Herb Profile
Dong Quai
Angelica sinensis
Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis) carries a Grade C rating — limited evidence.
Last reviewed: •3 sources citedReport a correctionProfile-wide ·C Limited
Use extra caution — May increase bleeding risk and may not be appropriate in hormone sensitive conditions. Details
- Evidence
- Limited Evidence
- Typical onset
- Varies by prep
- Safety rating
- High caution
- Best for
- Anti Inflammatory, Hormonal, Cardiovascular, Inflammatory signaling
- Avoid / review if
- Pregnancy, Bleeding Disorders, Hormone Sensitive Cancers/Conditions
Safety
Safety & Cautions
May increase bleeding risk and may not be appropriate in hormone sensitive conditions. Pregnancy avoidance is important due to uterine/circulatory concerns.
High caution
Caution level: High. Multiple caution categories apply, or the record uses avoid/contraindication language.
- Hormonal Activity ContextHormone-adjacent wording is present and should be interpreted carefully.
- Anticoagulant CautionBleeding or anticoagulant-adjacent caution language is present.
Detailed safety fields
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and contraindications
- Pregnancy
- Bleeding Disorders
- Hormone Sensitive Cancers/Conditions
- Planned Surgery
- And Anticoagulant Therapy Without Supervision.
- Caution With Anticoagulants
- Antiplatelets
- NSAIDs
- Estrogenic Therapies
- And Photosensitizing Drugs.
Safety classifications
- Hormonal Activity Context: Hormone-adjacent wording is present and should be interpreted carefully.
- Anticoagulant Caution: Bleeding or anticoagulant-adjacent caution language is present.
Full safety note
- May increase bleeding risk and may not be appropriate in hormone sensitive conditions. Pregnancy avoidance is important due to uterine/circulatory concerns.
Safety labels
- Hormonal Activity Context
- Anticoagulant Caution
Evidence-based safety
Caution when combined
Severity and certainty are shown separately. A high-priority caution can still be theoretical: these pairings are screened from shared contraindication mechanisms and are not automatically documented clinical interactions. Provenance identifies the source fields that produced each flag; it does not upgrade the certainty of the pairwise claim.
High-Priority Caution
147 flagged pairingsBleeding / anticoagulant risk
High-Priority Caution
147 flagged pairingsBleeding / anticoagulant risk
Representative pairings are shown below. Large mechanism groups are intentionally summarized to keep profiles focused and crawl-efficient.
Bleeding / anticoagulant riskCertainty: Theoretical
Data provenance recorded for 147 of 147 pairings in this mechanism group.
- aescin — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Aged Garlic Extract — Theoretical interaction certainty
- ajoene — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Ajwain — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Allicin — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Garlic — Theoretical interaction certainty
- American Ginseng Extract — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Andrographis — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Angelica Archangelica — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Angelica Dahurica — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Angelica Pubescens — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Angelica Root — Theoretical interaction certainty
+135 more pairings share this mechanism. Use the Safety Checker to review a specific combination.
Evidence
Evidence Summary
Evidence lens
Read as directional context, not settled clinical proof.
LimitedLimited Evidence
Human clinical evidence: Not the primary signal
Mechanistic / preclinical: Mechanism mapped — Inflammatory Signaling Modulation · Vascular Function Support · Hormonal Signaling Context
Research maturity: Theoretical / mechanistic research — Mechanistic or unresolved evidence is kept separate from established human outcomes.
Safety boundary: Safety note available — May increase bleeding risk and may not be appropriate in hormone sensitive conditions.
This profile cites 3 human studies.
Study design details
Evidence Grade
Grade C: Limited Evidence
Evaluation of methodological rigor, population reach, and evidence alignment.
- Design Match
- Narrative review
- Risk of Bias
- High
- Consistency
- Not assessed
Strongest recorded design is a narrative review, drawn from 3 recorded studies, none of which measured an outcome in people.
How evidence grades work
Each grade reflects the strength and consistency of published human evidence — not marketing claims. Grades are based on study count, design quality, effect size, consistency, and recency.
- Strong
- Multiple RCTs, consistent direction, adequate effect size
- Moderate
- Some RCTs or consistent observational data in humans
- Preliminary / Mixed
- Animal or in-vitro only, or conflicting human data
- Traditional / Theoretical
- Traditional use only; no controlled human trials
Clinical Study Summaries (3)0 human evidence sources · 0 human trials · Participant totals not consistently reported · Consistency not yet classifiable
What the evidence actually shows
This table contains 3 structured sources, including 0 human evidence sources; 0 are human trials.
| Study | Design | N | Dose | Duration | Population | Outcome | Result & magnitude | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fugh-Berman A et al. · Lancet · 2000 Background | Narrative review Summarizes selected literature without the full prespecified search and selection methods of a systematic review. | — | — | — | — | — | — | PubMed → |
Botanicals and Their Bioactive Phytochemicals for Women's Health Dietz BM et al. · Pharmacol Rev · 2016 Background | Narrative review Summarizes selected literature without the full prespecified search and selection methods of a systematic review. | — | — | — | — | — | — | PubMed → |
PubMed indexed authors · 2006 Background | Narrative review Summarizes selected literature without the full prespecified search and selection methods of a systematic review. | — | — | — | — | — | — | PubMed → |
Dosing & Timing
- No standardized dose
- Preparation specific; use standardized product label for Often studied in formulas and require source backed dosage review before therapeutic claims.
How Dong Quai works
Simplified mechanism pathway based on preclinical and pharmacological evidence. Does not confirm clinical efficacy.
Mechanism Pathway — How Dong Quai Works
CompoundTarget / ReceptorMechanismEffect / Outcome
Mechanisms & biological pathways (preclinical)
- Inflammatory Signaling Modulation
- Vascular Function Support
- Hormonal Signaling Context
Compare related active botanicals
Explore botanicals with similar chemistry, effects, or safety considerations in the Botanical Activity Atlas.
Compare & Sourcing
Compare side-by-side tradeoffs or verify active marker guidelines.
Safety first · Harm reduction
This information is educational and not medical advice. Start low, avoid risky combinations, and consult a licensed clinician before making health decisions—especially if you use medications, have diagnosed conditions, or are pregnant/breastfeeding.
Learn how we evaluate confidence, safety, and intensity on the methodology page.
Founder & Head Researcher · Oak Ridge, TN · Last reviewed August 2026
Editorial Review
Checked against primary sources, cited evidence, and contraindication language before publication. Evidence claims, safety language, and affiliate modules are reviewed independently. Not personal medical advice.
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