dong quai
an herbal agent derived from the plant Angelica sinensis, native to mountainous regions of China, Korea, and Japan, with extensive folk use in Asia, America, and western Europe for a variety of conditions but particularly as a remedy for amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, and other menstrual irregularities. It also is reputed to ameliorate the physical and psychological symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome and menopause. The limited research that has been done on dong quai is inconclusive, providing conflicting results on its effectiveness for any of these uses. Side effects include abdominal bloating, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal disturbances, fever, photosensitivity, and increased bleeding. Additionally, the plant contains numerous phytoestrogens (see estrogen) and coumarin-like compounds and may therefore interact with pharmaceutical estrogenic compounds and prescribed blood thinners.