Dong Quai

Excerpted from Bensky: Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica, 3rd ed.

• Tonifies the blood and regulates the menses: for patterns of blood deficiency, especially when affecting the Heart and Liver, with such symptoms as a pallid, ashen complexion, lusterless nails, tinnitus, blurred vision, and palpitations. Also very commonly used for blood deficiency associated with such menstrual disorders as irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, and dysmenorrhea.*
• Invigorates and harmonizes the blood and disperses cold: an important herb for stopping pain due to blood stasis. Commonly used for abdominal pain, traumatic injury, and carbuncles due to blood stasis, especially when accompanied by cold from deficiency. This is an important herb in the postpartum period, and even during pregnancy if used with caution. Also used in the treatment of blood deficiency with chronic wind-damp painful obstruction.*
• Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels: for dry Intestines due to blood deficiency.*
• Reduces swelling, expels pus, generates flesh, and alleviates pain: used in treating sores and abscesses where its ability to both tonify and invigorate the blood leads to improvement. Also used topically for this purpose.*
• Treats coughs: this usage is derived from the source text. Because this effect is weak, it is used as an adjunctive herb for this symptom.*