Dang Gui is the most highly praised blood tonic used in the East.

Actual picture of the roots.

Chinese name: Dang Gui or Tang Kwei

Very highly praised and widely used in the Orient. It is known to be an excellent blood tonic and, though beneficial to men and women alike, is considered to be the ultimate women's tonic herb. Angelica root nourishes and regulates blood and therefore assists women with their menstrual cycle.

Meridians: Liver, Heart, Spleen & Kidney

Flavor & Energy: sweet, pungent and warm energy

Actions: To replenish blood, to invigorate blood and stop pain, to moisten the intestines.

Angelica root is very important in Chinese herbalism. It is the most highly praised blood tonic used in the East. Though the root is extremely popular with women, men too can use Angelica root to build blood with no problems. It is a powerful blood tonic. It is said to warm up the inner organs, improve circulation, beautify the skin, hasten healing of cuts and wounds and to act as a sedative. Since most women have a tendency to be slightly anemic, Dang Gui is popularly used in its cooked form to build blood.

Cultivated in China's fertile northwest. The root is grown for one year, then harvested, peeled and dried in the shade. The larger the root and the sweeter the taste, the better the quality.

Dang Gui, like ginseng, may be consumed raw or cooked, alone or in combination with other herbs. To eat it raw, as a blood purifier, steam slightly (for just a few minutes) to soften and slice into pieces the thickness of a penny. Allow these to dry in a flat plate in a warm dry place not in direct sunlight. When dry (usually around 24 hours), put in a dark jar to store. Eat a piece or two each day. The taste of Dang Gui raw is definitely palatable, though it will take a few days before you actually start liking it. However, most people who eat Dang Gui do acquire a real liking for its unique flavor and become quite attached to their Dang Gui routine.

Tang Kwei is a main component (25%) of a very famous and widely used commercial tonic called "Shou Wu Chih" which also contains several other famous tonics. It is a superb blood tonic, beneficial to the circulatory and reproductive systems. It comes in liquid form, the highly concentrated extract of several great tonic herbs. This is taken by adding one tablespoon of "Shou Wu Chih" to a cup of boiling water, letting it steep for five minutes and then drinking. It is traditional to drink this tonic twice a day; once before breakfast and again at bedtime. This amazing concoction adds energy to our day and helps us sleep deeply at night. Consumed in this manner for a few weeks, "Shou Wu Chih" will prove to have remarkable tonic effects on sexual functioning. Beware; tis powerful stuff!

To prepare a Dang Gui root for drinking, cook one root with six red jujube dates in 3 cups of water. (Ginseng Cooker) Simmer until one cup remains and drink one half cup. Repeat twice a day for three days. Due to the very pleasant taste of the red jujube dates, this is the most popular way to prepare Dang Gui.

Or, prepare chicken soup using three Dang Gui roots in addition to whatever other vegetables you would normally add. Consume the soup over a four-day period. This popular method of preparing Dang Gui is considered extremely tonic and nourishing. It is the most highly recommended way of taking Dang Gui when recovering from an illness. It is also recommended for those who are overly thin, pale or weak. Chicken soup with Dang Gui will build blood and flesh. For convenience, a chicken soup extract with Dang Gui is available.