Dong Quai: Uses, Research and Side Effects of Female Ginseng

Dong quai is the root of Angelica sinensis, an herb with a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine and often sold in the US as a supplement for menstrual and menopausal complaints. Its nickname “female ginseng” reflects that marketing, not any botanical link to ginseng. Controlled trials have found little difference from placebo for hot flashes, and the herb carries real cautions: it may raise the effect of warfarin, can make skin more sensitive to sunlight and should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Here is what the studies tested, the main side effects and how to read a label that lists it.

Peptide Labs does not sell dong quai, and none of the products we carry lists it, so no product is recommended here. This article is general information, not medical advice.

What is dong quai?

Angelica sinensis is a fragrant plant in the carrot family whose dried root is the part used. MSKCC lists its common names as Chinese angelica, dang gui, tang kuei and female ginseng. In traditional Chinese medicine the root is rarely used alone; it is usually one part of a formula with several other herbs. A well-known example is Dang Gui Buxue Tang, which pairs dang gui with astragalus.

In the US, dong quai is sold as capsules, tablets and liquid extracts, either on its own or in blends marketed for women’s health. Despite the “female ginseng” label, it is not related to the Panax species covered in our ginseng guide.

Dong quai benefits: what the trials found

MSKCC lists premenstrual symptoms, menstrual cramps and menopausal symptoms as the main traditional and marketed uses, while noting that findings for menopausal symptoms are inconclusive. Many of the more dramatic claims online come from lab and animal studies of root extracts and isolated compounds, which cannot show what a supplement does in people. The controlled human trials are few and small.

Reading the evidence fairly

The 1997 trial is the clearest test of dong quai on its own. Its authors concluded that, used alone, it did not produce estrogen-like changes and was no more helpful than placebo for menopausal symptoms. Traditional practitioners argue that the root is meant to be combined with other herbs, but the one combination formula tested against placebo also showed no overall difference. All of these studies were small, so modest effects cannot be ruled out, but there is no solid evidence of benefit either.

If you are dealing with painful periods, heavy bleeding, premenstrual symptoms that disrupt your life or menopausal hot flashes, talk with a clinician. Severe cramps or a change in your usual pattern can have causes that need checking.

Dong quai side effects

MSKCC lists these possible dong quai side effects and adverse reactions:

• Sun sensitivity: photosensitivity and photodermatitis, meaning swelling, itching or redness of skin exposed to light. A 1999 review of the herb’s chemistry noted constituents with phototoxic effects.
• Digestive effects: bloating, loss of appetite and diarrhea.
• Fever: listed among reported side effects.
• Hormone-type effects: breast enlargement in a man who took dong quai pills was described in a 2001 case report.
• Raised blood pressure: listed by MSKCC as a reported adverse reaction.

Warfarin, bleeding and other interactions

Dong quai contains natural coumarin compounds, the same chemical family that warfarin comes from. In a 1999 case report, a 46-year-old woman whose warfarin therapy had been stable saw her INR, a measure of clotting time, more than double after four weeks of dong quai. It returned to her target range a month after she stopped. MSKCC lists elevated INR as a known lab interaction.

The picture is not all one-sided. A 2017 randomized trial in healthy volunteers found no clinically relevant effect on clotting or platelet tests from dong quai, alone or with aspirin, and MSKCC notes the anticoagulant effect appears limited in human study. Still, a case report of brain bleeding in a woman using a blend of red clover, dong quai and Siberian ginseng shows why caution makes sense. Talk with your clinician before using dong quai if you take warfarin, other blood thinners or antiplatelet drugs, or before surgery.

MSKCC also notes that long-term use may speed up a liver enzyme, CYP3A4, that clears many medicines, and two case reports describe faster breakdown of the antipsychotic clozapine. The clinical impact is not known, but it is a good reason to show the label to a pharmacist. Our guide to St. John’s wort covers an herb whose enzyme effects are much better documented.

Who should avoid dong quai

• People who are pregnant or trying to conceive: MSKCC advises avoiding dong quai and notes it may raise the risk of miscarriage.
• People who are breastfeeding: MSKCC advises avoiding it.
• People with hormone-sensitive cancers: dong quai showed estrogen-like activity in lab studies and promoted the growth of estrogen-receptor-positive breast tumors in mice, so MSKCC advises consulting a physician first.
• People on blood thinners or facing surgery: because of the warfarin case report and coumarin content.
• People with sun-sensitive skin or on medicines that cause sun sensitivity: the effects may add up.

How to read a dong quai label

1. Check the botanical name. Angelica sinensis is dong quai; other angelica species are different plants.
2. Note whether the product is a whole-root powder or an extract, and whether it is combined with other herbs such as licorice root, red clover or black cohosh, each with its own cautions.
3. Watch for proprietary blends that list a total weight without the amount of each herb.
4. Look for an independent quality seal. Our guide to third-party tested supplements explains what seals do and do not verify.
5. Read front-label phrases such as “female tonic” or “hormone support” as marketing; the FDA does not review supplement claims before sale.

For other herbs marketed to women, see our guides to red clover, vitex and evening primrose oil.

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about a label? Contact us or read our Buyer’s Guide. Follow the label and ask a healthcare provider before starting any supplement, especially if you take medicines. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Last reviewed October 2026.

Related guides: Red Clover: Isoflavones, What Studies Show and Side Effects, Vitex (Chasteberry): What the Research Shows and Who Should Avoid It.