Dried Root - one heaped teaspoon in a cup of water, gently simmmered for 20 minutes, dose: half cup 3 x daily. Fluid Extract - 10-20 drops, 3 x daily. Tincture - 30-60 drops (roughly 1 - 1.5 teaspoons), 3 x daily. Raw herb (powdered whole root) 1-5 capsules, 3 x daily. Or follow the instructions on any proprietary pack of a Dong Quai product being used. Some women can feel the benefits from using Dong Quai almost immediately, but for others it may take much longer - as long as 4-8 weeks. This is at least the length of time that you should consider taking Dong Quai before giving up if symptoms do not improve. Unless, of course, symptoms worsen or a reaction to the herb is noted, in which case, you should stop taking Dong Quai until the reaction or symptoms have calmed and re-introduce at a much lower dose. If symptoms worsen or the reaction re-appears, stop taking the herb and consider an alternative product. If you do benefit from Dong Quai, continue using it for 3-6 months, then reduce the dose by half for a few weeks. If the improvements are maintained, leave off altogether. If symptoms persist, return to the previous dosage, and continue for a further 2-3 months and try to reduce again. If symptoms keep returning, seek the help of a qualified practitioner in alternative therapy as it appears that a fundamental imbalance is not being addressed.
You may also see Dong Quai with other herbs in combination products. Sometimes a combination of herbs will be more effective than a single herb. There are a number of proprietary examples of formulations for women which include Dong Quai. You may also find Dong Quai combined with other traditional Chinese herbs. Find a product which works for you - either the single herb or a combination of herbs - and then continue with it for a full course of treatment. CAUTIONS Do not take Dong Quai during pregnancy; and it would be wise to avoid it when taking any other product or drug which affects the female hormone system - such as HRT or the contraceptive pill. Dong Quai can stimulate menstrual flow, therefore it is considered best to avoid its use with heavy menstrual flow or flooding. KEEPING A RECORD OF YOUR HEALTH As always where your health is concerned - keep a record of how you are feeling when taking a supplement such as Dong Quai or a Dong Quai combination. This will help you to monitor the success or otherwise of the supplement. Dong Quai is certainly one of the the major herbs for women. We will be covering other herbs for women in future issues. ResourcesAn article about signs of menopause Other Menopause Articles An article on Red Sage for menopause
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