Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels 当归 (Danggui, Dongkuai)

(Oliv.) Diels is a common perennial herb in the family of Umbelliferae. Its dried roots, named Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui, Dongkuai), have been frequently used as one of the most distinguished traditional Chinese medicines for dual medicinal and tonic purposes (Fig. 7.1). It is somewhat cylindrical, with 3–5 or more branched at the lower part, 15–25 cm long, externally yellowish-brown to brown in color, and longitudinally wrinkled and transversely lenticel-like protruded. The whole Danggui could be divided into three botanical parts: 1) root stocks (Guitou) (1.5–4.0 cm in diameter, annulated, apex obtuse and rounded or with several obvious protrudent rhizome scars), (2) main root (Guishen) (lumpy on the surface) and (3) branching roots (Guiwei) (0.3-1.0 cm in diameter, the upper portion thick and the lower protion thin, mostly twisted and exhibiting a few rootlet scars).