Is Dong Quai to take safely during pregnancy?
Is Dong Quai to take safely during pregnancy?
dong Quai has been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for thousands of years and the West is now catching up with the safety and health advantages of this plant during pregnancy. It is a favorite in Chinese formulas for the health of women and is highly regarded as the "root of the highest woman". It also deserves the reputation as a "highest female tonic" and "ultimate herb for women". With such powerful and convincing titles, the question arises: "Is Dong Quai safe during pregnancy?"
The most important thing first ...
what is dong quai?
dong quai literally means "should return". This is called in Chinese herbalism because it is assumed that taking this herb's energy and blood a person without a disorder.
It comes from the apiaceae family or better known as celery, carrot or parsley family. The plant comes from China, Japan and Korea and grows on the high mountains in the cold, damp regions of these countries. It is characterized by its small, umbrella -like white flowers, which bloom from May to August and bear fruit between July and August.
other common names and spellings are - angelica sinensis (Latin and botanical name); Chinese Angelika; Dang Gui; Tang Kuei and Tan Kue Bai Zhi.
What are the medical uses?
The entire root is considered advantageous and in the TCM it is assumed that the different sections of the root provide different “actions”. The upper part of the root has anti -coagulation properties (blood thinning), the middle part of the root is used as a tonic and the lower part is used to eliminate patterns of blood tag nation.
dong quai is widespread in most cycles and rhythms of a woman's life to restore health and compensate for the body. However, it is also an advantage for men. Due to its antispasmodic properties, it is essentially used before and after menstruation to relieve the unpleasant "cramps of the month" and to replenish the blood level after their period has ended.
dong quai can also be treated with diseases such as:
- hormone compensation and promotion of a regular menstrual cycle in women who no longer apply contraceptive methods.
- lack of periods (Amenorrhea).
- vaginal drought.
- Weakness After the birth of the child can help to strengthen the reproductive organs, ovaries and the womb.
- Removal of blood tag nation and dissolution of blood clots. This is due to its high content of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B12, vitamin E, vitamin A, iron, folic acid, calcium and zinc, to name just a few.
- regulation of blood sugar.
- increase in blood circulation and production of red blood cells.
- Improvement of fertility in men and women.
- arthritis due to their anti -inflammatory properties. A topical press can penetrate deeply to reduce inflammation, relieve pain by removing toxins and stimulating blood circulation to reduce the pressure on the area.
- Combating and resistance to diseases due to their antifungal effect.
is it safe to take during pregnancy?
In the TCM, Dong Quai is highly recommended for all aspects of a woman's body cycle, but not recommended during pregnancy. My mother, who is strong for this herb at a young age, refused to take this herb while she was pregnant! Why?
In the past, she was taught that midwives who practiced TCM used the herb to make contractions in women who were "overdue" during their pregnancy. Therefore, the same principle was applied to those in the early stages of pregnancy and regarded as insecure in the application. In today's research, some evidence has shown that Dong Quai can stimulate the uterus and cause contractions, which leads to an increased risk of miscarriage or premature labor.
Due to its anticoagulant properties (blood thinning), it can increase the risk of bleeding. This risk can be higher during pregnancy. It should not be taken with blood -thinning medication such as aspirin, heparin and warfarin, as this can also increase the risk of bleeding.
According to the National Institutes of Health, a case study by a pregnant woman who took a combination of medicinal herbs (including Dong Quai), later a baby to the world that was born with some serious birth defects. Doctors believed that the herbs were to blame. However, this is not obvious enough to point out that Dong Quai could have this effect alone.
Pregnant women should take precautionary measures if high doses from Dong Quai are taken, as this leads to sensitivity to light (sensitivity to sunlight) and can lead to a higher risk of skin cancer, especially in the case of light -skinned. In combination with St. John's wort, special caution is required, since it is also a herb that is known to increase the sensitivity to light.dong quai can affect other herbs such as ginger who take some women to relieve the morning nausea during pregnancy. Monitoring is advisable when other herbs are combined with Dong Quai. These include:-
- chinese skull ceiling ( scutellaria baicalensis )
- maternity herb ( chrysanthemenhemenpartheme/tanacetumparthenium )
- Knoblauch ( allium sativum )
- ginkgo ( ginkgo biloba )
- Ginseng ( Panax Ginseng )
- liquritz ( glycyrrhiza glabra )
- turmeric ( curcuma longa )
worth considering
Although herbs are the most natural alternative to chemically charged medicines, you should still be careful when integrating them into your lifestyle. In all cultures, herbs have been used for medical purposes for many centuries, but there is more to discover and learn. Some herbs can be more beneficial or harmful from person to person. If you suffer from a basic disease, you should be particularly careful. If you have serious health concerns, you should always contact your doctor or medical herbalist before giving herbs yourself.