Angelica Sinensis (当归, Dang Gui) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herb that many are familiar with. Whether one has studied TCM or not, it is widely recognized for its blood-nourishing properties and is considered a sacred herb in gynecology. Many people enjoy adding a bit of Angelica Sinensis when brewing health teas, suitable for both men and women of all ages.Therefore, I initially thought there was no need to write about it, as it is common knowledge.However, I later discovered that many people do not fully understand the effects of Angelica Sinensis; they simply follow others in brewing it without proper diagnosis, thus limiting its use and missing out on its benefits.
One of the most common questions my female friends ask is, “Why is my menstruation so sparse?” Often, they find that a single pack of sanitary pads lasts them for over half a year, and sometimes the adhesive on the back becomes ineffective, leading them to worry about the pads expiring before they are used. They joke about needing to share pads with friends.Listening to this, I feel a mix of sympathy and humor; at our age, we cherish our menstrual cycles like rare pandas, fearing that once they leave, they may never return, marking the onset of the elderly phase.What causes the transition from a heavy flow to a mere trickle?Ah, it’s simply age.Generally, women enter a decline after the age of 35, as stated, “Women at fifty-seven, the Yangming meridian declines, the face begins to wither, and hair begins to fall.” At this time, the energy of the spleen and stomach starts to decline, and the ability to generate blood and qi is significantly reduced. For some women, if they have a second child after this age, the depletion of their body will be even more severe, leading to accelerated aging.This is unavoidable, as childbirth is particularly depleting to blood and qi. When younger, the body has a self-recovery ability, but after 35, it becomes much harder to replenish what has been lost.When blood and qi are deficient, not only does one experience a pale complexion and hair loss, but menstruation will also decrease. Many women reminisce about their past menstrual abundance with expressions akin to heroes recalling their glory days, which is quite amusing.Alas, those days are gone.
Alright, I admit, my menstrual flow is not what it used to be.Let’s not digress. Now, let’s discuss the blood-nourishing effects of Angelica Sinensis.In TCM, Angelica Sinensis is classified as a blood tonic, with a sweet and pungent flavor, and a warm nature, entering the liver, heart, and spleen meridians.While it nourishes blood, it also invigorates blood circulation, regulates menstruation, and alleviates pain, commonly used to treat blood stasis conditions.The main reasons for sparse menstruation are generally twofold:one is blood deficiency, and the other is blood stasis.Both of these issues fall within the therapeutic range of Angelica Sinensis and can be addressed with it.So how should it be used?Of course, there are many blood-nourishing formulas in TCM, such as Si Wu Tang (四物汤, Four Substance Decoction), Gui Pi Tang (归脾汤, Restore the Spleen Decoction), and Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang (当归补血汤, Angelica Sinensis Blood Nourishing Decoction).However, some may find it cumbersome to prepare many herbs.Today, I recommend a simple single-herb formula using only Angelica Sinensis.Method:30 grams of Angelica Sinensis, boiled in water, consumed daily as tea.Isn’t that simple? With consistent use for a month, symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness, pale complexion, irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, and amenorrhea caused by blood deficiency can be effectively alleviated or even cured.Mr. Zhang Xichun recorded a case in his book, “Medical Records of Traditional and Western Medicine”:When he was young and just starting to learn TCM, he encountered a particularly weak young woman whose menstrual flow was decreasing with each cycle, eventually leading to only a small amount.At that time, Mr. Zhang was hesitant to use a formula, so he suggested the woman drink 24 grams of Angelica Sinensis boiled in water daily.As a result, by the next menstrual cycle, the flow had significantly increased, and it returned to normal, allowing Mr. Zhang to deeply appreciate the blood-nourishing effects of Angelica Sinensis.Angelica Sinensis is not only suitable for sparse menstruation; it is also particularly beneficial for postpartum recovery.If a postpartum woman experiences qi stagnation and blood stasis, she can use Angelica Sinensis alone. If there is also qi deficiency (excessive sweating, weak pulse), a small amount of Astragalus (黄芪, Huang Qi) (9-15 grams) can be added and boiled together.Another excellent formula for postpartum women is Angelica Sinensis and Lamb Soup (当归羊肉汤, Dang Gui Yang Rou Tang).This soup may not sound like a traditional medicinal formula, but it is indeed a well-known recipe from “Collection of Medical Formulas,” known for its ability to stop sweating and relieve pain.It is indicated for postpartum fatigue, fever, spontaneous sweating, and body aches.Ingredients:21 grams each of Angelica Sinensis and Codonopsis (党参, Dang Shen), 30 grams of Astragalus, and 15 grams of fresh ginger, all chopped and set aside.Use one pound of lamb, boil it in water to make five large bowls of broth, remove the meat, and add the four herbs to simmer until reduced to four bowls, to be consumed in several portions throughout the day.
The appearance of spots on the face is also due to blood stasis.Many people experience prolonged lochia after childbirth, or due to blood deficiency, which fails to promote blood circulation, leading to blood stasis and the formation of spots on the face. So what to do? Of course, we need to nourish blood and invigorate circulation.One can use 30 grams of Angelica Sinensis, half wine and half water, and decoct it.After a period of consumption, the dark spots on the face will noticeably diminish, proving to be more effective than any spot-removing cream.For women’s beauty, we must nourish from within; for spots, we need to tackle them head-on! Additionally, Angelica Sinensis also has the effect of moistening the intestines and relieving constipation (it should be avoided in cases of diarrhea), which will naturally improve complexion.In autumn and winter, nourishing yin, Angelica Sinensis can truly be beneficial.
