Major interaction on record — check this product against your medications before combining. Based on 2 of 3 ingredients. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

Dong Quai Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Herb Xtra

Dong Quai label
See full label image
Capsule Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Major
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 16, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking Dong Quai against your medications. The heart of this page is the interaction checker and the full interaction report — how this product’s ingredients may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medicines you may be taking.

Around that, we add a pharmacist’s high-level view of the product as a whole — what’s inside, the evidence for its stated use, how transparent the label is, and what safety data exists — so you can see the full picture in one place. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases and the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist — not medical advice — and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Major

Dong Quai is a dietary supplement by Herb Xtra with 3 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for joint and bone health, skin, hair, and nail support, source of dietary protein.Based on those ingredients, 163 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated major. The ingredients most likely to interact are Dong Quai. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

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Check Your Meds Against Dong Quai by Herb Xtra

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with Dong Quai by Herb Xtra — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Dong Quai by Herb Xtra

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

Generated from HelloPharmacist’s pharmacist-curated databases and editorial rules · Last generated Jul 23, 2026

What’s inside

Low disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Low

Most active ingredients don't disclose an individual amount — you can't tell how much of each you're getting.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 0 of its 3 active ingredients.

Herb Xtra's Dong Quai comes in a capsule with 3 ingredients: dong quai (the active), gelatin (the capsule material), and water. Dong quai is a plant root used traditionally in Chinese medicine, though the evidence we hold doesn't establish it as effective for any specific condition.

Does it work?

Not established
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not established

The graded evidence we hold for these ingredients covers different conditions than the ones this product is marketed for, so there's no established rating for its stated use.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: Women's health and menstrual support.
  • We looked for evidence on: Dysmenorrhea, Menopausal symptoms, Premenstrual syndrome (PMS), Irregular periods, Menstrual cycle support.
  • The closest evidence on file: Dong Quai is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Menopausal symptoms (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Dong Quai is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Premenstrual syndrome (PMS), Dysmenorrhea.

The evidence we have on dong quai doesn't establish it as effective for any condition — we rate claims about iron-deficiency anemia, osteoporosis, heart disease, migraines, and eczema as having insufficient reliable evidence. Gelatin is rated possibly ineffective for diarrhea and has insufficient evidence for aging skin, brittle nails, and uterine fibroids.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Gelatin Dong Quai

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 2 of the 2 matched ingredients.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 2 of 2.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 2 of 2.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Dong quai is generally well tolerated when taken by mouth, though some people report burping and flatulence. The main safety concern is that it may increase bleeding risk and cause skin sensitivity to sunlight, so use it with care if you're prone to either.

The safety data advises against dong quai during pregnancy — there isn't enough data on safety while breastfeeding, so talk with your doctor or pharmacist before using it then. Gelatin taken by mouth may cause belching, bloating, and indigestion; rarely, it can trigger allergic reactions including hives, throat swelling, wheezing, or anaphylaxis in people with gelatin sensitivity.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Gelatin Dong Quai

Meds to double-check

Major interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Major identified

At least one ingredient has a documented Major-severity interaction. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 2 matched ingredients can interact with medications — Dong Quai.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Major.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs.
  • For scale: 163 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Before taking Herb Xtra's Dong Quai, double-check with your doctor or pharmacist if you take warfarin or other blood thinners (anticoagulants) — dong quai increases bleeding risk at Major severity. Also flag any antiplatelet drugs (like aspirin) and estrogen-based medications (hormone replacement therapy or birth control) — dong quai may increase bleeding and may reduce how well hormones work.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFormula with limited ingredient disclosure with no established evidence rating for its marketed use. Major medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Dong quai isn't established as effective for the conditions listed in our data, and it carries real bleeding risks with common blood thinners and antiplatelet drugs. If you take warfarin, aspirin, or other blood thinners, or if you're on hormone therapy, check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting this product.

Avoid it during pregnancy, and talk it over with your healthcare provider if you're breastfeeding or have any bleeding concerns.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 2 of 3 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Feb 25, 2013.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Dong Quai, straight from the product label.

Brand Herb Xtra
Barcode (UPC) 777949999169
Net contents 100 Capsule(s); 450 mg
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Feb 25, 2013
DSLD ID 17623
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years)
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Dong Quai by Herb Xtra, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
2 Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
2 Capsule(s)
UPC/BARCODE
777949999169
IngredientAmount% DV
Gelatin0 NP--
Water0 NP--
Dong Quai0 NP--

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
General Statements

Angelica sinensis

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Use: As a Herbal Supplement: 2 capsules 2 times daily with a glass of water.

Precautions

Caution: Do not consume (Dong Quai - Angelica sinensis) during pregnancy.

General

H315900

Is this label outdated? Report a formula or label change and our pharmacy team will review it.

See for yourself

Dong Quai by Herb Xtra label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

Dong Quai label

Label images are published by the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database for the version of this product on file. Always read your actual product label.

View the full label (PDF)
What’s inside

The Ingredients in Dong Quai by Herb Xtra

These are the 3 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size2 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Amounts shown are per serving.

Most supplement products combine several ingredients, and a medication can interact with the product through any one of them. Each ingredient below shows whether it has known drug interactions.

Gelatin

No known
interactions
0 NP per serving

Gelatin is a protein made from animal collagen, used as a food, a capsule ingredient, and a supplement for joint, skin, and bone health. For most heal...

Gelatin monograph & interactions

Water

0 NP per serving

Dong Quai

Interacts with
163 drugs
0 NP per serving

Dong Quai is a traditional Chinese herb often called "female ginseng" and is mostly used for menstrual and menopausal complaints. High-quality scienti...

Dong Quai monograph & interactions
Interaction report

Dong Quai by Herb Xtra Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Dong Quai?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

 Go to the checker
163Drugs
2 Major 161 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Dong Quai 163

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in Dong Quai interact with 163 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

1 of the 3 ingredients in Dong Quai interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. Dong Quai

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Dong Quai with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Dong Quai3 drug types · 163 drugs

Warfarin (Coumadin)

Dong quai may increase the risk of bleeding when used with warfarin.
Case reports suggest that concomitant use of dong quai with warfarin can increase the anticoagulant effects of warfarin and increase the risk of bleeding. In one case, after 4 weeks of taking dong quai 565 mg once or twice daily, the international normalized ratio (INR) increased to 4.9. The INR normalized 4 weeks after discontinuation of dong quai.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

Theoretically, dong quai may increase the risk of bleeding when used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs; however, research is conflicting.
Animal studies suggest that dong quai has antithrombin activity and inhibits platelet aggregation due to its coumarin components. Additionally, some case reports in humans suggest that dong quai can increase the anticoagulant effects of warfarin. However, clinical research in healthy adults shows that taking 1 gram of dong quai root daily for 3 weeks does not significantly inhibit platelet aggregation or cause bleeding. Until more is known, use dong quai with caution in patients taking antiplatelet/anticoagulant drugs.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Estrogens

Theoretically, dong quai may reduce the effects of estrogens.
Dong quai has estrogenic effects. Theoretically, concomitant use of large amounts of dong quai might interfere with hormone replacement therapy due to competition for estrogen receptors.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Dong Quai full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Dong Quai, from the product label.

Herb Xtra

See all Herb Xtra products
Name
GOURMET NUTRITION F.B. INC.
City
STE-JULIE
State
QUEBEC
ZipCode
J3E 1Z2
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Dong Quai by Herb Xtra: Common Questions

Does Dong Quai by Herb Xtra interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Dong Quai has a known interaction with 163 medications, including 2 rated major. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Dong Quai contains 3 active ingredients, and an interaction can come from any of them. We check every ingredient, combine the results into one list per medication, and show which ingredient and mechanism is responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Can I take dong quai if I'm on warfarin?
No — case reports show dong quai can increase warfarin's blood-thinning effects and raise your INR, which is a serious bleeding risk. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before adding this product if you take any blood thinner.
Does dong quai actually work for anything?
The data we have doesn't establish it as effective for any condition — we rate all the uses in our records as having insufficient evidence. That doesn't mean it doesn't work; it means the research isn't strong enough for us to say either way.
Is it safe to take during pregnancy?
No — the safety data rates dong quai as possibly unsafe in pregnancy because it may stimulate the uterus and affect bleeding. Avoid it during pregnancy and talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking it while breastfeeding.
What are the side effects?
Most people tolerate dong quai well. The most common side effects are burping and flatulence. It may also cause skin sensitivity to sunlight, so be careful with sun exposure. Rarely, allergic reactions can occur, especially if you're sensitive to gelatin.
Will this interfere with my birth control or hormone replacement therapy?
Possibly — dong quai has estrogenic effects and may compete with estrogen medications, theoretically reducing how well they work. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before combining them.
What's in this capsule besides dong quai?
The capsule is made of gelatin and water — those are inactive ingredients. There are no other fillers or binders.

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

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Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Dong Quai label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Dong Quai’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Herb & supplement monograph

Gelatin

Gelatin is a protein made from animal collagen, used as a food, a capsule ingredient, and a supplement for joint, skin, and bone health. For most health uses, the evidence is limited or mixe...

Read the full Gelatin monograph → Herb & supplement monograph

Dong Quai

Interacts with 163 drugs

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 use...

Read the full Dong Quai monograph →
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Dong Quai's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 30 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Gelatin 11 references
  1. Lewis CJ. Letter to reiterate certain public health and safety concerns to firms manufacturing or importing dietary supplements that contain specific bovine tissues. FDA. Available at: www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/dspltr05.html.
  2. Schwick HG, Heide K. Immunochemistry and immunology of collagen and gelatin. Bibl Haematol 1969;33:111-25. PubMed
  3. Moskowitz RW. Role of collagen hydrolysate in bone and joint disease.Semin Arthritis Rheum 2000;30:87-99. PubMed
  4. Kelso JM. The gelatin story. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999;103:200-2.
  5. Nakayama T, Aizawa C, Kuno-Sakai H. A clinical analysis of gelatin allergy and determination of its causal relationship to the previous administration of gelatin-containing acellular pertussis vaccine combined with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids. J Allerg PubMed
  6. Sakaguchi M, Inouye S. Anaphylaxis to gelatin-containing rectal suppositories. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2001;108:1033-4. PubMed
  7. PDR Electronic Library. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 2001.
  8. de la Fuente Tornero E, Vega Castro A, de Sierra Hernández PÁ, et al. Kounis syndrome during anesthesia: Presentation of indolent systemic mastocytosis: A case report. A Case Rep. 2017;8(9):226-228. PubMed
  9. Ventura Spagnolo E, Calapai G, Minciullo PL, Mannucci C, Asmundo A, Gangemi S. Lethal anaphylactic reaction to intravenous gelatin in the course of surgery. Am J Ther. 2016;23(6):e1344-e1346. PubMed
  10. Li Y, He H, Yang L, Li X, Li D, Luo S. Therapeutic effect of Colla corii asini on improving anemia and hemoglobin compositions in pregnant women with thalassemia. Int J Hematol. 2016;104(5):559-565. PubMed
  11. Coury JR, Skaggs KF, Marciano GF, et al. Intraoperative Anaphylaxis to the Bovine Flowable Gelatin Matrix: A Report of 2 Cases. JBJS Case Connect 2022;12(1). PubMed

See these in context on the Gelatin monograph →

Dong Quai 19 references
  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
  16. 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.
  17. Scott, G. N. and Elmer, G. W. Update on natural product--drug interactions. Am J Health Syst.Pharm 2-15-2002;59(4):339-347. PubMed
  18. Circosta, C., Pasquale, R. D., Palumbo, D. R., Samperi, S., and Occhiuto, F. Estrogenic activity of standardized extract of Angelica sinensis. Phytother.Res. 2006;20(8):665-669.
  19. Fung FY, Wong WH, Ang SK, et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo- controlled study on the anti-haemostatic effects of Curcuma longa, Angelica sinensis and Panax ginseng. Phytomedicine. 2017;32:88-96. PubMed

See these in context on the Dong Quai monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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