Botanical

Dong Quai

Angelica sinensis

Evidence TierDWADA NOT PROHIBITED

tuneTypical Dose

Traditional formulations vary, but trial evidence does not justify a standard recommendation

watchEffect Window

Clinical evidence is too weak to establish a dependable response window.

check_circleCompliance

WADA NOT PROHIBITED

Overview

Clinical Summary

Dong quai is not well supported for menopausal symptom relief when used alone, and it should not be framed as an estrogenic or hormone-balancing solution.

Dong quai has a long traditional-medicine reputation, but controlled human evidence is weak for the uses it is usually sold for. Randomized trials show that dong quai alone does not reliably relieve menopausal symptoms and does not produce clear estrogen-like effects in postmenopausal women. The practical use case is therefore very limited, and the bleeding-risk discussion matters more than any efficacy claim.

Dong quai is often marketed as estrogenic or hormone balancing, but controlled human data do not support clear estrogen-like clinical effects when it is used alone.

Outcomes

What This Is Expected To Influence

Primary Outcomes

  • No reliable benefit for menopausal symptom relief when used alone

Secondary Outcomes

  • No clear estrogen-like clinical effects in postmenopausal women

Safety

Contraindications and Interactions

Contraindications

  • Pregnancy

Side effects

  • GI upset

Interactions

  • Anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs

Avoid if

  • You want a proven menopause treatment
  • You are using blood thinners without clinician input

Evidence

Study-level References

don-SRC-001Randomized controlled trial
Sourceopen_in_new

Hirata JD, et al. Does dong quai have estrogenic effects in postmenopausal women? A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Fertil Steril. 1997. PMID:9418683.

Population: Postmenopausal women using dong quai alone versus placebo.

Dose protocol: Dong quai alone for 24 weeks versus placebo

Key findings: No better than placebo for menopausal symptoms and no estrogen-like tissue effects.

Notes: Best direct menopause RCT.

Paper content

This is the key negative dong-quai trial. Used alone, dong quai did not improve menopausal symptoms and did not show clear estrogen-like tissue effects.

don-SRC-002Randomized controlled trial
Sourceopen_in_new

Al-Bareeq RJ, et al. Dong Quai (angelica sinensis) in the treatment of hot flashes for men on androgen deprivation therapy: results of a randomized double-blind placebo controlled trial. Urology. 2010. PMID:20165579.

Population: Men on androgen deprivation therapy with bothersome hot flashes.

Dose protocol: Daily dong quai for 3 months in men on androgen deprivation therapy

Key findings: No meaningful hot-flash benefit versus placebo.

Notes: Supports the negative symptom-relief framing.

Paper content

This small placebo-controlled trial reinforces the weak efficacy picture for dong quai. Even in a hot-flash setting, it did not show meaningful symptom relief.

don-SRC-003Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Sourceopen_in_new

Haines CJ, Lam PM, Chung TK, Cheng KF, Leung PC. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the effect of a Chinese herbal medicine preparation (Dang Gui Buxue Tang) on menopausal symptoms in Hong Kong Chinese women. Climacteric. 2008;11(3):244-251. doi:10.1080/13697130802073029. PMID:18568789.

Population: Hong Kong Chinese women with menopausal symptoms.

Dose protocol: Dang Gui Buxue Tang (dong quai + Astragalus) versus placebo for 6 months

Key findings: No significant difference between herbal preparation and placebo for vasomotor symptoms. Placebo was more effective for moderate flushes and night sweats.

Notes: Adds to the negative evidence base for dong quai-containing preparations in menopause, even in a traditional formula.

Paper content

This 6-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial tested Dang Gui Buxue Tang (a combination of dong quai and Astragalus) in 100 Hong Kong Chinese women with menopausal symptoms. The herbal preparation showed slight superiority to placebo for mild hot flushes only, while placebo was actually more effective for moderate flushes and night sweats. Overall, the study found no significant difference between the herbal formula and placebo for vasomotor symptoms. This adds to the negative evidence base for dong quai-containing preparations in menopause, even in the traditional Dang Gui Buxue Tang formulation.

Guides

Setup

Help