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Chinese angelica root

Chinese Name: Dang gui
Medical Name: Radix Angelicae sinensis
Latin Name: Angelica sinensis (oliv.) Diels
Origin: Roots, smoked with sulphur.
Taste: Sweet, pungent

Quotes from Chinese historical sources:

THE HERBAL CLASSIC OF SHEN NONG: "Effective in cases of coughing and where the circulation of qi within the internal organs is disordered. It is also useful in cases of menorrhagia, infertility, external swellings and ulcerations, and the treatment of metal-inflicted wounds."

THE COMPENDIUM OF MATERIA MEDICA: "Cures headache and pains in the chest and abdomen, moistens the intestines, stomach, muscles, bones and skin, treats ulcers, expels pus, stop pain, and enriches the blood."

RI HUAZI MATERIA MEDICA: "Treats all wind-strokes, lack of vitality, fatigues, necrosis of the blood, promotes the formation of fresh blood, can also counteract ailments arising from persistent coldness in the intestines and stomach."

JING YU'ES FULL EDITION OF THE STANDARDIZED MATERIA MEDICA: Chinese angelica, with its sweet but heavy flavour, is especially good for nourishing the blood. Its energy is light and pungent and so can assist the transport of the blood. By nourishing the blood it aids the circulation. In activating flow, it nourishes the blood. It is a sovereign remedy in its effects upon the circulation.

Western Research:

Di Yi Jun Yi Da Xue Xue Bao. 2003 Mar;23(3):239-41
Effect of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) on melanocytic proliferation, melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity in vitro.
Deng Y, Yang L. Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, First Military Medical University, China.
Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) promotes melanocytic proliferation, melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity, which may be the mechanism for validating its clinical use in the treatment of skin pigmentation.

Zhongguo, Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2002 Jan;22(1):54-7.
[Experimental study on effect of Angelica polysaccharide in inhibitory proliferation and inducing differentiation of K562 cells] [Article in Chinese]
Zheng M, Wang YP. Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing University.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the application value of Angelica polysaccharide (APS) on proliferation and differentiation of human erythroleukemia K562 cells. APS could not only inhibit the proliferation of K562 cells in vitro, but also induce the differentiation of K562 cells toward erythrocyte and granulocyte series. It may be a natural inducer with promising prospect of development and application.

Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2002 Mar;22(3):190-2.
[The intervention effects of Angelica sinensis, Salvia miltiorrhiza and ligustrazine on peritoneal macrophages during peritoneal dialysis] [Article in Chinese]
Li JC, Yang ZR, Zhang K. Institute of Cytobiology and Tissue Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310031. Administering Angelica sinensis, Salvia miltiorrhiza during peritoneal dialysis has important significance in improving the defense function of peritoneal macrophages, reducing the incidence of peritonitis and enhancing the therapeutic effect of peritoneal dialysis.

Clin Chim Acta 2002 Oct;324(1-2):89-97
Effect of Angelica sinensis on the proliferation of human bone cells.
Yang Q, Populo SM, Zhang J, Yang G, Kodama H.

Department of Biology, Schenley High School, 4101 Bigelow Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
The aqueous extract of Angelica sinensis was found to directly stimulate the proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, protein secretion and particularly type I collagen synthesis of human osteoprecursor cells.

Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2000 Mar;20(3):187-9.
[Observation on short-term effects of Angelica injection on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with pulmonary hypertension] [Article in Chinese]
Xu J, Li G. Dong guan Hospital, Dongguan, Guangdong (511700).
Twenty-five percent of Angelica injection can improve pulmonary hemodynamics through influencing the metabolism of ET-1, AT-II and EDF as well as increase PaO2 of the body.