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Angelica sinensis, Dang Gui 当归

Dang Gui (TCM)
A. polymorpha var. chinensis (=A. sinensis)
Hooker, Icones Plantarum, 1891

Two different types of Dang Gui available on the Chinese Market. Top is the dried root with head and rootlets removed;
below is the whole root with head and rootlets and which has been lightly steamed with alcohol before drying. (Adam, 2015, 2016)
Botanical name:
Angelica sinensis (syn. A. polymorpha var. sinensis)

Parts used:
Root

Temperature & Taste:
Warm, slightly moist. Sweet, Pungent

Classifications:
N. Tonics

Uses:
1. Nourish the Blood, Regulate Menstruation:
-amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea; a main herb in TCM for Menstrual disorders
-blood deficiency syndrome, anemia, pernicious anemia
-skin diseases, eczema, dermatitis, neurodermatitis, psoriasis.
-sores, abscess with blood deficiency

2. Moves the Blood, Eases Pain:
-important for Gynecological diseases with Blood stasis
-very useful as a postpartum tonic
-thrombophlebitis, neuralgia, arthritis
-chronic nephritis, constrictive aortitis, hepatitis, Raynaud’s disease
-pain due to blood stasis, trauma, bruising

3. Moisten the Intestines, Promote Stool:
-good to move the bowels in dryness, weakness or blood deficiency

4. Reduces Swelling, Promotes Healing:
-used for sores and abscesses that are slow-to-heal due to poor circulation


DOSE:
4–12 grams in Decoction; 1–3 grams of the Powder

NOTE:
Different parts of the Root have been supposed to have different functions traditionally:
1. The Head is most tonifying and is called Dang Gui Tou; but its blood-moving effect is weak.
2. The fine lateral roots are called Dang Gui tail (Dang Gui Wei). They are stronger to move Blood, but less tonifying.
3. The main body of the root has both aspects, tonifying and activating, being slightly more tonifying.

PREPARATION:
1. Stir-fried until yellow or lightly scorched removes the laxative effect; it is good for menstrual disorders with Diarrhea.
2. When the root is prepared with Wine, it is stronger to enter the Blood and clear stasis (this is called Jiu Xi Dang Gui).
3. Like other Blood herbs, Dang Gui can be charred until blackish on the outside but still yellow inside to stop Bleeding.

Main Combinations:
Tonic:
1. Weakness, Debility, Fatigue
i. Angelica Dang Gui is often combined with Astragalus Huang Qi. This potent combination strengthen Qi and Blood; good for debility, fatigue, excess blood loss. A large dose of Huang Qi (30 grams) is often used with Dang Gui (6–9 grams). (This forms Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang)
ii. Qi and Blood deficiency, Angelica Dang Gui with Codonopsis Dang Shen, Atractylodes Bia Zhu, Paeonia Bai Shao, Poria Fu Ling, Licorice (as in Ba Zhen Tang)

Gynecology & Obstetrics:
2. Menstrual irregularity, Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea associated with Blood deficiency or Blood stasis, Angelica Dang Gui with Rehmannia Shu Di Huang, Paeonia Bai Shao and Ligusticum Chuan Xiong (as in Four Substance Decoction, Si Wu Tang)
– Blood stasis or Blood deficiency but with signs of Heat, add Paeonia Mu Dan Pi and Coptis Huang Lian to Si Wi Tang (above).
– More pronounced Blood stasis with fixed pain, cyanosis of the lips and nail beds, and dark, clotted menstrual blood, add Safflower and Peach kernel to Si Wu Tang (above) to make Tao Hong Si Wu Tang.
3. Dysmenorrhea, Angelica Dang Gui with Cyperus rotundus. If the pain is severe, add Corydalis Yan Hu Suo.
4. Irregular Uterine Bleeding with signs of Blood Stasis, Angelica Dang Gui with Lotus Stamen (Lian Xu), Safflower (Hong Hua)
5. Infertility from Blood and Essence deficiency, Angelica Dang Gui with Cistanche Rou Cong Rong, Deer horn Gelatin (Lu Jiao Jiao) and prepared Placenta Zi He Cao.
6. Abdominal pain and Diarrhea during pregnancy, Angelica Dang Gui with Paeonia Bai Shao and Poria Fu Ling.
7. Threatened Miscarriage, Angelica Dang Gui with Rehmannia Shu Di Huang, Ziziphus Suan Zao Ren and Lotus Receptacle Lian Fang
8. Postpartum deficiency, Angelica Dang Gui with Cinnamon twig Gui Zhi, fresh Ginger root and Lamb, cooked as a soup.

Blood Stasis, Pain:
9. Trauma, Bruising, Fixed, stabbing pain, Fractures:
i. Angelica Dang Gui with Salvia Dan Shen, Myrrh and Frankincense (as in Huo Luo Xiao Ling Dan)
ii. Angelica Dang Gui with Ligusticum Chuan Xiong, Myrrh (Mo Yao), Corydalis Yan Hu Suo
iii. Angelica Dang Gui with Ligusticum Chuan Xiong, Paeonia Chi Shao Yao, Peach kernel Tao Ren, Safflower Hong Hua, Earthworm Di Long (as in Bu Yang Huan Wu Tang)
10. Wind-Damp joint pain, Angelica Dang Gui with Gentiana Qin Jiao, Gastrodia Tian Ma, Notopterygium Qian Huo, Ligusticum Chuan Xiong (as in Qin Jiao Tian Ma Tang)

Other:
11. Insomnia, Irritability, Palpitations:
i. Angelica Dang Gui with Paeonia Bai Shao, Polygonum He Shou Wu
ii. Angelica Dang Gui with Ziziphus Semen Suan Zao Ren, Platycladus Bai Zi Ren, Poria Sclerotium Fu Shen (as in Yang Xin Tang)
12. Stroke with Hemiplegia, Numbness, loss of Speech, Angelica Dang Gui with, Ligusticum Chuan Xiong, Peach kernel (Tao Ren), Safflower (Hong Hua), Trachelospermum Luo Shi Teng, Earthworm, Scorpion (as in Zhong Feng Hui Chu Wan)
13. Constipation from dryness and weakness:
i. combine Angelica Dang Gui with Cannabis seed or Sesame seed.
ii. with Blood stagnation, Angelica Dang Gui with Peach kernel (Tao Ren)
14. Sores, Abscesses and Toxic Swellings, Angelica Dang Gui with Figwort (Xuan Shen) or Burdock seed (Niu Bang Zi).

Major Formulas:
Ba Zhen Tang
Bai He Gu Jin Tang
Bu Yang Huan Wu Tang
Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang
Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang
Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang
Dang Gui Long Hui Wan
Dang Gui Shao Yan San
Dan Zhi Xiao Yan San (Jia Wei Xiao Yao San)
Die Da Wan
Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang
Fang Feng Tong Sheng San
Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang
Gui Pi Tang
Huo Luo Xiao Ling Dan
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang
Sang Piao Xiao San
Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang
Shi Quan Da Bu Tang
Si Wu Tang
Tian Wang Bu Xin Wan
Wu Hu San
Xiao Yao San
Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang
Yang Xin Tang

Cautions:
1. Not used in those with Diarrhea

Main Preparations used: