Drug & supplement interaction

Dong Quai + Docusate

Docusate brand name: Colace.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 13, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Dong Quai and Docusate in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first.

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Interaction report

Dong Quai and Docusate

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Docusate and Dong Quai in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Dong Quai safety at a glance

Dong Quai overall Use caution It may increase bleeding and can cause skin sensitivity to sunlight, so use with care.
Pregnancy Possibly Unsafe When used orally. Dong quai has uterine stimulant and relaxant effects; theoretically, it could adversely affect pregnancy. Observational research has found tha... Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Avoid There is not enough safety information, so it is best avoided while breastfeeding.

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Docusate and Dong Quai? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Docusate

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Docusate is filed under a single classification — oral drugs. Dong Quai has documented interactions with 3 drug classes — the most serious being warfarin (coumadin) (major), anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs (moderate) and estrogens (moderate) — and none of Docusate’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Dong Quai Does Interact With Other Medications

Dong Quai has 2 major, 161 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Docusate isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 2 Moderate 161 No known interaction 2,667 (incl. Docusate)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Dong Quai

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Dong Quai. Pick one to open its full report.

What to actually watch for

What Dong Quai Itself Has Been Linked To

This is not an interaction — nothing below involves Docusate. It is the side-effect record for Dong Quai on its own, from the licensed Natural Medicines monograph. If something new turns up after you add Dong Quai, this list is the first place to look. 3 entries are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Loss of vision / Blood clots Worth acting on Additional detail

    “In one case report, a 55-year-old female with protein S deficiency and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) had temporary vision loss in the left eye from hemiretinal vein thrombosis three days after taking a phytoestrogen preparation containing dong quai 100 mg, black cohosh 250 mg, wild Mexican yam 276 mg, and red clover 250 mg. It is unclear if dong quai contributed to this event.”

    Dong Quai · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in myasthenia gravis.

    1 source cited
    1. 13155. Cheong JL, Bucknall R. Retinal vein thrombosis associated with a herbal phytoestrogen preparation in a susceptible patient. Postgrad Med J 2005;81:266-7.. PubMed
  • Wheezing Worth acting on Additional detail

    “A pharmacist experienced allergic asthma and rhinitis after occupational exposure to dong quai and other herbs.”

    Dong Quai · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in asthma.

    1 source cited
    1. 48435. Lee, S. K., Cho, H. K., Cho, S. H., Kim, S. S., Nahm, D. H., and Park, H. S. Occupational asthma and rhinitis caused by multiple herbal agents in a pharmacist. Ann.Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2001;86(4):469-474. PubMed
  • Raised blood pressure Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Orally, dong quai might cause hypertension; according to one case report, a parent and breastfed infant experienced hypertension (195/85 mmHg and 115/69 mmHg, respectively) after the parent consumed a soup containing dong quai root.”

    Dong Quai · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in hypertension.

    1 source cited
    1. 48428. Nambiar, S., Schwartz, R. H., and Constantino, A. Hypertension in mother and baby linked to ingestion of Chinese herbal medicine. West J Med 1999;171(3):152.
  • Bloating or gas Additional detail

    “Orally, burping and gas may occur with dong quai.”

    Dong Quai · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in flatulence.

    1 source cited
    1. 738. Hirata JD, Swiersz LM, Zell B, et al. Does dong quai have estrogenic effects in postmenopausal women? A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Fertil Steril 1997;68:981-6. PubMed
  • A stuffy or runny nose Additional detail

    Recorded for Dong Quai in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Wheezing above.

  • Headache Additional detail

    “Dong quai given orally or by injection may be associated with headache.”

    Dong Quai · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cluster headache.

    2 sources cited
    1. 738. Hirata JD, Swiersz LM, Zell B, et al. Does dong quai have estrogenic effects in postmenopausal women? A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Fertil Steril 1997;68:981-6. PubMed
    2. 48438. Xu, J. and Li, G. [Observation on short-term effects of Angelica injection on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with pulmonary hypertension]. Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi 2000;20(3):187-189.

Everything above comes from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record for Dong Quai — expand a row for the licensed statement it rests on. We haven’t matched Docusate to its FDA label in our system yet, so we can’t compare its own side-effect list here — the leaflet that comes with your prescription is the authoritative list for Docusate.

Special populations

Dong Quai in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy Possibly Unsafe

When used orally. Dong quai has uterine stimulant and relaxant effects; theoretically, it could adversely affect pregnancy. Observational research has found that intake of An-Tai-Yin, an herbal combination product containing dong quai and parsley, during the first trimester is associated with an increased risk of congenital malformations of the musculoskeletal system, connective tissue, and eyes.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Docusate

This page covers Dong Quai only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Docusate page lists 17 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Coffee Charcoal (moderate), European Mandrake (moderate), Glucomannan (moderate) and Guar Gum (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 7 moderate · 9 minor.

Open the Docusate interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Dong Quai as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 1,989 real supplement products containing Dong Quai, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Dong Quai. Even though Dong Quai itself has no known interaction with Docusate, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Dong Quai and Docusate Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Dong Quai
Top 10%

#127 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Docusate
Top 5%

#34 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Dong Quai reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Dong Quai and Docusate records this page draws on were last updated July 11, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Supplement

About Dong Quai

What is Dong Quai?

Dong Quai
  • Menopause symptoms
  • Menstrual cramps and irregular periods
  • Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
  • Blood circulation support
  • General women's health tonic

Dong Quai is a traditional Chinese herb often called "female ginseng" and is mostly used for menstrual and menopausal complaints. High-quality scientific evidence that it works for these uses is limited, and it can affect bleeding, so talk with your pharmacist or doctor before trying it.

Angelica sinensis · Apiaceae · Root · Capsules, tablets, dried root, tea, tincture, liquid extract

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Dong Quai is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Dong Quai record says about it on its own.

Dong Quai: dosing

There is no official, standardized dose of Dong Quai that is proven to be safe and effective. Doses vary widely depending on the product and whether it is used alone or in a traditional herbal blend.The best approach is to follow the directions on the product label and not exceed the recommended amount. Because supplements are not tightly regulated, product strength and quality can differ between brands.

From our Dong Quai monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Dong Quai monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Stool Softeners

What Is Stool Softeners Used For?

Brand name: Colace

  • Stool softeners are used on a short-term basis to relieve constipation by people who should avoid straining during bowel movements because of heart conditions, hemorrhoids, and other problems. They work by softening stools to make them easier to pass.

See full Stool Softeners drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Dong Quai

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Dong Quai — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

2Major
161Moderate
0Minor
2,666No known interaction
2 Major 161 Moderate 2,666 No interaction
Major

2 interactions

Moderate

161 interactions

Showing 60 of 161 moderate interactions — see all 161 on the Dong Quai page.

No interaction 2,666 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Dong Quai against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,666 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Dong Quai list.

See the full Dong Quai interactions page
See every supplement checked against Docusate, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Dong Quai References

The 19 references that drive our Dong Quai monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. Hirata JD, Swiersz LM, Zell B, et al. Does dong quai have estrogenic effects in postmenopausal women? A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Fertil Steril 1997;68:981-6. PubMed
  2. Page RL II, Lawrence JD. Potentiation of warfarin by dong quai. Pharmacotherapy 1999;19:870-6. PubMed
  3. Heck AM, DeWitt BA, Lukes AL. Potential interactions between alternative therapies and warfarin. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2000;57:1221-7. DOI
  4. Eagon PK, Elm MS, Hunter DS, et al. Medicinal herbs: modulation of estrogen action. Era of Hope Mtg, Dept Defense; Breast Cancer Res Prog, Atlanta, GA 2000;Jun 8-11.
  5. Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases. Available at: http://www.ars-grin.gov/duke/.
  6. Amato P, Christophe S, Mellon PL. Estrogenic activity of herbs commonly used as remedies for menopausal symptoms. Menopause 2002;9:145-50. PubMed
  7. Shi M, Chang L, He G. [Stimulating action of Carthamus tinctorius L., Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels and Leonurus sibiricus L. on the uterus]. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi 1995;20:173-5, 192.
  8. Hoult JR, Paya M. Pharmacological and biochemical actions of simple coumarins: natural products with therapeutic potential. Gen Pharmacol 1996;27:713-22.. PubMed
  9. Cheong JL, Bucknall R. Retinal vein thrombosis associated with a herbal phytoestrogen preparation in a susceptible patient. Postgrad Med J 2005;81:266-7.. PubMed
  10. Chang CJ, Chiu JH, Tseng LM, et al. Modulation of HER2 expression by ferulic acid on human breast cancer MCF7 cells. Eur J Clin Invest 2006;36:588-96. PubMed
  11. Chuang CH, Doyle P, Wang JD, et al. Herbal medicines used during the first trimester and major congenital malformations: an analysis of data from a pregnancy cohort study. Drug Saf 2006;29:537-48. PubMed
  12. Lau CBS, Ho TCY, Chan TWL, Kim SCF. Use of dong quai (Angelica sinensis) to treat peri- and postmenopausal symptoms in women with breast cancer: is it appropriate? Menopause 2005;12:734-40.
  13. Ellis GR, Stephens MR. Untitled (photograph and a brief case report). BMJ 1999;319:650.
  14. Nambiar, S., Schwartz, R. H., and Constantino, A. Hypertension in mother and baby linked to ingestion of Chinese herbal medicine. West J Med 1999;171(3):152.
  15. Lee, S. K., Cho, H. K., Cho, S. H., Kim, S. S., Nahm, D. H., and Park, H. S. Occupational asthma and rhinitis caused by multiple herbal agents in a pharmacist. Ann.Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2001;86(4):469-474. PubMed

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Dong Quai and Docusate Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Dong Quai with Docusate?
We do not list a known interaction between Dong Quai and Docusate. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
How was the Dong Quai and Docusate combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Docusate is filed under 1 classification, and Dong Quai has documented interactions with 3 drug classes — none of Docusate's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.
Does Dong Quai interact with any other medications?
Yes. Dong Quai has 163 documented drug interactions in our database — Docusate is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.
Does Docusate interact with any supplements?
Yes. Docusate has documented interactions with 17 supplements in our database — Dong Quai is not one of them. The Docusate interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Where next

Keep Exploring

Dong Quai monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Stool Softeners drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Docusate supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Docusate, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z Every drug we’ve checked against herbs & supplements References The 19 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Docusate and Dong Quai?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.