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Dang Gui Wei当归尾

Angelicae Sinensis Extremitas Radicis · Angelica Root Tails · Dang Gui Tails

Herbs that Invigorate the Blood 活血化瘀药Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing 《神农本草经》 (as Dang Gui 当归)

Overview

The fine tail roots of the same plant that gives Dang Gui. Traditional practice divides the root by part: the body tonifies blood, the whole root both nourishes and harmonizes, and the tails — sweet, acrid and warm like the rest, but more mobile — are chosen when the aim is to break up stasis and relieve pain rather than to fill a deficiency.

Nature & Flavor

Sweet, acrid · Warm

Channels

Liver · Heart · Spleen

Typical Dosage

6–12 g in decoction
当归尾Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

3 core actions

  • Invigorates blood, dispels stasis, stops painTraumatic injury with bruising and fixed pain, stasis-type abdominal pain, and menstrual pain with dark clots.
  • Disperses swelling in soresPainful sores and abscesses that have not yet drained — a standard component of the classical sore-dispersing prescriptions.
  • Nourishes blood and moistens the intestinesIt keeps the moistening quality of the whole root, so dry, difficult stools in blood deficiency still respond.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Dang Gui Wei

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Traumatic bruising and fixed stasis pain
    - Dysmenorrhea with dark clots; postpartum stasis pain
    - Painful sores and swellings before suppuration
    - Constipation from blood deficiency and dryness

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

Soft tissue injuryDysmenorrheaAbscessConstipation

Contraindications

Cautions

Moving and moistening at once: avoid it in Spleen deficiency with loose stools or marked dampness, and use it carefully with any bleeding tendency or anticoagulant medication such as warfarin — the prescribing practitioner should be told.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Use with caution in pregnancy, and generally avoid it — the tails move blood more strongly than the whole root.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing《神农本草经》(classical source, public domain).
    2. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
    3. 《中华人民共和国药典》.

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.