4/26/14: This week on "The Plant Detective:" Dong Quai, or Chinese angelica, is sometimes called the "female ginseng" for its role as a balancer of the female reproductive system. It's used for menstrual cramps, abnormal periods, and symptoms of PMS and menopause. Dong Quai is not recommended if you're pregnant or breast-feeding or if you're taking blood-thinning medicine, and it can make your skin light-sensitive.
Dong Quai
![](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f0c0bc8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/250x234+0+0/resize/880x824!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fsites%2Fkufm%2Ffiles%2F201404%2FPlant_Detective_Radio_Series_0.jpg)