Astragalus – huangqi

Astragalus
[Family and medicinal part] This product is the root of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge.var.mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao or Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge.var.mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao or Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. of the Leguminosae family.

[Nature and flavor and meridians] Sweet, slightly warm. Enters the spleen and lung meridians.

[Effects] Tonify qi and raise yang, consolidate the exterior and stop sweating, support sores and promote tissue regeneration, promote diuresis and reduce swelling.

[Clinical application] 1. Used for qi deficiency and weakness, fatigue, or qi sinking, anal prolapse, uterine prolapse and other symptoms.
Where is the main medicinal part of Astragalus membranaceus?
The medicinal part of Astragalus membranaceus is the dried root of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. var.mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao or Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. of the Leguminosae family.
Dig in spring and autumn, remove the fibrous roots and root heads, and dry them in the sun.
Drug properties and characteristics
Astragalus is cylindrical, some with branches, thicker at the top, 30~90cm long, 1~3.5cm in diameter.
The surface is light brown or light brown, with irregular longitudinal wrinkles or grooves. It is hard and tough, not easy to break, with strong fiber and powdery cross section, yellowish white cortex, light yellow wood, radial texture and cracks, and the center of old roots is occasionally withered, dark brown or hollow.
It has a slight smell, slightly sweet taste, and a slight bean smell when chewed.
How is Astragalus recorded in historical books? “Ben Jing”: “It is used to treat carbuncle, long-term ulcer, pus discharge and pain relief, severe wind epilepsy, five hemorrhoids, and rat fistula. It replenishes deficiency. Children’s diseases. “Ming Yi Bie Lu”: “It is used to treat wind evil qi in women’s viscera and expel bad blood between the five internal organs. It replenishes the deficiency of men and makes them thin due to five kinds of labor. It quenches thirst, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. It replenishes qi and benefits yin qi.
“Materia Medica”: “It is used to treat asthma, kidney failure, deafness, cold and heat.
“Rihuazi Materia Medica”: “Astragalus helps Qi and strengthens bones, grows flesh and replenishes blood, breaks up diseases, treats scrofula, goiter, intestinal wind, uterine bleeding, leucorrhea…all diseases before and after childbirth, irregular menstruation, thirst, phlegm and cough.
“Compendium of Materia Medica”: “Astragalus is a medicine that nourishes the lungs and spleen, strengthens the defense system, astringes sweat, and drives away wind and poison.
“Jingyue Complete Book·Compendium of Materia Medica”: “Astragalus, raw, is slightly cool and can treat carbuncle; honey roasted is warm and can replenish deficiency. 3
Effects
Astragalus has the effects of replenishing Qi and raising Yang, consolidating the exterior and stopping sweating, promoting diuresis and reducing swelling, promoting fluid and nourishing blood, relieving stagnation and relieving numbness, supporting toxins and draining pus, and astringing sores and promoting muscle regeneration.
What are the main effects and clinical applications of Astragalus?
Astragalus is used for Qi deficiency and fatigue, poor appetite and loose stools, sinking of Qi in the middle, chronic diarrhea and prolapse of the anus, bloody stool and metrorrhagia, spontaneous sweating due to superficial deficiency, Qi deficiency and edema, carbuncle that is difficult to ulcerate, long-term ulceration, blood deficiency and jaundice, internal heat and thirst; chronic nephritis proteinuria, diabetes.
Spleen deficiency and Qi sinking syndrome
·For patients with spleen deficiency, fatigue, poor appetite and loose stools, it can be used alone or with ginseng, such as Shenqi Tablets.
For the treatment of chronic diarrhea and prolapse of the anus and visceral prolapse caused by spleen deficiency and sinking of Qi in the middle, it is often used together with ginseng, Cimicifuga, Bupleurum, etc., such as Buzhong Yiqi Decoction. .
Lung Qi deficiency syndrome, spontaneous sweating due to deficiency of the exterior
·Treat weak lung Qi, weak cough, shortness of breath, thin sputum, low voice and laziness, often with ginseng, purple guan, schisandra, etc., such as Bufei Decoction.Treat weak Wei, spontaneous sweating due to deficiency of the exterior, often with white atractylodes, saposhnikovia, such as Yupingfeng Powder. .Qi deficiency edema
Treat edema and oliguria due to qi deficiency, water retention, often with fangji, white atractylodes, poria, etc., such as fangjihuangqi Decoction
Blood deficiency, sallow complexion, fatigue and weak pulse caused by blood deficiency and qi and blood deficiency, often with angelica, that is, angelica blood-boosting soup.
Treat thirst due to insufficient qi and fluid, often with radix trichosanthis, kudzu root, etc., such as Yuye Decoction
Hemiplegia, pain and numbness
· Treat hemiplegia after stroke due to qi deficiency and blood stasis, often used with angelica, Chuanxiong, earthworms, etc., such as Buyang Huanwu Decoction.
· Treat wind-cold-dampness arthralgia, qi deficiency and blood stasis, limb numbness and pain, often used with Chuanwu, Duhuo, Chuanxiong, etc., such as Qunbi Decoction.
Ulcers that are difficult to ulcerate or ulcers that do not heal for a long time
Treat carbuncle qi and blood deficiency, pus formation is difficult to ulcerate, often used with ginseng, pangolin, angelica, etc., such as Tuoli Tounong Powder.
Treat qi and blood deficiency, ulcers after ulceration, thin pus, and difficult to heal, often used with ginseng, angelica, cinnamon, etc., such as Shiquan Dabu Decoction.
What other effects does Astragalus have?
In my country’s traditional food culture, some Chinese medicinal materials are often widely consumed as food ingredients among the people, that is, substances that are both food and Chinese medicinal materials according to tradition (i.e. edible and medicinal substances). According to the documents issued by the National Health Commission and the State Administration for Market Regulation, astragalus can be used as both medicine and food within the limited scope of use and dosage.
Commonly used medicinal diet recipes for astragalus are as follows:
· Tiredness, weakness of the five internal organs, old age, weakness due to long-term illness, palpitations and shortness of breath, spontaneous sweating due to physical weakness, chronic diarrhea, spleen deficiency and chronic dysentery, loss of appetite, and qi deficiency
30g of astragalus, 10g of ginseng, 90g of polished rice, and appropriate amount of white sugar
Slice astragalus and ginseng, soak in cold water for 30 minutes, boil in a casserole, remove the residue and take the juice after boiling out the thick juice, then add the residue to cold water and boil again as above and take the juice. Combine the two decoctions and divide them into two equal parts, use 1 part each in the morning and evening, add water to polished rice and cook porridge, and add white sugar after the porridge is cooked. Take on an empty stomach in the morning and evening.
. Indigestion in children, edema during pregnancy, restless fetus, difficult wound healing after surgery

50g Astragalus, 500g sea bass, ginger, onion, vinegar, salt, cooking wine, etc.,
Remove the scales, gills and internal organs of the sea bass and wash it. Slice the Astragalus, put it into a white gauze bag and tie it tightly. Put the fish and Astragalus in the pot, add onion, ginger, vinegar, salt, cooking wine and appropriate amount of water. Put the casserole on high heat and boil, simmer until cooked. Add MSG when eating. Use as a side dish.

. Chronic nephritis in children

30g raw Astragalus, 30g raw Coix seed, 15g red bean, 9g chicken gizzard powder, 2 golden cakes, 30g glutinous rice. First put the Astragalus in a small pot, add 600g water, cook for 20 minutes, and remove the residue. Then add raw Coix seed and red bean and cook for 30 minutes. Finally, add chicken gizzard powder and glutinous rice, cook into porridge, take the above in 2 warm doses, eat 1 kumquat cake after each dose, and take it for 2 to 3 months.
Note: The use of Chinese herbal medicines must be based on syndrome differentiation and treatment, and should be used under the guidance of professional Chinese medicine practitioners. Do not use them at will, and do not listen to Chinese medicine prescriptions and advertisements at will.
What are the compound preparations containing astragalus?
·Buzhong Yiqi Decoction: replenishes the middle and replenishes qi, raises yang and lifts the sunken. Indications: spleen deficiency and qi sinking syndrome, qi deficiency and fever syndrome Guipi Decoction: replenishes qi and replenishes blood, strengthens the spleen and nourishes the heart. Heart and spleen qi and blood deficiency syndrome, spleen does not control blood syndrome.
Yupingfeng Powder: replenishes qi and consolidates the exterior to stop sweating. Indications: spontaneous sweating due to exterior deficiency.
Fangji Huangqi Decoction: replenishes qi and dispels wind, strengthens the spleen and promotes water. Sweating and aversion to wind, heavy and slightly swollen body, or pain in limbs, difficulty urinating, pale tongue with white fur, and floating pulse. Buyang Huanwu Decoction: replenishes qi, activates blood, and dredges the meridians. Indications: Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome of stroke. Hemiplegia, crooked mouth and eyes, drooling at the corners of the mouth, frequent urination or incontinence, dull tongue, white fur, slow and weak pulse. Eleven-flavor Shenqi Tablets: tonify the spleen and replenish qi. Used for weakness and limb weakness caused by spleen qi deficiency. Huangqi Shengmai Granules: tonify qi and nourish yin, nourish the heart and relieve stagnation. Used for chest pain and heart pain caused by qi and yin deficiency and blood stasis, with symptoms of chest pain, chest tightness, palpitations, and shortness of breath; coronary heart disease and angina pectoris with the above symptoms. Huangqi Jianwei Paste: tonify qi and warm the middle, relieve urgency and stop pain. Used for stomach pain caused by spleen and stomach deficiency and cold, with symptoms of stomach pain and stiffness, fear of cold and cold limbs, preference for warmth and pressure, palpitations and spontaneous sweating; gastric and duodenal ulcers with the above symptoms. Huangqi Granules: tonify qi and consolidate the exterior, promote urination, expel toxins and pus, and promote tissue regeneration. Used for shortness of breath, palpitations, collapse, spontaneous sweating, edema due to physical weakness, chronic diarrhea, rectal prolapse, uterine prolapse, carbuncle ulceration, sores that do not heal for a long time,
Modern research progress on Astragalus
Modern research results show that this product has multiple pharmacological effects such as enhancing the body’s immune function, delaying aging, anti-oxidation, promoting hematopoietic function, expanding peripheral blood vessels, improving microcirculation, lowering blood pressure, regulating sugar metabolism, anti-virus, anti-cancer, and liver protection.
Usage method
Astragalus is often taken in decoction, or it can be soaked in water, cooked in porridge or soup. But no matter which method is used, it needs to be taken according to the doctor’s instructions.
How to use Astragalus correctly?
Astragalus is generally used in decoctions, decoctions are taken, and powders or pills can also be made for taking. However, the use of Chinese medicinal materials must be based on syndrome differentiation and treatment, and should be used under the guidance of professional Chinese medicine practitioners. It should not be used at will, and it should not be used at will, let alone listen to Chinese medicine prescriptions and advertisements.
When Astragalus decoction is taken orally, the usual dosage is 10~30g.
There are different processed products of Huangqi slices. If it is used to replenish qi and raise yang, roasted Huangqi should be selected. The rest are mostly raw products. Please follow the doctor’s instructions for specific use.
Common Chinese medicine compatibility is as follows:
Huangqi with Bupleurum and Cimicifuga: Huangqi is good at replenishing qi and raising yang; Bupleurum is good at raising the liver and gallbladder clear yang qi; roasted Cimicifuga is good at raising the spleen and stomach clear yang qi. The three medicines are matched to replenish the middle qi, raise yang and lift the sunken, and are commonly used to treat various symptoms of middle qi sinking.
In addition, Huangqi can also be used for daily health care. Common ways of consumption are as follows:
· Make tea: Drinking Huangqi tea can relieve spleen qi deficiency and lung qi deficiency.
Cook porridge (ginseng, astragalus and jujube porridge): use 15g Huangqi, 10g Codonopsis, 30g jujube, and 100g polished rice. First, boil Huangqi and Codonopsis in water to take the juice, and then put the jujube and polished rice into the juice and cook the porridge together. Astragalus and Codonopsis nourish the spleen and replenish qi, and jujube helps to enhance the effect. It is suitable for people with spleen deficiency and weak qi, fatigue, spontaneous sweating, reduced diet, or easy to catch a cold.
Cook porridge (Astragalus Mountain Porridge): Use 30g Astragalus, 100g Chinese yam, and 15g Rehmannia root. First, boil the Astragalus and Rehmannia root in water to extract the juice, grind the Chinese yam into powder, then boil the juice, and finally slowly sprinkle the Chinese yam powder into the juice, stir while sprinkling, and cook it into porridge for consumption. Astragalus and Chinese yam nourish qi and spleen, and Rehmannia root nourishes yin and clears heat. It is suitable for people with diabetes, or people with qi deficiency and yin deficiency, thirst, dry mouth, and frequent urination.
Cook soup (Astragalus and Poria Carp Soup): Use 50g Astragalus, 30g Poria, and 1 carp. First wash the carp, wrap the Astragalus and Poria with gauze, put them in the pot, add water and cook together, and finally season with ginger and salt, drink the soup and eat the fish. Astragalus nourishes the spleen and replenishes qi, promotes urination and reduces swelling, while Poria removes dampness and nourishes the spleen. Carp nourishes the spleen and removes dampness. It is suitable for people with weak spleen, edema, and difficulty urinating.
Note: People with food stagnation, liver depression and qi stagnation, yin deficiency and yang hyperactivity, and thinness without sweat should be cautious when taking Astragalus and related diet therapy.
How to prepare Astragalus?
Astragalus: Take the original medicinal material, remove the residual stems and impurities, wash it with water, boil it in boiling water for about 10 minutes, or steam it in a cage for about half an hour, take it out and steam it, and cut it into thin slices while hot, and dry it in time.
· Stir-fried Astragalus: Stir-fried Astragalus is to stir-fry Astragalus slices with bran until dark yellow, and then take it out and cool it. The effect of strengthening the spleen and stomach is enhanced.
· Roasted Astragalus: Also known as honey roasted Astragalus, honey Astragalus. Mix the Astragalus slices with honey, and take them out when they are not sticky. The effect of replenishing qi and moistening the lungs is enhanced.
What drugs should be used with Astragalus at the same time?
The combination of Chinese medicine and Chinese and Western medicine requires syndrome differentiation and treatment, and clinical individualized treatment.
If you are using other drugs, please consult a doctor before taking the medicine, and inform the doctor of all your diagnosed diseases and treatment plans you are receiving.
Instructions for use
Astragalus is sweet, slightly warm, and can replenish and stop sweating. It is easy to help fire and restrain evil. Therefore, it is not suitable for patients with symptoms such as strong evil in the exterior, stagnation of qi and dampness, stagnation of food accumulation, and heat and toxicity in the early stage of carbuncle or after ulceration, as well as those with yin deficiency and yang hyperactivity.
What are the precautions when using Astragalus?
It is not suitable for patients with symptoms such as strong evil in the exterior, stagnation of qi and dampness, stagnation of food accumulation, heat and toxicity in the early stage of carbuncle or after ulceration, as well as those with yin deficiency and yang hyperactivity.
It is not suitable for patients with symptoms such as strong evil in the exterior, stagnation of qi and dampness, stagnation of food accumulation, heat and toxicity in the early stage of carbuncle or after ulceration, as well as those with yin deficiency and yang hyperactivity.
Pregnant and lactating women: If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are lactating, please inform your doctor in time and consult whether Chinese medicine can be used for treatment.
· Children: Children should be treated under the guidance of a doctor and under the supervision of an adult.
· Please properly store the medicinal materials and do not give the medicinal materials you use to others.
How to identify and use Astragalus?
Ginseng, Codonopsis, and Astragalus all have the functions of replenishing qi, promoting body fluid, and producing blood, and they are often used together to enhance the efficacy.
Ginseng has a stronger effect and is known as the first medicine for replenishing qi. It also has the functions of replenishing qi and consolidating deficiency, calming the mind and increasing intelligence, and replenishing qi and supporting yang.
Codonopsis is more moderate in replenishing qi and is specialized in replenishing the qi of the spleen and lungs.
Astragalus is not as good as ginseng in replenishing vital energy, but it is good at replenishing qi and raising yang, replenishing the body’s defense and consolidating the exterior, detoxifying and promoting muscle growth, and promoting diuresis and reducing swelling. It is especially suitable for spleen deficiency, qi collapse, and spontaneous sweating due to exterior deficiency.
Medication Tips
The most frequently asked questions by patients
Is it better to use Astragalus or roasted Astragalus to replenish qi and blood?
The “Pharmaceutical Chemistry” says: “Honey-fried Astragalus can warm the middle and strengthen the spleen.” Therefore, honey-fried Astragalus is suitable for replenishing qi and raising yang, while others are suitable for raw use.
Is it better to use raw Astragalus or roasted Astragalus in Yupingfeng Powder?
Yupingfeng Powder is a tonic agent with the effects of replenishing qi, strengthening the exterior and stopping sweating. It is mainly used to treat spontaneous sweating due to deficiency of the exterior, sweating and aversion to wind, pale complexion, pale tongue with thin white fur, and floating pulse. It is also used to treat weak people with weak pores and susceptibility to wind evil. It is often used in the clinic to treat allergic rhinitis, upper respiratory tract infection, patients with deficiency of the exterior and weak exterior and wind evil, and patients with glomerulonephritis who are prone to colds and colds and have repeated symptoms.
Raw Astragalus is used in the prescription, which has a sweet and warm nature, replenishes the qi of the spleen and lungs internally, and can strengthen the exterior and stop sweating externally.
What is the difference between raw and roasted Astragalus?
Raw Astragalus mainly has the effects of replenishing qi, reducing swelling, diuresis and detoxification, and can treat diseases such as night sweats, edema and blood in the stool: roasted Astragalus has the effect of replenishing qi and producing blood, and can treat constipation, shortness of breath and organ ptosis.
What is roasted Astragalus?
Roasted Astragalus is made from traditional raw Astragalus. Each Astragalus slice is 100kg, and 25kg of refined honey is used. After diluting the refined honey with an appropriate amount of boiling water, add the Astragalus slices and mix well, simmer for a while, put it in a frying pot, heat it with a slow fire, fry until it is dark yellow and not sticky, take it out and let it cool.