Ligusticum acutilobum (Maweidanggui)

Distribution:
Gansu, Sichuan, Shaanxi, Hubei
 
Properties (characteristics):
Sweet, acrid, bitter, warm
 
Channels (meridians) entered:
Heart, liver, spleen channels

Chemical ingredients:
Essential oil: b-pinene, camphene, P-cymene, b-phellandrene, myrcene, b-ocimene-X, allo-ocimene, 6-n-butyl-cycloheptadiene-1,4, 2-methyl-dodecane-5-one, acetophenone, b-bisabolene, isoacroraene, acoradiene, chamigrene, a-cedrene, n-butyl-tetrahydrophthalide, n-butyl-phthalide, n- butylidene-phthialide, ligustilide, d-2,4-dihydrohpthalic anhydride,dodecanol, bergapten.

Oil with Phenol Characteristics: P-methyl-benzolcohol, 5-methoxyl-2,3-dicresol, phenol, O-cresol, P-cresol, guaiacol, 2,3-dieresol, P-ehtyl phenol, O-eethyl phenol, 4-ethyl resorcinol, 2,4-dihydroacetophenone, carvacrol, isoeugenol, vanillin 

Oil with Acid Characteristics: phthalic anhydride, azelaic acid, sebacie acid, anisic acid, myristic acid, camphoric acid, dimethyl phthalate, dimethyl aelate, dimethyl sebacate, dimehtyl anisae, dimethyl myristate, dimethyl camphorate, n-valerophenone-o-carboxylic acid 

Organic Acid: ferulic acid, succinic acid, nicotinic acid, vanillic acid, n-tetracosanoic acid, palmitic acid. 
Sugar: sucrose, fructose, glucose, arabigalactan,
Vitamin: 0.25~40 mg/100g of vitamin B12, 0.0675% of  vitamin A.
Animo Acid: 17 types of animo acid.

Actions & Indications:
Tonic for blood and for regulating the menses, lubricates bowels to correct Constipation, reduces swelling, expels pus, relieves pain. Dang gui wei (tail) is being used in condition of blood stasis and clots.

Medical Function:
1. effects on uterus: experiments showed that it can have inhibiting and stimulating effects on uterus (outside the bodies ) of lab animals.
2. effects on blood: lowers lipids, anti platelet coagulation, and promotes production of red cells.
3. effects on circulatory system: tests showed that it can dilate the coronary arteries of guinea pigs and improve circulation volume. It can protect rat with Arrhythmia.
4. anti oxidation and rid of free radicals
5. anti injuries of radiation
6. improve immune system
7. anti cancer:  Research showed using the five polysaccharides of ming xian dang gui inhibited the EC, Hep, S180, Lewis B16 inplanted tumors of rats up to 39%. It has little side effects and can be used for long period of time. (But there are also reports that mention frequent ingesting of ginseng and dang gui may promote the multiplying of breast cancer cells. Chinese site)
8. anti inflammatory
9. protects digestive system (including liver)
 
Dosage:
10 to 15 g per day in decoction.