Ginseng and Astragalus are both well-known Chinese medicinal herbs for tonifying qi. So what are the differences between ginseng and astragalus? And how should ginseng and astragalus be taken together?
Origin Differences
Ginseng: Ginseng is native to the United States and Canada, also known as American ginseng, western ginseng, or Panax quinquefolius. It is also grown in the Changbai Mountain region in northern China.
Astragalus: Astragalus, also known as milk vetch, is a perennial herb. It is distributed in North China, Northeast China, Inner Mongolia, and Northwest China, mainly produced in provinces such as Shanxi, Heilongjiang, and Hebei.
Appearance Differences
Ginseng: It is round or spindle-shaped, with a light yellow or yellowish-white surface. The texture is full and firm, with a clean cut section, showing clear chrysanthemum patterns.
Astragalus: The main root is thick and woody, with a grayish-white surface. The stem is upright, with many branches in the upper part, and has fine ridges covered with white soft hairs.
Characteristics Differences
Ginseng: Ginseng is cool in nature and has a bitter and slightly sweet taste. It enters the heart, lung, and kidney meridians.
Astragalus: Astragalus is slightly warm in nature and has a sweet taste. It enters the lung, spleen, liver, and kidney meridians.
Efficacy Differences
Ginseng: Ginseng has the effects of replenishing qi and nourishing yin, clearing heat and generating fluids. It is commonly used for symptoms such as qi deficiency and yin deficiency, cough with phlegm and blood, virtual heat and fatigue, internal heat, thirst, dry mouth, lung deficiency with chronic cough, etc. The usual dosage is 3-6g.
Astragalus: Astragalus has the effects of replenishing qi, stabilizing the exterior, diuresis, detoxification, promoting suppuration, and promoting tissue regeneration. It is commonly used for symptoms such as qi deficiency and weakness, sinking of qi, bleeding, spontaneous sweating due to exterior deficiency, qi deficiency edema, long-lasting ulcers that do not heal, internal heat and thirst, chronic nephritis with proteinuria, diabetes, etc. The usual dosage is 9-30g.
How to Take Ginseng and Astragalus Together
Ginseng and Astragalus Infusion
Ingredients:
5g ginseng, 5-8g astragalus.
Instructions:
1. Wash the ginseng and astragalus.
2. Pour boiling water into the prepared herbs, cover and steep for about 5-10 minutes, then drink.
Ginseng and Astragalus Chicken Soup
Ingredients:
10g astragalus, 10g ginseng, 500g chicken, 10 red dates, 10g lotus seeds, 5g wolfberries.
Instructions:
1. Wash the chicken and cut into pieces, prepare the herbs, and peel the ginger.
2. Blanch the chicken pieces in boiling water with white wine, then rinse again.
3. Put the chicken pieces, astragalus, and lotus seeds in a pressure cooker, add water and simmer for an hour.
4. Transfer to a clay pot, add red dates and simmer for twenty minutes, then add wolfberries and simmer for ten minutes, finally add peanut oil.
