Research
Dong quai for Menopause: Evidence, Interactions and Cautions
Dong quai is an ingredient used in menopause supplements marketed to women. Below is what it has actually been studied for, how strong that evidence is, the drug interactions and cautions on record, and the primary source our grade rests on — all drawn from the HerWellReport ingredient dataset.
Also sold as: Angelica sinensis; dang gui; danggui; female ginseng
What the evidence says about Dong quai
The single randomised trial cited by the Menopause Society gave 71 women 4.5 g of dong quai daily or placebo and found no difference in hot flush frequency after 24 weeks. Dong quai is traditionally used within multi-herb formulas rather than alone, so a single-herb trial may not reflect traditional practice, but no larger trial has changed the picture. The Menopause Society's 2023 nonhormone therapy position statement names dong quai on its not-recommended list (Level II) and flags possible photosensitisation, anticoagulation and carcinogenicity.
The grade "very limited for hot flushes; none for stress incontinence" means: very limited — Mostly animal, laboratory or anecdotal evidence, with at most a single weak human study. none — No human trial evidence we could find for this use. Grades are explained in full on our methodology page.
Read the primary source this grade rests on (opens in a new tab).
Dong quai drug interactions
- warfarin and other anticoagulants
- antiplatelet drugs
- ACE inhibitors
- clozapine
- drugs metabolised by cytochrome P450
Who should be careful with Dong quai
- Can cause photosensitivity and photodermatitis, so avoid strong sun and sunbeds
- avoid in pregnancy and while breastfeeding
- discuss with your doctor if you have a hormone-sensitive cancer, as dong quai has shown oestrogenic activity and stimulated oestrogen receptor positive breast tumour cells in the laboratory
Read more on HerWellReport
- Best Menopause Supplements: What Is Actually In Them
- Does Ashwagandha Help Menopause Symptoms?
- Hot Flushes: What Actually Works, Ranked by Evidence
This entry is generated from row "Dong quai" of the HerWellReport ingredient dataset (v2.1, updated 2026-09-23). The dataset is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 — how to cite it. Ingredient evidence is not evidence for any finished product, and nothing here is medical advice.