Dong quai: problems?

Newsgroups: alt.folklore.herbs
Subject: Re: Question on Dong Quai
From: herblady.sprynet.com (Rastapoodle)
Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 16:57:39 GMT

> > I seem to remember a caution discussed on this sig regarding dong quai. Does anyone remember the dangers?
>I believe Susun Weed mentions in a book that women with fibroids should not use it as it makes them grow.

Dong Quai should not be used during your period, and also should not be used by pregnant women. A good, well-researched herb book by a reputable author should be in everyone's bookcase (I have a hundred!). Dong Quai is one of the most beneficial herbs for tonifying a woman's organs. I'm using it right now, and the quickness and effectiveness of it are amazing. I was having excessive menstruation due to switching to meat-eating after a long period of strict vegetarianism, and dong quai, in association with licorice (people with high blood pressure can't take that), chaste berry, false unicorn stopped the excessive bleeding by my next period, and has held true for two since.

From: Sam Wigand <sam.wigand.demon.co.uk>

> I seem to remember a caution discussed on this sig regarding dong quai. Does anyone remember the dangers?

'Dang Gui' in the new Pinyin.

I've been dispensing (not prescribing) Oriental herbs in London for three years. Off the top of my head I'd say that it is the second most commonly prescribed herb used in TCM after liquorice (Gan Cao), and not just to women. One of my suppliers (East West Herbs) is always at the cutting edge of quality and safety research (they pulled dictamnus bark off their shelves before the scare story was even published).

In three years no one has ever mentioned a problem with angelica within the range of my hearing!

My only gripe is that the majority of Dang Gui available in the UK is so riddled with Sulphur Dioxide that I've had red Sulphur precipitating out on the insides of jars!

Safe or not, though, it doesn't do to overmedicate with anything.

Happy travels,
Sam Wigand