Dong Quai
Angelica sinensis  
1:4 Ethanol/Distilled H2O Spagyric Tincture of A. sinensis roots – plant salts added.
Planetary ruler: Venus

Physical Properties*:
Chinese herbal medicine has many uses for Angelica sinensis, though it’s most prominent uses are blood building and replenishment for both men and women; the treatment of menstrual issues, and other women’s diseases. The roots of Dong Quai are well known to be antioxidant; immunoregulatory; anti-cancer; radioprotective (protected leucocytes and lymphocytes of mice in animal studies); hematopoietic (aids the formation of blood and blood cells – raising haemoglobin levels); neuroprotective (has been shown to reduce occourence of amyloid beta, that is found forming plaques on the brains of Alzheimer sufferers), and; memory improving (by decreasing brain inflammation and increasing glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus). Other uses include: Emollient (skin softener), pain relief, moistening the intestines and acting as a laxative (particularly for elderly people), and the treatment of peri and post-menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes (Dong quai is estrogenic – produces estrogen in women). Another interesting property of Angelica sinensis roots is that they were shown to enhance adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus following chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (loss of blood flow to brain) and they improved the cognitive decline associated with hypoperfusion.

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Emotional/Spiritual Properties*:
The radiant mother. Dong quai. Think Joan of Arc, Theresa of Avalon… a feminine righteousness burns bright through this plant… but there is a primal quality to it. The rich fecundity of the earth streams up through our feet and bursts radiant from out mind, this plant is both illuminating and fortifying, creating a solid channel from the path you walk to the plans of the heavens. Open your heart and pick up the sword of truth, make safe this world to receive your fledgeling desires, this herb will enable you to realise the dreams and visions for your life that have not yet taken hold or fully arrived into the world. Once you have realised these seeds of inspiration, Dong quai will sternly encourage you to stick to them, hold them close, nurture these seedlings diligently and plant them out with steadfast tenacity. Yes, Dong quai is a feminine herb but there is little that is soft about it, it reaches deep, it makes one grow up… and there is kindness there, yet also firmness. It can help you sense the adult roles one needs to step in to, for yourself, others, and the world, and rather than babying one into those roles it will fuel the internal momentum to just step up and step out to them.

Cautions/Contraindications:
-Tendency towards warmth: Whilst Dong Quai can be excellent for reducing hot flashes in older women, some men and young women who already tend towards patterns of heat may become overheated by this plant.
-Seek further medical advice or avoid dong quai if you have the following: uterine fibrosis, tumour that is dependent on estrogen for growth, increased risk of bleeding due to clotting disorder, endometriosis. 
-High blood pressure: High doses of Angelica have sometimes heightened blood pressure.
-Surgery: Avoid A. sinensis between 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after surgery. 
-Pregnancy: Avoid dong quai if you are pregnant.
-Blood thinners: Coumadin (warfarin), Aspirin, Plavix (clopidogrel), Voltaren or Cataflam (diclofenac), Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen), Aleve (naproxen), Fragmin (dalteparin), Lovenox (enoxaparin), Heparin, Eliquis (apixaban), Xarelto (rivaroxaban) and more. 
- Angelica genus contain furanocoumarins which may interact with anti-seizure medications, and certain cholesterol medications.
- Grapefruit warning: Talk to your prescribing doctor if any of your medications contain a warning about grapefruit, as these may also interact with angelica species.