Written by Christina Young and Edited by Gouri Ajith
In every culture, there are traditions on how to upkeep health: superstitions on how to eat, how to act, even what to wear. Some of these are herbal remedies that are used to promote a healthy body and mind. But with information getting lost in translation across many cultures and over generations and the constant influx of new information about the chemical effects of these herbs, these so-called revered remedials should be approached with caution.
That being said, in many Asian cultures, dong quai (当归), also known as “female ginseng” or “Angelica sinensis,” is a highly valued herb that is believed to do everything from preventing nausea to clearing skin, from balancing the yin (associated with coldness) to helping blood flow. The root is most typically used in teas and soups, spicing foods with a woodsy flavor that combines the sharpness of ginger with the homey subtleties of anise. Generations of families go in search for it after a woman has given birth. A modern take on these cultural beliefs is the unsupported claim that dong quai has estrogen-like effects in postmenopausal women. Adding fuel to the fire, dong quai is portrayed as the ultimate miracle drug, making it increasingly popular in the “natural” drug market and solidifying its place as another tradition blown out of proportion and lost in translation [1].
The misinformation could very easily lead to tragedy and harm to the user and his or her family. In my own family, my aunt made no attempt to understand the science nor the traditional history behind the natural remedies that she was taking; she fell prey to the fad of herbal remedies, nearly harming herself and her unborn child in the process through the use of dong quai. Believing it to quell her morning sickness and improve her blood flow, she used it without realizing that the chemical reactions between dong quai and her body could actually increase the risk of a miscarriage. In a collaborative study between researchers in Taiwan and the U.S., dong quai (along with celery, turmeric, garlic, and licorice) has been associated with increased activity of blood thinners, also known as anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs, and increased risk of high blood pressure [2]. In dong quai, two different configurations of the chemical α-pinene have been associated with the thinning of blood, most likely interfering with the chemical signaling between cells that tells them to stick together [3]. For pregnancies, an increase in blood pressure causes the development of weak points and leaks in blood vessels, similar to what happens when a bag of water is squeezed. If not controlled, this would both wear down the blood vessels and interfere with the process of providing nutrients to the developing fetus, thereby increasing the risk of premature termination [4].
As to the possible estrogen-like properties of dong quai, research is still inconclusive. Chemically speaking, studies regarding these effects have provided mixed results. As of late, one lab even reports that lower concentrations of some of the active chemicals in dong quai are associated with estrogenic effects, whereas higher concentrations may reduce protein responses to the presence of estrogen [1].
Awareness of what you are putting in and on your body is one of the most important aspects of staying healthy. Although there are traditional expectations and encouragement on the benefits of various substances from both cultural roots and the newest opinions, always consider the science and the reports of the potential benefits and risks of anything you consume. It is important to be more aware of the science and of the potential gimmicks.
References:
1. Dietz, B.G., Hajirahimkhan, A., Dunlap, T.L., Bolton, J.L. (2016). Botanicals and Their Bioactive Phytochemicals for Women’s Health: Angelica sinensis (dong quai). Pharmacol Rev, 68: 1047, 1060-1061.
2. Tsai, H.H., Lin, H.W., Lu, Y.H., Chen, Y.L., Mahady, G.B. (2013). A Review of Potential Harmful Interactions between Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Agents and Chinese Herbal Medicines. PLoS ONE, 8: ee64255.
3. Yang, N.Y., Zhou, G.S., Tang, Y.P., Yan, H., Guo, S., Liu, P., Duan, J.A., Song, B.S., He, Z.Q. (2011). Two new α-pinene derivatives from Angelica sinensis and their anticoagulative activities. Fitoterapia, 82: 692-695.
4. Sardesai, V.M. (2002). Herbal medicines: Poisons or potions?. J Lab Clinical Medicine, 139: 346-347.