A member of the celery family, Don Quai has been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese, Korean and Japanese medicine and remains one of the most popular plants in Chinese medicine and is used primarily for its uterine tonic, antispasmodic and blood purifying benefits. Don quai is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to relieve symptoms of menopause and PMS as well as to treat arthritis, kidney disorders, pernicious anemia and neuralgia. Different parts of the don quai root are believed to have different actions; the head of the root has anticoagulant properties, the main part of the root is a tonic, and the end of the root eliminated blood stagnation. Don Quai is also known as the 'female ginseng' because of its use for gynecological disorders like painful menstruation or pelvic pain, recovery from childbirth or illness and fatigue or low vitality. Don quai is also used to strengthen the blood, for cardiovasacular conditions and high blood pressure as well as inflammation, headache, infections and nerve pain. The herb is also used to treat allergies, constipation, shingles, hepatitis, fibroid tumors and fibrocystic breast disease. Precautions: Don quai should not be used by people with bleeding disorders, excessive menstrual bleeding, diarrhea, abdonmial bloating, as well as during colds and flu. Should not be taken by pregnant or nursing women, children, or people with breast cancer, people taking blood thinners such as warfarin. Don quai may cause photosensitivity so people taking the herb should limit exposure to the sun and wear sunblock. NOTE: These descriptions are provided for information purposes only. Before taking any herb or supplement, it is recommended that you consult your health care professional to ensure it is safe for you to take and will not interact with any medications you may be taking.
