Traditional Chinese Medicine expert shares health knowledge
Click below to follow for free↓↓↓
Nowadays, people are increasingly focusing on health preservation and often consume various Chinese herbs to regulate their bodies. Astragalus (Huang Qi) is a commonly used medicinal herb. It is considered a health-promoting ingredient in TCM, known for its ability to generate fluids, quench thirst, nourish the body, prevent diseases, and enhance immunity.
However, simply brewing it in water may not yield significant effects. To better utilize Astragalus for health, it is recommended to combine it with other ingredients when brewing. Regular consumption may help women maintain a youthful appearance, with a rosy complexion, even into their sixties.
01First, let’s understand what Astragalus is.
Astragalus, also known as Huang Qi, has a sweet taste and is slightly warm. It belongs to the lung, spleen, liver, and kidney meridians. It is a type of Chinese herbal medicine primarily distributed in North China, Northeast China, and Northwest China.
02Effects and Functions of Astragalus
1. Improves Heart Function
Astragalus strengthens the contraction of the heart in healthy individuals and has a more pronounced effect on hearts weakened by toxicity or fatigue, primarily by increasing the amplitude of heart contractions and the volume of blood ejected.
Related experiments have shown that 100% Astragalus injection can accelerate and strengthen the contraction of isolated hearts. Astragalus can also effectively improve left ventricular function in patients with viral myocarditis and has some anti-arrhythmic effects, possibly due to prolonged effective refractory periods.
2. Enhances Immune Function
Astragalus enhances the phagocytic ability of phagocytes and promotes cellular immune function, helping to regulate self-immune functions and promote the recovery of lymphocytes.
3. Anti-Cold
Astragalus can enhance the ability of the body to produce interferons in response to viruses, allowing cold symptoms to recover quickly.
4. Lowers Blood Pressure
Astragalus promotes the breakdown of cholesterol in the body, clearing harmful substances from blood vessels, thereby lowering blood pressure and regulating blood sugar.
5. Tonifies Qi and Nourishes Blood
Astragalus can nourish the body and treat conditions of fatigue and Qi and blood deficiency, promoting faster recovery.
03Doctor’s Reminder: Astragalus Combined with 5 Other Herbs for Better Results
1. Angelica Sinensis (Dang Gui)
Using Astragalus with Angelica Sinensis can help regulate women’s menstrual cycles. Astragalus is a renowned Qi tonic, while Angelica Sinensis is essential for blood health.
The combination of these two herbs can invigorate blood circulation and tonify Qi, thus achieving the effect of regulating menstrual flow. Therefore, this pairing is beneficial for women’s menstrual health.
2. Honeysuckle (Jin Yin Hua)
Honeysuckle can promote the release of medicinal components in Astragalus, aiding the body in detoxification. Therefore, regularly drinking Astragalus and Honeysuckle tea can effectively detoxify and beautify the skin, as well as reduce the metabolic burden on the liver and kidneys, especially regarding toxin metabolism.
If you often stay up late or work overtime, and experience internal heat, consider brewing Honeysuckle with Astragalus. You will noticeably feel lighter, not because your body has lost weight, but because toxins have been expelled, yielding excellent results.
3.Salvia Miltiorrhiza (Dan Shen)
These two ingredients are a perfect match. Salvia Miltiorrhiza is also a nourishing herb, known for its ability to invigorate blood circulation and tonify Qi. When taken together with Astragalus, they can nourish Qi and blood while clearing blood vessels.
For individuals with obesity or older adults, drinking tea made from Astragalus and Salvia Miltiorrhiza can be beneficial. These individuals often have high levels of body fat, which places a burden on their blood vessels. Regularly consuming this tea can alleviate vascular stress and prevent thrombosis.
4. Rhodiola Rosea (Hong Jing Tian)
Rhodiola Rosea has the effects of tonifying Qi, clearing the lungs, nourishing the heart, and promoting blood circulation. It is cold in nature, and drinking Astragalus and Rhodiola tea in moderation will not cause internal heat, making it suitable for individuals with Qi deficiency.
This combination can be used to treat symptoms such as colds, fevers, and spleen deficiency diarrhea, while also enhancing immunity, lowering blood pressure, and regulating blood sugar.
5.Ophiopogon (Mai Dong)
Ophiopogon is slightly warm, dispels cold, resolves dampness, invigorates blood circulation, and promotes diuresis. For individuals with noticeable cold symptoms in their limbs, brewing Astragalus with Ophiopogon can help regulate body temperature.
The combined effects of these two herbs achieve a balanced temperature effect, alleviating internal dryness and damp-heat issues.
04Note: Four Situations to Avoid Drinking Astragalus Water
1. Patients with kidney Yin deficiency, damp-heat, or severe heat toxicity should avoid Astragalus water, as it may worsen their condition instead of promoting recovery.
2. Women should not drink it during menstruation, as it may adversely affect their menstrual cycle and overall health.
3. Patients with colds and fevers should avoid Astragalus, as it may interfere with the alleviation of cold or fever symptoms.
4. Pregnant women should exercise caution when consuming Astragalus, as it may lead to miscarriage and harm both the fetus and the mother, especially in late pregnancy.
05When is the Best Time to Drink Astragalus Water?
1. After Breakfast
If you experience mild edema in the eyelids, face, or legs due to excessive local fluid accumulation upon waking, or if you have edema caused by hypertension or diabetes, drinking Astragalus water after breakfast can effectively alleviate these symptoms.
2. After Lunch Break
Due to the body’s tendency to feel drowsy in the afternoon, which can reduce work or study efficiency, drinking Astragalus water in moderation can invigorate Qi and blood, enhancing alertness and improving afternoon drowsiness. Thus, drinking Astragalus water in the afternoon can yield good results.
Additionally, individuals prone to internal heat, frequent urination, or Yin deficiency should avoid drinking Astragalus water. Those with internal heat may experience symptoms such as red, swollen eyes, sore throat, and mouth ulcers after consumption.
Yin deficiency patients may experience heat effects, leading to Yin injury and blood movement. The diuretic effect of Astragalus water may increase urination frequency and volume, causing inconvenience in daily life.
06Extension: Can Astragalus Water Be Drunk Every Day?
Astragalus water is beneficial, but it should not be consumed long-term or daily, as it is a Qi tonic. Prolonged use may lead to symptoms of internal heat, such as facial redness, poor sleep quality, insomnia, sore throat, irritability, high blood pressure, and dizziness.
The recommended dosage of Astragalus is around 15 grams and should not be exceeded. When used correctly, it can treat many conditions, such asdiabetes
Traditional Chinese Medicine expert shares health knowledge
Click below to follow for free↓↓↓
Note:Some text and image resources in this article are sourced from the internet. The purpose of sharing this article is to convey more information. If there are any errors in source attribution or infringement of your legal rights, please notify us immediately, and we will promptly delete it and apologize.
Previous Reviews
-
The Side Effects of Sanqi Powder: This Way of Eating Sanqi Can Be Dangerous!
-
Astragalus Essence: Who is it Generally Suitable for?
-
Doctor’s Advice: Astragalus “First Nemesis”, Combining with These Two Can Make Cancer Cells “Secretly Active”