Dried and sliced thin, the root of the astragalus plant is a common component of Chinese herbal formulas. According to tradition, astragalus "strengthens the spleen, blood, and Qi; raises the yang Qi of the spleen and stomach; and stabilizes the exterior."
1
Don't worry if you didn't understand what you just read, because without many months of training in
traditional Chinese herbal medicine
, there's no way you could have. Suffice it to say that the traditional understanding of the way astragalus works is different from the way it tends to be presented today.
What Is Astragalus Used for Today?
In the United States, astragalus has been presented as an
immune stimulant
useful for treating
colds and flus
. Many people have come to believe that they should take astragalus, like
echinacea
, at the first sign of a cold.
The belief that astragalus can strengthen immunity has a partial basis in
traditional Chinese medicine
. The expression noted above, "stabilize the exterior," means helping to create a "defensive shield" against infection. However, according to tradition, astragalus formulas should not be taken during the early stage of infections. To do so is said to resemble "locking the chicken-coop with the fox inside," causing the infection to be "driven deeper." Rather, astragalus is supposedly appropriate only for use while you're healthy, for the purpose of preventing future illnesses.
What Is the Scientific Evidence for Astragalus?
Although Chinese herbal tradition suggests that astragalus should generally be used in combination with other herbs, modern Chinese investigators have found various intriguing effects when astragalus is taken by itself. Extracts of astragalus have been found to stimulate parts of the
immune system
in mice and humans, and to increase the survival time of mice infected with various diseases.
2,3
Astragalus has also been shown to enhance diuresis (urine output) by encouraging the kidneys to release more sodium into the urine.12 Other highly preliminary research suggests that astragalus might be useful in treating
atherosclerosis
,
hyperthyroidism
,
hypertension
,
insomnia
,
diabetes
, chronic active
hepatitis
, genital
herpes
,
AIDS
, and increase the efficacy and/or reduce the side effects of
cancer chemotherapy
.
4-9, 11
However, none of these possibilities can be regarded as proven.
A typical daily dosage of astragalus involves boiling 9 to 30 g of dried root to make tea. Newer products use an alcohol-and-water extraction method to produce an extract standardized to astragaloside content, although there is no consensus on the proper percentage.
Safety Issues
Astragalus appears to be relatively nontoxic. High one-time doses, as well as long-term administration, have not caused significant harmful effects.
10
Side effects are rare and generally limited to the usual mild gastrointestinal distress or allergic reactions. However, some Chinese herb manuals suggest that astragalus at 15 g or lower per day can raise blood pressure, while doses above 30 g may lower blood pressure.
As mentioned above, traditional Chinese medicine warns against using astragalus in cases of acute infections. Other traditional contraindications include "deficient yin patterns with heat signs" and "exterior excess heat patterns." Because understanding what these mean would require an extensive education in
traditional Chinese herbal medicine
, we recommend using astragalus only under the supervision of a qualified Chinese herbalist.
Safety in young children, pregnant or nursing women, or those with severe liver or kidney disease has not been established.
References
1:
Bensky D, Gamble A, Kaptchuk TJ.
Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica
. Seattle, Wash: Eastland Press; 1986:457-459.
2:
Hou YD, Ma GL, Wu SH, et al. Effect of
Radix Astragali
seu Hedysari on the interferon system.
Chin Med J (Engl)
. 1981;94:35-40.
3:
Sun Y, Hersh EM, Talpaz M, et al. Immune restoration and/or augmentation of local graft versus host reaction by traditional Chinese medicinal herbs.
Cancer
. 1983;52:70-73.
4:
Bensky D, Gamble A, Kaptchuk TJ.
Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica
. Seattle, WA: Eastland Press; 1986:457-459.
5:
Liang R. Clinical study on braincalming tablets in treating 450 cases of atherosclerosis.
J North Chin Med.
1985;1:63-65.
6:
Xia SN, Xu ZZ, Zhang ZH, et al. Hyperthyroidism treated with "yiqiyangyin" decoction.
J Tradit Chin Med
. 1986;6:79-82.
7:
Zhang YD, Wang YL, Shen JP, et al. Effects on blood pressure and inflammation of astragalus saponin 1, a principle isolated from
Astragalus membranaceus
BGE [in Chinese, English abstract].
Acta Pharm Sin. 1984;19:333-337.
8:
Zhang H. Treatment of adult diabetes with jiangtangjia tablets.
J Trad Chin Med.
1986;7:37-39.
9:
Zhou MX. Therapeutic effect of astragalus in treating chronic active hepatitis and the changes in immune function [in Chinese].
J Chin People's Liberation Army.
1982;7:242-244.
10:
Bensky D, Gamble A, Kaptchuk TJ.
Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica
. Seattle, WA: Eastland Press; 1986:457-459.
11:
McCulloch M, See C, Shu XJ, et al. Astragalus-based chinese herbs and platinum-based chemotherapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: meta-analysis of randomized trials.
J Clin Oncol.
2006;24:419-30.
12:
Ai P, Yong G, Dingkun G, et al. Aqueous extract of Astragali Radix induces human natriuresis through enhancement of renal response to atrial natriuretic peptide. J Ethnopharmacol. 2007 Dec 23.
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
