Radix Angelicae Sinensis
- Name
- Origin
- Where Does It Grow?
- Nature and Flavor
- Identified Active Components / Major Chemical Constituents
- Drug Actions in TCM
- Traditional Uses in TCM
- Pharmacological Actions
- Toxicology
- Administration and Dosage
- Adverse Effect, Side Effects and Cautions
- References
Name
Latin Name: Radix Angelicae Sinensis
Common Name: Angelica root
Scientific Name: Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels
Chinese Name: 當歸
Pinyin Name: dang gui
Origin
The root of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, a perennial herbal plant of the Umbelliferae family. The medicinal part is used in raw form or processed with alcohol. 1,3
Where Does It Grow?
Angelica root is nowadays mainly cultivated supply from Gansu province.2
Nature and Flavor
Angelica root is sweet, pungent and slightly bitter in flavor, warm in nature and, manifests its therapeutic actions in the liver, heart and spleen meridians.3
Identified Active Components / Major Chemical Constituents
Angelica root contains volatile oils such as ligustilid, angelicone, n-butylidene phthalide and carvacrol; water soluble components include freulic acid, butanedioic acid, nicotinic acid, adenine, stigmasterol-D-glucoside, vanillic acid and fluorescent gelsemine.
The phenolic oils pf angelica root include carvacrol, phenol, o-cresol, p-cresol, guaiacol; the neutral volatile oils include ligustilide, α-pinene, myrcene, β-ocimene, alloocimene, n-butylphthalide, n-butylidenephthalide, angelic ketone; the acidic volatile oils include camphoric acid, anisic acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid, myristic acid, and phthalicantydride.2
Drug Actions in TCM
Angelica root replenishes and activates blood, regulates menstruation, stops pain and lubricates intestines. 3 Traditional Uses in TCM
Angelica root is a common ingredient for conditions like a sallow face, dizziness, palpitations, menstrual disorders, painful conditions, traumatic injuries, constipation, carbuncles and sores. 3,4,5
•Angelica root is an important blood tonic
Blood deficiency that causes a sallow face, paleness, dizziness, blurred vision, and palpitation is usually treated by angelica root together with processed rhemannia rhizome, white peony root and donkey-hide gelatin. When individuals also have breath shortness, weakness and sweating, astragalus root and pilose asiabell root are selected additionally to replenish qi (vital energy). Angelica root is also used with specific herbs to treat various problems that due to blood deficiency, for example, it works with Sichuan lovage rhizome and white peony root to relieve headache; sour jujube seed and longan aril to relieve insomnia; cassia twig and suberect spatholobus stem to relieve limb spasms; rehmannia root and white peony root to relieve skin itchiness; hemp seed, fleeceflower root and cistanche to relieve constipation.
Blood deficiency that causes a sallow face, paleness, dizziness, blurred vision, and palpitation is usually treated by angelica root together with processed rhemannia rhizome, white peony root and donkey-hide gelatin. When individuals also have breath shortness, weakness and sweating, astragalus root and pilose asiabell root are selected additionally to replenish qi (vital energy). Angelica root is also used with specific herbs to treat various problems that due to blood deficiency, for example, it works with Sichuan lovage rhizome and white peony root to relieve headache; sour jujube seed and longan aril to relieve insomnia; cassia twig and suberect spatholobus stem to relieve limb spasms; rehmannia root and white peony root to relieve skin itchiness; hemp seed, fleeceflower root and cistanche to relieve constipation.
•Angelica root is an important herb for regulating menstruation
It often combines with herbs like rhemannia rhizome, peony root and Sichuan lovage rhizome to treat problems like irregular periods, menstrual pain, missed periods and postpartum abdominal pain. The Four Substances Decoction acts as the major ingredients, and other herbs are selected according to the accompanied symptoms, for example, limb coldness will select cassia bark and argy wormwood leaf to warmth; mouth dryness and hot flashes will select peony root bark and red peony root to clear heat in the blood; chest or abdominal pain will select nutgrass flatsedge rhizome, corydalis rhizome and Chinese safflower to remove qi or blood stagnation. For heavy periods, the herb may be prescribed with donkey-hide gelatin and peony root bark (charred); while masses in the pelvic region, it may be prescribed with common burreed tuber and zedoray rhizome.
It often combines with herbs like rhemannia rhizome, peony root and Sichuan lovage rhizome to treat problems like irregular periods, menstrual pain, missed periods and postpartum abdominal pain. The Four Substances Decoction acts as the major ingredients, and other herbs are selected according to the accompanied symptoms, for example, limb coldness will select cassia bark and argy wormwood leaf to warmth; mouth dryness and hot flashes will select peony root bark and red peony root to clear heat in the blood; chest or abdominal pain will select nutgrass flatsedge rhizome, corydalis rhizome and Chinese safflower to remove qi or blood stagnation. For heavy periods, the herb may be prescribed with donkey-hide gelatin and peony root bark (charred); while masses in the pelvic region, it may be prescribed with common burreed tuber and zedoray rhizome.
•Angelica root can relieve various painful conditions
The painful conditions are often due to blood deficiency, blood stasis or excessive coldness in the blood. It works with herbs like cassia twig, peony root and fresh ginger to relieve cold pain in the abdomen; baical skullcap root, golden thread rhizome and costus root to treat painful and bloody diarrhea; red sage root, frankincense and myrrh to treat injuries or stabbing pain in the chest and abdominal regions; Sichuan lovage rhizome, peach kernel and roasted ginger to relieve postpartum abdominal pain; rehmannia root, mulberry mistletoe, pubescent angelica root and gentiana macrophylla root to treat painful and numbness joints.
The painful conditions are often due to blood deficiency, blood stasis or excessive coldness in the blood. It works with herbs like cassia twig, peony root and fresh ginger to relieve cold pain in the abdomen; baical skullcap root, golden thread rhizome and costus root to treat painful and bloody diarrhea; red sage root, frankincense and myrrh to treat injuries or stabbing pain in the chest and abdominal regions; Sichuan lovage rhizome, peach kernel and roasted ginger to relieve postpartum abdominal pain; rehmannia root, mulberry mistletoe, pubescent angelica root and gentiana macrophylla root to treat painful and numbness joints.
•Angelica root is often used in promoting the healing of carbuncles and sores
In acute stage, it works with honeysuckle flower, snakegourd root and Dahurian angelica root to relieve swelling and pain; for persistent and stubborn cases, it works with astragalus root, processed rhemannia rhizome and pilose asiabell root to facilitate pus drainage and tissue regeneration.
In acute stage, it works with honeysuckle flower, snakegourd root and Dahurian angelica root to relieve swelling and pain; for persistent and stubborn cases, it works with astragalus root, processed rhemannia rhizome and pilose asiabell root to facilitate pus drainage and tissue regeneration.
Clinically, modern TCM also uses angelica root for anemia, chronic bronchitis, cardiovascular diseases, immune disorders and hepatitis.
Pharmacological Actions
Studies showed that angelica root has protective effects on the cardiovascular system, such as decreasing platelet aggregation, preventing thrombus formation, correcting abnormal heart beating, expanding coronary arteries, and lowering blood lipid. Angelic root also promotes hemoglobin and red blood cells formation, anti-inflammatory and stops pain, regulates the contraction of uterine muscle, and regulates immune functions. 2
Toxicology
Mice fed with angelica root extracts, the MLD is 30～90g (raw herb)/kg. Mice intravenous injected with angelica root solution, the LD50 is 100.6g/kg; the poisoning mice were shown immovable creeping, respiration inhibited, convulsion and death.
Administration and Dosage
For decoction, the usual dose of angelica root is 5～15g each time. The herb is often applied in raw form, processed herb (with alcohol) are for conditions with poor blood circulation. 3,5
Adverse Effect, Side Effects and Cautions
Individuals with loose bowels or diarrhea should use with caution.4
References
- Li Jiashi (editor-in-chief), Chinese Medicine Identification, Shanghai Scientific and Technical Publishers, 2000-2.
- Zhao Zhongzhen & Xiao Peigen (editor-in-chief), Contemporary Medicinal Herbal Glossary, Hong Kong Jockey Club Institute of Chinese Medicine, 2006-8.
- Lui Daiquan (editor-in-chief), Chinese Herbal Medicine, Shanghai Scientific and Technical Publishers, 2000-6.
- Tao Yufeng, Clinical Herbal Medicine, People’s Medical Publishing House, 2005-5.
- Chen Pian, Clinical Application of Tonifying Herbs, Second Military Medical University Press, 2008-8.
- Wang Benxiang (editor-in-chief), Modern Pharmacology of Chinese Medicine, Tianjin Scientific and Technical Publishers, 1990.
