A Natural Alternative for PMS, Menopause, and Energy Support

One thing we talk about every single day, without fail, is hormones. Whether that’s teenagers just learning about their hormones, ladies in their 20s struggling with PMS, women trying to conceive, or postpartum, and women going through peri to post menopause. It is a wild journey, from start to finish, and we are still just fully trying to understand it and how to deal with it.

The truth is, with hormones, no one is the same. You might feel moody, bloated, exhausted, or struggling with stubborn weight gain, and you may not even realise it could be a hormonal imbalance. How your body reacts is different to mine, to your friend’s, even your sister’s. We are all so unique, but this is what makes us special and beautiful. 

There are a few ways to support hormones, and today we wanted to feature one of our favourite herbs, Dong Quai. So, keep reading to learn about this fascinating herb, and how it can help for all ages and stages. 

So, What Actually is Dong Quai?

Dong Quai is a warming, grounding herb with deep roots (literally) in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It’s sometimes called the “female ginseng,” as it’s nourishing, restorative, and seems to help the body find its natural rhythm again, especially when it comes to your cycle, mood, and energy.

It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 2000 years. It’s often blended with other herbs rather than used solo, and it’s long been known as a ‘women’s herb’ because of its ability to help with hormonal symptoms, from painful periods to post birth fatigue, and menopausal shifts.

What we love about Dong Quai is that rather than directly manipulating or forcing a hormonal change, it gently shifts and works with your body and what your body needs. It’s also known as a blood tonic, which means it’s thought to nourish and rebuild the blood, particularly important if you're feeling drained, cold, bruising easily, or just generally worn down.

Key Benefits of Dong Quai for Hormonal Health

In a world where maca and ashwagandha are so heavily loved (and by us too, because they are amazing), the small little herbs like Dong Quai sometimes go unnoticed. So, we want to take it out of the corner and show you why Dong Quai is worth noticing. Here are some of the key benefits:

1. Relief from PMS & Painful Periods: It’s traditionally used to regulate periods and ease symptoms like cramps, bloating, and mood swings. The presence of ligustilide gives it natural antispasmodic properties, meaning it can help with muscle tension and pain.

2. Perimenopause & menopause support: Dong Quai has a very gentle phytoestrogenic effect on the body, which can softly support women experiencing hot flushes, night sweats, or hormone related mood shifts, offering a natural alternative for menopause support. It also works amazing with herbs like rhodiola for this too, like in our Terranova Dong Quai Complex.

3. Postpartum nourishment (after bleeding has stopped): It's often used in postpartum herbal blends in Asia to replenish iron, support blood flow, and gently lift low mood. Some midwives even use it for postpartum blues – though it’s not recommended during breastfeeding due to the lack of clinical trials.

4. Low energy, flat mood & hormonal fatigue: If you feel a bit foggy and frazzled, Dong Quai may help restore a new sense of vitality. It’s often combined with adaptogens like rhodiola or nervines like green oat seed to support the adrenals and gently lift energy and mood. This blend is also found in our Terranova Dong Quai Complex.

How Dong Quai Works to Gently Balance Hormones:

This is the fascinating part. Dong Quai is rich in compounds like ligustilide, ferulic acid, and angelicide. These give it anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and circulatory effects. It’s often used to ‘move blood’ in TCM, reducing stagnation that can contribute to pain or emotional stuckness.

Some herbalists say it behaves ‘intelligently’, adapting to what the body needs. It doesn't push oestrogen up or down but rather offers subtle hormonal balance if there’s a deficiency or excess.

The Terranova Dong Quai Complex - More Than Just a Menopause Supplement:

Terranova have created a very thoughtful and balancing complex featuring Dong Quai as the star, because no one puts dong quai in the corner! 

This blend includes a variety of incredibly nourishing, hormonal rebalancing nutrients, such as:

• Soy bean sprouts and kudzu root which are natural sources of phytoestrogens that help ease hot flushes and anxiety.

• Fenugreek to aid blood sugar and libido (great for lactation too - but as a solo herb).

• Green oat seed for nervous system resilience and emotional wellbeing.

• Rhodiola to buffer stress and fatigue, also great for anxiety. 

• Dandelion leaf & watercress for gentle liver support, which also plays a role in helping to naturally clear and rebalance hormones.

• Turmeric, alfalfa, sea buckthorn to help calm inflammation, boost micronutrient status, and encourage tissue repair.

• Rice bran & larch arabinogalactan for antioxidant and gut-liver axis support.

So, as you can see, this is more than just a ‘hormone balancer.’ It works holistically, in every area where hormones can affect us. Remember, even cortisol (released during stress) is a hormone, and insulin (needed for blood sugar balance) is a hormone – and that’s just two we all deal with every single day.

When to Take:

Dong Quai is generally taken during the luteal phase of the cycle (after ovulation and before your period), when progesterone is naturally higher and PMS symptoms are more likely. 

If you suffer with extremely heavy bleeding, I would recommend going down a vitamin and mineral path instead, and look at magnesium to ease cramps and reduce bleeding, and vitamin C, which helps to strengthen capillaries and reduce flooding.

Is Dong Quai the Right Hormone Support for You?

Dong quai is one of those herbs I wish more women knew about. It’s not flashy, it doesn’t promise overnight miracles. But it’s deeply restorative and supportive, especially during seasons of transition, whether that’s puberty, postpartum, burnout, or the menopause era.

If you’re experiencing a hormonal challenge at the moment, and feel like you’re constantly trying to “fix” yourself, Dong Quai reminds us that we don’t need fixing. We just need the right nurturing at the right time.

The team at Kate Living are forever learning and researching, to try and to find a way to help you through these challenges, when it can all seem a bit overwhelming. So, if this is something you are interested in, or would like to discuss further, please do not hesitate. This is literally what we are here for.