Tonifying Qi and Stabilizing the Exterior
Astragalus, with its sweet and warm properties, enters the spleen meridian and is an essential medicine for tonifying the spleen qi. It can be used to treat spleen deficiency, fatigue, weakness, and poor appetite.
Astringing Sweating and Stabilizing Leakage
Astragalus can replenish the qi of the lungs and spleen, strengthen the defense and stabilize the exterior to stop sweating. It is used to treat deficiency of wei qi caused by spleen and lung qi deficiency, which leads to spontaneous sweating. Additionally, due to its ability to raise yang and lift sinking qi, Astragalus can also treat chronic diarrhea and rectal prolapse caused by spleen deficiency and sinking of qi.
Diuresis and Reducing Swelling
Astragalus not only replenishes the spleen and boosts qi at the root, but also promotes diuresis and reduces swelling to treat symptoms caused by spleen deficiency and dampness retention, such as edema and reduced urine output.
Expelling Pus and Healing Wounds
Astragalus can promote the production of qi and blood, strengthen the body's vitality, and help eliminate toxins and pus, as well as promote tissue regeneration and wound healing. It is used to treat difficult-to-heal ulcers and abscesses.
Blood Pressure Regulation
The blood pressure-regulating components of Astragalus are γ-aminobutyric acid and Astragaloside IV, which have a certain bidirectional regulatory effect on blood pressure. Astragalus can significantly reduce the resistance of cerebral blood vessels, peripheral blood vessels, coronary arteries, and mesenteric arteries in anesthetized dogs. It has a dilating effect on these blood vessels, but it has a constrictive effect on renal blood vessels. The antihypertensive effect of Astragalus is mainly achieved by directly dilating peripheral blood vessels and reducing peripheral resistance.
Enhancing Immune Function
Astragalus can significantly increase the total number of white blood cells in the blood, promote the phagocytic function and bactericidal ability of neutrophils and macrophages, and enhance the body's immune function.
Liver Protection
Astragalus has a hepatoprotective effect, especially on the decrease of serum total protein and albumin caused by carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage. It can also prevent the reduction of liver glycogen caused by carbon tetrachloride. It is suitable for patients with chronic hepatitis and can improve the ability to clear or inhibit the spread of viruses.
Cardiotonic Effect
Astragalus has a cardiotonic effect, increasing the amplitude of cardiac contractions and cardiac output. It has a more significant effect on intoxicated or fatigued and weakened hearts. Moreover, Astragalus polysaccharides can counteract acute myocardial ischemia caused by posterior pituitary lobe stimulation.
Nutritional Value
Astragalus mainly contains Astragaloside, Astragalus polysaccharides, flavonoids, as well as amino acids, proteins, riboflavin, folic acid, vitamin D, β-sitosterol, carrot glucoside, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, and trace elements.
1. Astragalus polysaccharides can promote RNA and protein synthesis, stimulate cell growth, prolong cell lifespan, and have anti-fatigue and anti-influenza virus effects.
2. Astragalus polysaccharides and saponins have a protective and promotive effect on hematopoietic function.
3. Astragalus flavonoids and saponins can protect ischemic myocardium.
Methods of Consuming Astragalus
1. Treating Stomach Pain
Take 6g of Amomum villosum, 20g of Astragalus, and 1 pig's stomach. Wash the pig's stomach and stuff it with Amomum villosum and Astragalus. Stew it with water, season, and consume. This recipe can tonify qi, invigorate the spleen, aid digestion, and treat stomach pain caused by spleen and stomach weakness.
2. Treating Diabetes
Take 30g of Astragalus, 100g of Chinese yam, and 15g of Rehmannia glutinosa. Boil Astragalus and Rehmannia glutinosa in water to extract the juice. Grind Chinese yam into powder. Boil the extracted juice and gradually add the Chinese yam powder, stirring well, until it becomes a porridge. This recipe can tonify qi, invigorate the spleen, nourish yin, and clear heat. It can be used as an adjuvant treatment for diabetes patients.
3. Treating Qi and Blood Deficiency
Take 30g of Astragalus and 15g of red dates. Clean the Astragalus and red dates, remove the pits from the red dates, add an appropriate amount of water, boil on high heat, and simmer on low heat for 30 minutes. Consume in small amounts multiple times. This recipe can tonify qi and nourish blood. It can be used as an adjuvant treatment for qi and blood deficiency.
4. Treating Restlessness in Pregnancy
Take 6g of Ligusticum chuanxiong, 15g of Astragalus, and 50-100g of glutinous rice. Boil Ligusticum chuanxiong and Astragalus in water to extract the juice, and cook it with glutinous rice to make a porridge. Consume it warm in the morning and evening. This recipe can tonify qi and stabilize the fetus, and is suitable for treating restlessness in pregnancy.
5. Treating Ulcers and Abscesses
Astragalus, with its ability to replenish qi and nourish blood, can eliminate toxins, expel pus, and promote wound healing. It is often combined with ginseng, Angelica sinensis, Cimicifuga foetida, and Dahurian Angelica.
Precautions for Consuming Astragalus
1. Astragalus can aggravate symptoms of excessive internal heat and stop sweating, so it should not be used for initial external pathogenic factors, lack of sweating, food stagnation, or excessive heat-toxin conditions.
2. It should not be consumed by those with yin deficiency. Astragalus, with its sweet and slightly warm properties, can exacerbate heat conditions and harm yin and blood in those with yin deficiency.
3. It should not be consumed by those with damp-heat conditions. Astragalus can cause stagnation of pathogenic factors in those with damp-heat conditions, worsening the condition.
4. Pregnant women should be cautious. Astragalus is a qi-tonifying herb and should not be consumed in the later stages of pregnancy as it may cause excessive fetal growth, which is not conducive to childbirth.
