What plant is dong quai?

Dong quai appears often on labels, and what the name refers to botanically is fairly specific.

What plant is it?

Dong quai is a plant in the genus Angelica, in the family Apiaceae — the same family as coriander and carrot.

Which part is used?

The root. It is harvested, dried and then extracted. The leaf and seed are not the material.

What is in it chemically?

The root's chemistry includes several groups of compounds, among them coumarins and volatile oils. Proportions vary with growing region and extraction method.

How do you read the label?

Labels usually give the plant name, the part used and an amount per serving. The comparable figure is the amount in brackets, not the total weight of extract.

What should you watch out for?

Some plant extracts interact with medicines. If you take regular medication, or are pregnant or breastfeeding, speak to a doctor or pharmacist first.

Dietary supplements are not intended to prevent, treat or cure any disease.