[Lotus]

Hey Lotus great thread with brilliant input off Peggy Learned some things again but also some questions starting to rise up..

#2 Why does Dong Quai give major interactions?,

Hi Hannah,

The research on Dong Quai is often scarce and contradicted, but the PDF below is real good. A couple of biggies are the effects of coumarins, and increased blood flow to the uterus, I'd avoid using Dong Quai when menstruating, same goes when using PM, it also increases blood flow.


Active ingredients:The coumarins derivatives bergapten, imperatorin, oxypeucedanin, osthole, psoralen, sen-byak-angelicole, ferulic acid and 7 demethysuberosin may be found in this plant. The root is known to contain various lactones and lactone derivatives and 40% sucrose. 1-2 volatile oil and Various vitamins including vitamin A, vitamin B12, nicotinic acid, folic acid, biotin, and vitamin E have been found.

Interactions-(partial list)

Anticoagulation – ferulic acid inhibits the polymerization of platelets in the blood and retards platelet release of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP). 5-HT and ADP may cause platelets to become more sticky.3 In vitro study showed that osthole inhibited platelet thromboxane formation and phosphoinositides breakdown in washed rabbit platelets, which resulted in inhibition of platelet aggregation.

Vasodilatory effects – Various coumarins in Dong Quai are thought to have vasodilating actions that dilate blood vessels and increase blood flow to uterus.5 However, the mechanism is unclear.

Dong Quai – Monograph
http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/pharmacy/currentstudents/OnCampusPharmDStudents/ExperientialProgram/Documents/nutr_monographs/Monograph-dong_quai.pdf

And combined with what does it give interactions, or do you mean it causes major interactions on it self?

As mentioned above

I just bought it because I see it as an ingredient on lots off breast-grow- 'cocktail' supplements.And read some good things bout it.

I'm always leery of those cocktail (proprietary blends), there's no way of knowning the amounts of the herbs.

Hope this helps.