Dang Gui | Radix Angelicae Sinensis | Dong Quai Root / Angelica Root
Properties: Sweet, Acrid, Bitter, Warm
Channels Entered: Heart, Liver, Spleen
Dang Gui, often called Dong Quai in the West, is one of the most celebrated herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Known as the “female ginseng,” it has long been valued for supporting blood health, regulating menstruation, and harmonizing the body during times of hormonal transition.
What makes Dang Gui unique is its balanced nature—it nourishes without causing stagnation, moves without depleting, and brings warmth to systems weakened by deficiency. Traditionally, it has been used during the menstrual cycle, postpartum, perimenopause, and in recovery from illness or long-term depletion.
But Dang Gui also offers benefits beyond internal women’s health. In TCM, it promotes healthy circulation to the skin and calms inflammation, helping to restore vitality to tissues that are depleted or irritated. That’s why we include Dang Gui in our Skin Wash: Nourish, where its blood-invigorating and tissue-soothing properties support healthy, hydrated, and resilient skin.
Key Active Constituents
- Ligustilide – A major volatile oil with anti-inflammatory, vasodilatory, and antispasmodic effects. It relaxes smooth muscles, eases pain, and improves circulation, central to Dang Gui’s ability to address cramping and stagnation.
- Ferulic Acid – A potent antioxidant that enhances circulation, protects blood vessels, and reduces platelet aggregation—aligning with Dang Gui’s traditional use to “move the blood” and support cardiovascular health.
- Polysaccharides – Known for their immunomodulatory and anti-fatigue actions, they help strengthen recovery, improve resilience, and support red blood cell function.
Backed by Research
- Li et al. (2012) showed that ligustilide and ferulic acid contribute to Dang Gui’s anti-inflammatory and circulatory effects, validating its traditional role in blood regulation and pain relief.
- Chang et al. (2015), in the Journal of Medicinal Food, found that topical applications of Dang Gui extract significantly reduced inflammation and skin irritation, reinforcing its value in calming tissues and supporting repair—externally as well as internally.
These studies echo what Chinese medicine has known for centuries—Dang Gui helps restore balance inside and out. That’s why we’ve included it in our Skin Wash: Nourish, where it gently supports calm, radiant, and resilient skin.
Citations:
Bensky, D., Clavey, S., & Stöger, E. (2004). Chinese herbal medicine : materia medica. Eastland Press, Cop.
Lee, J., Choi, Y. Y., Kim, M. H., Han, J. M., Lee, J. E., Kim, E. H., Hong, J., Kim, J., & Yang, W. M. (2016). Topical Application of Angelica sinensis Improves Pruritus and Skin Inflammation in Mice with Atopic Dermatitis-Like Symptoms. Journal of Medicinal Food, 19(1), 98–105. https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2015.3489
Wu, Y.-C., & Hsieh, C.-L. (2011). Pharmacological effects of Radix Angelica Sinensis (Danggui) on cerebral infarction. Chinese Medicine, 6(1), 32. https://doi.org/10.1186/1749-8546-6-32