Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) considers Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis) to have a sweet and heavy flavor, making it a primary herb for blood tonification. Its light and spicy nature allows it to invigorate blood circulation, thus it serves as a crucial medicine for blood health. Therefore, it can both tonify blood and invigorate blood flow, facilitating menstrual regulation and promoting circulation.
Dang Gui is a commonly used herb in TCM, often utilized in soups, particularly effective for patients with anemia. It significantly enhances the body’s hematopoietic function, increasing the levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and hemoglobin.
Blood Tonification
Dang Gui is primarily known for its blood tonifying properties, making it the top herb for blood replenishment. It is suitable for conditions caused by heart and liver blood deficiency, which may manifest as pale or sallow complexion, fatigue, pale lips and nails, dizziness, palpitations, and insomnia.
When combined with Shu Di Huang (Rehmannia), Bai Shao (White Peony), and Chuan Xiong (Szechuan Lovage), it forms the representative blood tonifying formula—Si Wu Tang (Four Substance Decoction), which has the function of regulating menstruation and tonifying blood, especially suitable for treating postpartum blood deficiency.
Moistening the Intestines and Promoting Bowel Movements
In TCM, it is believed that blood and body fluids share the same source. Those with blood deficiency often have insufficient body fluids, leading to constipation.
Dang Gui can moisten the intestines and promote bowel movements, often used in combination with Ma Ren (Sesame Seed), Ku Xing Ren (Bitter Apricot Kernel), and Da Huang (Rhubarb) to treat blood deficiency-related constipation; it can also be combined with Fang Feng (Siler), Chuan Xiong, Bai Shao, Da Huang, Bo He (Mint), and Ma Huang (Ephedra) to create Fang Feng Tong Sheng San, which can clear heat and promote bowel movements.
Regulating Menstruation and Invigorating Blood
Dang Gui’s light and spicy nature allows it to invigorate blood, making it suitable for regulating menstruation and alleviating pain, particularly beneficial for women. It is especially effective for conditions such as irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, and amenorrhea, earning it the title of “the sacred medicine for women’s health” in ancient texts.
When combined with Tao Ren (Peach Kernel), Hong Hua (Safflower), Shu Di Huang, Bai Shao, and Chuan Xiong, it forms the famous gynecological formula—Tao Hong Si Wu Tang, commonly used for early menstruation and dysmenorrhea.
Anti-Cancer Effects
Dang Gui can be widely used for various tumors, especially gynecological tumors, particularly effective for conditions characterized by stagnation of qi and blood. For patients with late-stage cancer or those who are weak after surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy, Dang Gui can be selected to support the body’s vital energy and combat cancer.
Anti-Aging Properties
Dang Gui decoction has a significant impact on learning and memory in mice. Using the Morris water maze method, it was found that Dang Gui can improve dementia caused by aluminum chloride, reducing the levels of lipid peroxidation in the brains of demented mice and the activity of monoamine oxidase B, thus showing potential in treating Alzheimer’s disease.
Prevention and Treatment of Frostbite
In TCM, although frostbite affects the skin, it is often due to insufficient yang energy in the body, leading to external cold invasion, which causes blood stasis. Therefore, treatment often involves warming the meridians, dispelling cold, invigorating blood, and reducing swelling and pain.
Dang Gui, ginger, and mutton soup is derived from the Shang Han Za Bing Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases). In this formula, Dang Gui nourishes and invigorates blood, ginger warms yang and dispels cold, and mutton replenishes deficiency and generates blood, collectively enhancing blood nourishment and warming the body.
Effects on Uterine Smooth Muscle
The volatile oil of Dang Gui has an inhibitory effect on isolated uterine tissues, causing rhythmic contractions to relax and counteracting uterine contractions.
Immune Function
Dang Gui and its extracts, such as sodium ferulate and Dang Gui polysaccharides, have a significant stimulating effect on the mononuclear-macrophage system, providing immune modulation and restoration for individuals with weakened immune function. Dang Gui also promotes lymphocyte transformation in healthy individuals.
Dang Gui is a very common medicinal herb and a valuable tonic that can be used in cooking or made into medicinal dishes. TCM believes that consuming Dang Gui can effectively tonify and invigorate blood, making it beneficial for treating various forms of anemia. Today, we will discuss several recipes using Dang Gui.
1. Dang Gui Wine
Ingredients: Dang Gui, white liquor
Method: Clean the Dang Gui and place it in a jar, then pour in the prepared white liquor. Seal it and store it in a cool place for about half a month before consumption.
Effects: Dang Gui wine is a common method of using Dang Gui in folk medicine, not only possessing excellent blood invigorating and tonifying properties but also enhancing the flavor profile of the liquor. However, it is important to note that while Dang Gui wine is beneficial, excessive consumption can lead to heat symptoms.
2. Dang Gui Ginger Mutton Soup
Ingredients: Dang Gui, ginger, mutton, pepper, salt
Method: Cut the mutton into pieces, slice the ginger and Dang Gui, clean them, and place them directly into a pot. Add an appropriate amount of water and simmer until the mutton is cooked. Then add the prepared pepper and salt, and it is ready to serve.
Effects: This recipe has excellent blood tonifying and invigorating properties, as well as regulating menstruation and alleviating pain. It is particularly beneficial for women experiencing irregular menstruation or dysmenorrhea. It can also be consumed by women who are weak postpartum. Additionally, the combination of Dang Gui, ginger, and mutton enhances the medicinal effects of Dang Gui, maximizing its benefits.
3. Dang Gui Powder
Ingredients: Dang Gui
Method: Clean the Dang Gui, dry it, and grind it into powder. Each time you can take it with warm water or meat broth.
Effects: It has properties of invigorating blood, tonifying blood, alleviating pain, promoting bowel movements, and regulating menstruation. Additionally, it has certain benefits for rheumatism and ulcers.
There are many ways to consume Dang Gui, and individuals can choose based on their personal taste and preferences. Scientific research has found that Dang Gui contains seventeen types of amino acids and twenty-three types of inorganic elements, all of which are essential for the human body, some of which cannot be synthesized by the body. Therefore, it is very necessary to supplement Dang Gui appropriately in daily life.
In addition to the aforementioned effects, regular consumption can effectively regulate the body’s metabolism and endocrine system, providing excellent treatment for dry skin and itching, while also delaying aging in women, making it a very good weight loss herb.
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