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Home -> Shop By Store -> AstragalusAstragalusWhat is astragalus?Astragalus is an herb that has many possible benefits, including fighting infection and the common cold, to benefiting cancer and AIDS patients! Astragalus has been used in China for hundreds of years. Known there, since about A.D. 100, as huang qi, meaning yellow leader, it is taken from the root of the plant. There are more than 2,000 varieties of astragalus in the world. One type is native to Northern China, and it has been widely tested. The plant is allowed to mature for four to seven years and the root is harvested in early spring. Astragalus contains many ingredients, including amino acids, polysaccharides, triterpene glycosides, flavonoids, isoflavones, saponins and trace minerals. Traditional Chinese medicine has used astragalus for such problems as weakness, edema, respiratory infections, diabetes, night sweats, diarrhea, heart disease and high blood pressure. Medical journals suggest the herb may stimulate the immune system and the bodys ability to resist and combat various diseases. Astragalus may also inhibit the spread and growth of cancer cells. In the United States, astragalus has been the subject of much study in recent years. Studies at the University of Houston have shown astragalus may help improve immunity function in cancer patients, by increasing T-cell counts. Other testing, including research by the National Cancer Institute, continues to explore further possible medical benefits of astragalus, including the treatment of AIDS. Benefits of astragalus
Astragalus has no known harmful side-effects Astragalus is an exciting and potentially promising herb. Further research may prove astragalus to be invaluable in the medical treatment of a variety of conditions and illnesses. It is always recommended that one consult a physician before self-treating a medical condition. Astragalus is one of Natures special gifts Astragalus is a twining leguminous perennial plant that grows 11-1/2 to 39 inches high. The stem has many branches, slanting upward and slightly hairy. The pinnate leaves are alternate and the 9 to 21 leaflets are elliptical-shaped, 1/4 to 3/4 inches long and about 1/3 inch wide. The racemes are axillary and the peduncle slender, with anywhere from 3 to 9 flowers growing at the top. The pod is spindle-shaped, inflated, a little over an inch in length and beaked at its tip. Astragalus has 20 to 30 seeds. Astragalus grows in grasses or in thickets on hillsides in northwest China, Manchuria and Mongolia. Medicinal value is in the root. Astragalus root is flexible and long, as large as your forefinger, and covered with a tough, wrinkled, yellowish- brown skin, which has a tendency to break up into woolly fibers. The woody interior is of a yellowish-white color and has a faint sweetish taste that reminds you of licorice root. There are certain energy-draining diseases that leave a victim's body thoroughly exhausted, such as chronic fatigue syndrome, candidiasis, herpes simplex, mononucleosis, and hypoglycemia. A number of different measures, including dietary, herbal, nutritional and drug, are resorted to by those who are desperately seeking solutions to their problems. In Oriental medicine one herb stands out as extremely useful as a remedy for this physical weakness: astragalus root. Astragalus has been employed by Chinese herbalists for "every sort of wasting or exhausting disease." It seems to work best, however, when used in conjunction with Korean ginseng root. While both herbs are available in capsule form, they make their greatest impact when administered as a tea. Bring one pint of water to a boil; add one teaspoon each of dried, cut astragalus and ginseng roots. Cover and simmer on low heat for 5 minutes, then remove and steep for 20 minutes. Strain and drink 1-2 cups before a meal twice daily for badly needed boosts of energy that can last up to 5 hours. Traditional Oriental medicine teaches that astragalus root is a wonderful tonic for the "spleen" and "lung chis." Chi is considered to be the vital energy of the body. Most of the different kinds of chi are usually explained in terms of their "sphere of influence" or part of the body. It should be pointed out, though, that the naming of the chi for the body's organs doesn't strictly correlate with our concept of these organs. When an Oriental herb doctor remarks that astragalus root "tonifies the spleen," it doesn't mean that the effect is on the physical organ that removes foreign bodies and damaged cells from the blood. Instead, it refers to a concept of health and the body's energy in balance. The "spleen chi" is referred to as the "middle burner," where our body's energy builds. When our "life energy" becomes deficient, astragalus root is believed to increase or supplement it. More interesting is the fact that this herb is said to "stabilize the exterior" of the body, which Oriental herbalists interpret as protecting the system against disease. This equates to our own concept of increasing resistance. The root works best to reinvigorate the immune system before disease occurs; it does not work as well once sickness has set in. Astragalus capsules (3 per day) or the tea (1 cup daily) can be taken on a regular basis for prevention of illness. Tonic & endurance remedy - Astragalus is a classic energy tonic, perhaps even superior to ginseng for young people. In China it is believed to warm and tone the wei qi (a protective energy that circulates just beneath the skin), helping the body to adapt to external influences, especially to the cold. Astragalus raises immune resistance and manifestly improves physical endurance. Control of fluids - Though a vasodilator (encouraging blood to flow to the surface), astragalus is used for excessive sweating, including night sweat |
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