SeriousCaution
Ginkgo Biloba
Both may increase bleeding tendency.
Recommendation: Avoid high-dose combination and stop before surgery if advised.
Dong Quai
Herb ·Insufficient evidence ·Reviewed May 2026
Dong quai is Angelica sinensis root, traditionally used for menstrual discomfort and menopausal symptoms. Controlled human evidence for menopausal symptom relief is weak, and a randomized trial did not show estrogen-like benefit. Safety concerns include bleeding interactions, photosensitivity, pregnancy risk, and possible hormone-sensitive condition concerns.
What it's good for
What to watch for
- GI upset
- Photosensitivity or rash
- Headache
- Pregnancy because of uterine stimulant concern
- Use with anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy without clinician guidance
The bottom line
Evidence rating insufficient. Most-documented uses: traditional support for menstrual cramps, traditional menopausal symptom support, may provide antispasmodic and circulation-related effects. 3 sources indexed (1997–2013), with 4 interaction records on file.
The science
How it works, mechanistically.
Core mechanism
Dong quai contains ferulic acid, ligustilide, polysaccharides, coumarin-like constituents, and phthalides that may have antispasmodic, vasodilatory, and anti-inflammatory actions. Despite traditional use as a women's tonic, it has not shown consistent estrogenic effects in controlled human testing. Coumarin-like constituents and case reports support caution with anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents.1,3
Class
Traditional menstrual and menopausal root herb
Found in food
Not a common food; used as root, tea, soup ingredient, or extract in traditional preparations
Low-status signs
None - dong quai is not an essential nutrient and has no deficiency state
Absorption
Water-soluble; take with food
Dosing
Dosing & protocol.
Common range
500-2,000 mg/day root extract or product-specific traditional formulas
Recommended form
Standardized Angelica sinensis root extract from a contaminant-tested product
Take with meals to reduce GI upset. Traditional formulas often combine dong quai with other herbs, making effect attribution difficult.
Forms
Forms & what to buy.
Ranked by evidence and value.
Dong Quai Root Extract Capsule Recommended
More convenient but standardization varies widely. Take with meals.
Dong Quai Tea or Decoction
Traditional form with variable potency. Use product directions and avoid high-risk contexts.
Combination Menopause Formula
Attribution is difficult and interactions multiply. Review all ingredients carefully.
Cost
What it actually costs.
Real-world pricing across three quality tiers. Assumes Dong quai root extract capsule.
BudgetBest value
$4 /mo
$0.12 per dose
Mid
$11 /mo
$0.35 per dose
Premium
$27 /mo
$0.90 per dose
Third-party testing for contaminants and correct identity is worth prioritizing. Updated 2026-06-04.
Goals
Goal-based dosing.
Menstrual Cramp Support
Dose: 500-1,000 mg/day extract
Timing: With meals during symptom window
Evidence is limited; severe cramps need evaluation.
Menopause Symptom Support
Dose: Product-specific1
Timing: With meals
Controlled evidence is weak; consider better-studied options.
Traditional Formula Use
Dose: Formula-specific2
Timing: As directed
Multi-herb formulas require interaction review.
Why people use it
Symptoms it's matched to.
Where this appears in the symptom-to-supplement map, ranked by relevance.
Menstrual cramps
28% relevance
Traditional antispasmodic use, but clinical evidence is limited.2
PainInsufficient evidenceRoot extract
Evaluate severe or new pain.
Cycle-related fatigue
20% relevance
Traditional tonic use without strong clinical evidence.2
EnergyInsufficient evidencePractitioner-guided formula
Rule out anemia, thyroid disease, and heavy bleeding.
Hot flashes
18% relevance
Controlled trial evidence did not show meaningful benefit.1,2
HormoneInsufficient evidenceNot preferred
Better-studied options exist.
Safety
Full safety detail.
Side effects
- GI upset
- Photosensitivity or rash
- Headache
- Increased bleeding or bruising risk
- Potential uterine stimulation
Contraindications
- Pregnancy because of uterine stimulant concern
- Use with anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy without clinician guidance
- Bleeding disorders or upcoming surgery
- Hormone-sensitive cancers or endometriosis without clinician guidance
- Photosensitivity disorders or photosensitizing medications
Interactions
Interaction records.
SeriousCaution
Garlic Extract
Garlic extract may add to dong quai bleeding risk.
Recommendation: Avoid unsupervised combination if bruising, surgery, or anticoagulants are present.
ModerateCaution
Fish Oil
High-dose fish oil may add to bleeding tendency with dong quai.
Recommendation: Use standard doses and review before procedures.
ModerateCaution
St. John's Wort
St. John's Wort can alter drug metabolism and complicate hormonal or anticoagulant therapy contexts where dong quai is already risky.
Recommendation: Avoid unsupervised multi-herb hormone stacks.
Sources
Sources, by evidence tier.
Numbered references. Citations throughout the page link here.
Randomized controlled trials
1- 1Does dong quai have estrogenic effects in postmenopausal women? A double-blind, placebo-controlled trialNeeds reviewNo linkHirata JD et al. · Fertility and Sterility · 1997
Dong quai did not improve menopausal symptoms or show estrogenic effects compared with placebo.
Reviews & position papers
1- 2Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels: a comprehensive review of traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicologyNeeds reviewNo linkChen XP et al. · Journal of Ethnopharmacology · 2013
Review summarized traditional uses and mechanistic data while highlighting safety and evidence limitations.
Observational studies
1- 3Potentiation of warfarin by dong quaiNeeds reviewNo linkPage RL et al. · Pharmacotherapy · 1999
Dong quai use was associated with elevated anticoagulation effect in a warfarin-treated patient.
Keep exploring
Deep dives & adjacent profiles.
This page is educational. Do not start, stop, or change a supplement or medication based on it without checking with a qualified healthcare professional.
Use this with your stack
Dong Quai in NutriStack.
Add it to your stack, see how it interacts with everything else you take, and get a Stack Score that updates the moment it does.