Dong Quai

Most of us have heard of the herb ginseng by now. It is toted as energizing, as a blood purifier and just generally good for everyone. It can be found in sodas, gum, candy, and for sale on the counter of your favorite coffeehouses. What we don't really hear about ginseng is that it is basically most beneficial to only men. This is not to say that it is bad for women, it isn't. But there is another "wonder tonic" out there that is specifically beneficial to women. I wonder why ginseng has become so popularized and donq quai has remained relatively unknown. I don't need to expound on the state of modern medicine, and the fact that most clinical trials of pharmaceuticals are done using adult male subjects. Most modern doctors still assume that male and female physiology is basically identical, except for our noisome reproductive difficulties, which are treated like a disease, instead of a natural wonder.

Donq quai and ginseng are both herbs that were discovered in the orient, and have been used medicinally for thousands of years. Ancient oriental medicine did recognize the subtle differences between male and female energies. Donq quai can do for women what ginseng is supposed to be able to do for the general populace. It acts as a detoxifier, it contains beta-carotene, various B-vitamins and vitamin E (for beautiful skin). It also acts as an analgesic and has sedative and anti-spasmodic effects.

What all of this boils down to is a wonder drug for the uncomfortable side effects that can come with our monthly visit from the blood goddess.

Donq quai is a powerful medicine. It's most impressive quality is that it contains naturally occurring plant estrogens that react in our bodies like our own estrogen. Before you start worrying that you will be fucking up your system by drowning yourself in estrogen, let me tell you how donq quai's estrogen operates. The phytoestrogens that are in donq quai can function in your reproductive organs like your own estrogen, but just not as effectively. P-estrogens can fill in where estrogen is lacking, and can block the actions of estrogen where there is just too much of your own. In short, as the Chinese already have known for millennia, it helps to balance out over or under production of estrogen.

So, whaat does this mean to you? It means that a regimen of donq quai can help to regulate your menstrual cycle, and to minimize cramps, bleeding, bloating and all of those nasty things. It especially helpful in getting your self back to your natural cycle after freaking it out with the artificial hormone soup that is the result of being on the pill.

It's a weird smelling little root. You can find it in the jars of your local health food/ herb stores. In Pittsburgh you can find donq quai (in powdered and whole root form) at the East End Food Co-op and the fantastic little store Goldenseal (in Sq. Hill, on Murray Ave., pretty far down the hill past Poli's) I always prefer to take all of my herbal medicines in the form of hot teas. And there is nothing more soothing than a hot cup of tea when in the throes of monthly cramps. To get the best results, I recommend drinking the tea throughout the month, and drinking more when you are actually bleeding. It is of course also available in capsule form, but that lacks the aesthetic that I am fond of, although it is equally as effective.

So next time you see and attractively packaged bottle of ginseng, you can be assured that you know of a superior alternative just for women.