Description
Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis) is a revered medicinal herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), where it has been cultivated for thousands of years, particularly in cool mountain valleys of China, Korea, and Japan. Its aromatic roots are the key part used, often prescribed as a tonic for women to support menstrual balance, hormone regulation, and overall vitality—earning it the title of “female ginseng.”
In the garden, Dong Quai is a graceful perennial reaching around 1m tall, with finely divided leaves and domed umbels of greenish-white flowers. It enjoys moist, fertile soils and benefits from partial shade, echoing its natural mountain habitat. In New Zealand, it may need protection from hot, dry conditions.
Medicinally, Dong Quai is primarily known as a blood tonic and circulatory herb, often combined with other botanicals in TCM formulas. While not traditionally used in Western herbalism as much as its cousin Angelica archangelica, it is increasingly recognised for its adaptogenic and restorative qualities.
As with all potent herbs, Dong Quai should be used with knowledge and care, but in the garden it offers a connection to a rich lineage of herbal medicine and cultural tradition.
