Angelica Sinensis (Dang Gui) has a sweet and pungent flavor, and is known for its ability to nourish blood, regulate menstruation, and invigorate blood circulation to alleviate pain. It is commonly used for irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, and blood stasis due to trauma.
Legend has it that long ago, there were frequent invasions by foreign tribes at the borders, prompting the emperor to summon brave warriors to defend the land.
A newlywed man answered the call to arms and went to the battlefield. Due to the ongoing wars, he had not communicated with his family for three years. His elderly, ailing mother, worried about her son, fell ill. His wife, missing her husband, often could not sleep at night and lost her appetite during the day. Coupled with her burdens, her health deteriorated, leading to symptoms such as pallor, dizziness, palpitations, shortness of breath, and irregular menstruation, and she eventually fell ill as well. She repeatedly moaned in bed, saying, “Mother is frail, son should return; wife is ill, husband should return!”
Fortunately, an old doctor in the area brought a fragrant herb daily for them to brew and consume, which helped them survive.
The man fought bravely at the borders and eventually defeated the enemy, returning home victorious. The emperor rewarded him with titles and honors. However, the man bowed in gratitude and refused the titles. The emperor was puzzled and asked why he did not want to be an official. He sincerely replied, “My elderly mother is ill, and my beloved wife is lonely; now that the borders are safe, a soldier should return home.” The emperor had no choice but to allow him to return home to care for his mother and comfort his wife.
Upon returning home, his mother immediately regained her spirit, and his wife’s health improved significantly. Both mother and wife said, “Thanks to the old doctor for bringing medicine every day, we were saved from the path to meet the King of Hell.” The man immediately went to thank the old doctor and asked what miraculous medicine he had used. The old doctor replied, “This medicine originally had no name, but it can treat the ailments caused by a mother longing for her son and a wife yearning for her husband, so let’s call it ‘Angelica Sinensis (Dang Gui).” From then on, this herbal medicine was known as Dang Gui.
Author: 常怡勇, Deputy Chief Pharmacist, First People’s Hospital of Zhoukou City, Henan Province
Editor: 刘正辉
Reviewed by: 谢涛
Published by: 戴利红
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