In traditional chinese medicine history, Dong Quai is a plant with much more experience treating diseases than any doctor you can find. Discovered thousands of years ago, the extract from this little plant might just be able to offer you some relief for what ails you.

A member of the celery family dong-quai might not sound very appetizing, and it is much stranger looking than anything you are likely to find in your fridge. The stem is purple and the white flowers it sprouts resemble umbrella shaped clusters.

The fruit itself is a winged shaped. It is actually the yellow hued brown thick roots which hold many fantastic medicinal uses. The Dong Quai takes up to three years to reach maturity growing at high altitudes in the damp, cold mountains of Japan, China and Korea. It blooms in late July or August, but the roots are only harvested after maturity and then turned into powders, tablets or capsules.

While there are no medical studies carried out that can prove this herb’s claims, but there are generations after generations of people who have used it including myself when my own mother would brew this herb along with others whenever I am ill from due to menstrual issues. Personally, it has also helped me in pain relief, muscles relaxation, and dilation of blood vessels.

Side Effects of Dong Quai

This herb at high doses acts much the same as taking high doses of aspirin. Sensitivity to sunlight, skin rash or inflammation is reported as are dizziness and ringing in the ears.

Reducing Menopausal Symptoms

The common symptoms of menopause are hot flashes, irritability, mood-swings and fatigue. No one is sure whether the herb can somehow duplicate the effects of estrogen or if it actually blocks estrogen in the body, but many claim to see relief from their symptoms after taking dong quai including myself.

Other Benefits

The ancient herb is also thought to reduce chest pain associated with heart disease. It is also believed to help reduce high blood pressure. The pain, bloating and cramping many women experience with their menstrual cycle is reduced. Some women also take it for a condition known as Amenorrhea, which is the absence of menstruation.

While herbs are safe to take and come over the counter this does not mean they can be taken in any amount. This is especially true of a plant herb like dong quai, which is known to dilate blood vessels. It also stimulates and relaxes uterine muscles.

This can interfere with some medications you might be taking, so before beginning a regime of this supplement you should consult with your doctor. This is also the reason why many health care experts strongly suggest against giving this supplement to children. Adults can have this supplement in dried herb, powdered herb, and in a tincture.

The biggest benefit of using a supplement like dong quia is having a gentler method of controlling symptoms of illness than you might experience with stronger medications.

Author Bio: Cynthia is a long time consumer of herbs, herbal supplements and she is also the editor of Best-Multivitamins-Guide.com. You can learn how to choose health supplements based on the 7 crucial criteria that she has derived over the last 2 decades.

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: dong quai, herbal supplements, herbs extract, multivitamins