dongquai

dong quai (do͝ong kwā, kwī) n.

A perennial aromatic herb (Angelica sinensis) native to China and Japan, yielding a root that is used medicinally for gynecological complaints such as premenstrual syndrome, menstrual cramps, and menopausal symptoms.

  [Chinese (Mandarin) dāng guī: dāng, should, ought + guī, return (from the belief that it causes blood to return where it should).]

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