin
Chinese Licorice root baked with honey also known as Zhi Gan Cao, Glycyrrhiza Uranelsis radix:
Tonifies the Spleen, Benefits the Qi, Detoxifies Fire Poisons, Moderates and Harmonizes other herbs, Improves the performance of other tonifying herbs.
Major known constituents: glycyrrhizic acid, uralenic acid, loquiitigenin
