ASTRAGALUS
(huang qi)
- Action summary, Immunostimulant, tonic, adaptogen, cardiotonic, hypotensive, antioxidant.
- Can be used for: Impaired immunity especially if associated with leucopoenia; adjunct in treatment of cancer; viral infections including common cold; cervical erosion associated with herpes simplex virus infection.
- Traditional therapeutic uses: Postpartum fevers and recovery from severe loss of blood; fatigue; decreased appetite; organ prolepses; uterine bleeding; to raise vitality; palpitation with shortness of breath; spontaneous sweating; prostration; and chronic diarrhea.
- May also be used for: General prevention of infection, autoimmune disease; conditions resulting in immune suppression, (e.g. patients receiving chemotherapy; viral infection, e.g. infection with Japanese encephalitis, Coxsackie B2 & B3, Para influenza virus types I, viral myocarditis); general debility; hypertension; and protection against oxidative damage.
- Astragalus promotes the replication of hepatic DNA, inhibit mitochondrial oxygen consumption and stimulate the motility of sperm.
- Astragalus strengthened small intestine movement and muscle tone, especially in jejunum. This activity supports its traditional use in organ prolepses.
- Increases urine output and sodium excretion, shows protective effect against nephritis by reducing proteinuria & nephrosis (proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia and edema).
- Astragalus acted synergistically with interferon therapy.
- The treatment of ischemic heart disease by Astragalus (combined with Savia miltiorrhiza) was more effective compared to control group.
- Astragalus increases NK cell (natural killer cell) activity by two times.
- Duration of use: Maybe taken long term for most applications but is contraindicated during acute infection.
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