It is a favorite in Chinese formulas for womens & # 39; health and health benefits of this plant during pregnancy. With highly powerful and compiling titles as these, the question arises "It is also regarded as the" su root "the reputation as the" supreme female tonic "and the" ultimate herb for women " Is Dong Quai Safe To Take During Pregnancy?
First things first ...
What is Dong Quai?
Dong Quai literally means "bought to return". In Chinese Herbology, this is so named because it is believed that this is her, one & # 39; s energy and blood will return and restore without disorder.
It comes from the apiaceae Family, or more commonly known as the celery, carrot or parsley family. Japan and Korea and grows on the high mountains in the cold, moist regions of these countries. It is distinguished by its small umbrella-like white flowers which bloom from May to August and produces its fruits between July and August.
Other common names and spellings include - angelica sinensis (Latin and botanical name); Chinese angelica; dang gui; tang kuei and tan kue bai zhi.
What Are The Medicinal Uses?
The whole root is anti-coagulant (blood thinning) properties, the middle part of the root is used as a tonic and the bottom part is used to dispel patterns of blood stagnation.
It is essentially used before and after menstruation due to its anti-urban life and the balance in the restoring health and balancing the body in most cycles and rhythms of a women. spasmodic properties to ease those uncomfortable "time-of-the-month" cramps and helps replenish blood levels after your period has ended.
Dong Quai can also be used to treat ailments such as: -
- balancing hormones and encouraging a regular menstrual cycle in women who have stopped using birth control methods.
- absence of periods (amenorrhea).
- vaginal dryness.
- weakness after child birth as can help strengthen the reproductive organs, ovaries and womb.
- Vitamin A, iron, folic acid, calcium and zinc to name a few.
- regulating blood sugars.
- increasing blood circulation and production of red blood cells.
- enhancing fertility in both men and women.
- A topical press can be made to penetrate deep in reducing inflammation, easing aches and pains by removing toxins and stimulating circulation to alleviate pressure on the area.
- fighting and resistant disease due to its anti-fungal actions.
Is It Safe To Take During Pregnancy?
My mother, who is a strong advocate of this herb from a young age, refused to take this herb while she was pregnant! WHY?
Therefore, the same principle was applied to those in the early stages of pregnancy and reconsideration. unsafe to use. In modern day research, some evidence has shown Dong Quai can stimulate the uterus and cause contractions, leading to an increased risk of miscarriage or pre-term labor.
It can increase the risk of bleeding. It should not be taken with blood thinning drugs such as aspirin, heparin and warfarin as this possible also increase the chances of bleeding.
According to the National Institutes of Health, one case study of a pregnant woman who took a combination of medicinal herbs, later wave birth to a baby that was born with some serious birth defects. Medical professionals believed the herbs were to blame. This, this is not enough enough to suggest that Dong Quai alone could have this effect.
Extra care should be taken taken when combined with a pre-nominated women should take precautions when high doses of Dong Quai are taken as this can cause photo-sensitivity and sensitivity to sunlight and lead to greater risk for skin cancer, especially to those who are fair-skinned. with St. John & # 39; s Wort as it is also a herb known to increase photo-sensitivity.
Dong Quai may interfere with other herbs, such as ginger, how some women take to help alleviate morning sickness during their pregnancy.
- Chinese skullcap ( scutellaria baicalensis )
- Feverfew ( chrysanthemum parthenium / tanacetum parthenium )
- Garlic ( allium sativum )
- Ginkgo ( ginkgo biloba )
- Ginseng ( panax ginseng )
- Liquorice ( glycyrrhiza glabra )
- Turmeric ( curcuma longa )
Worth Considering
But herbs are the most natural alternative to chemically-charged pharmaceutical drugs, care should still be taken if you have to take them in your lifestyle. In all cultures, herbs have been used for medicinal purposes for many centuries but there still more to be some herbs may be more beneficial or harmful than one person to another, you have an under-lying medical condition, extra care should be undertaken. If you have any serious health concerns, you should always check with your health care practitioner or medical herbalist expert before self-administrating herbs.
