Latin Name: Astragalus membranaceus
Alternate Names: Milk Vetch, Yellow Vetch, Huang Chi (Chinese)
Family: FABACEAE
Parts Used: Root.
Properties: Adaptogen, Adrenal Tonic, Antiviral, Blood Tonic, Chi Tonic, Circulatory Stimulant, Digestive Tonic, Diuretic, Hypotensive, Immune Stimulant, Stimulant, Tonic, Vasodilator.
Internal Uses: AIDS, Anemia, Cancer, Colds, Diabetes, Exhaustion, Fatigue, HIV, Hyperglycemia, Hypertension, Hypoglycemia, Immune Weakness, Incontinence, Lung Weakness, Night Sweats, Premature Ejaculation, Rectal Prolapse, Sperm Motility, Uterine Prolapse, Wasting Diseases, Weakness, Wounds
Internal Applications: Tea, Tincture, Capsules.
Patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation live longer and are more resistant to secondary infections when using Astragalus. It can help ameliorate bone marrow depression and gastrointestinal toxicity resulting from those two protocols. It is considered beneficial for the wei chi, the body’s inherent protective energy. It stimulates interferon production, macrophage activity and antibody response and also inhibits free radicals. Astragalus reduces T suppresser cells. It also enhances the function of the adrenal cortex. It helps to build the blood and lowers blood sugar levels in diabetics.
Astragalus is also being studied to determine whether it benefits papillomavirus, herpes and cytomegaloviruges.
Culinary uses: Cook Astragalus into immune building soups with garlic, onions, carrots, shiitake mushrooms and miso.
Energetics: Sweet, Warm.
Chemical Constituents: Polysaccharides, asparagine, calcyosin, formononetin, astraggalosides, phytosterols, isomniine, kumatakenin, choline, betaine, linoleic acid, linolenic acid.
Contraindications: Do not use by itself during extreme infection. It tends to hold infection in the body, so if using during cases of infection, combine with diaphoretic herbs. Best to avoid in cases of skin disease. Not for people who are tense and severely congested or who have overactive immune systems.
The common name Astragalus also includes the species Astragalus mongolicus, Astragalus chinensis, and Astragalus complanatus, which are used interchangeably with Astragalus membranaceus