“Drinking Astragalus tea can no longer be done, it easily harms the kidneys!”
“Who told you that nonsense? This was prescribed by a doctor; do you think a doctor would harm me?”
“Aunt Zhang next door’s husband was diagnosed with uremia, and he loved drinking Astragalus tea!”
“There are many causes of uremia; Astragalus is the king of Qi tonics, it cannot harm the kidneys!”
……
Aunt Su and Uncle Zhang engaged in a heated debate.
It turns out that Uncle Zhang often experiences dizziness, excessive sweating, and is prone to colds. After seeing a TCM doctor, he was prescribed Astragalus (Huang Qi), and the results were indeed good.
However, Aunt Su had reservations about him drinking Astragalus because she recently saw an article claiming that Astragalus is a kidney-harming herb, and she has been worried about her husband drinking it.
Upon hearing that the neighbor next door developed uremia, and recalling that this neighbor also loved drinking Astragalus tea, Aunt Su concluded that Astragalus was the “culprit” behind uremia and insisted that Uncle Zhang stop drinking it.
The two argued fiercely over this matter, each thinking the other was unreasonable. So, does Astragalus really harm the kidneys? Let’s follow Xiao Miao to find out.
01
Astragalus harms the kidneys,
Is drinking Astragalus tea harmful?
Many people have the habit of drinking Astragalus tea in their daily lives, but there are many rumors about Astragalus. One of the most deeply rooted claims is that Astragalus can harm the kidneys and is detrimental to health. Is this claim credible?
This claim is not scientific. Yang Li, the head of the Nephrology Department at Peking University First Hospital, stated that studies have found that Astragalus has a certain protective effect on the kidneys.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that Astragalus is warm in nature and sweet in flavor, entering the spleen and lung meridians, and can perform functions such as tonifying Qi, raising Yang, and benefiting the Wei Qi to consolidate the exterior. Modern studies have also found that Astragalus can help enhance the body’s immunity, promote diuresis, exhibit antibacterial properties, and combat stress.
Regularly drinking Astragalus tea may bring these 3 benefits.
Promotes metabolism:Astragalus can enhance circulation and accelerate metabolic rates, allowing for better fat consumption, which is very friendly for those looking to lose weight.
Boosts immunity:Astragalus is rich in trace elements and amino acids, which can help enhance the body’s resistance and prevent disease when absorbed into the body.
Relieves fatigue:When feeling fatigued, drinking Astragalus can have a certain improvement effect, as the trace elements in Astragalus can positively stimulate the brain.
02
The real kidney harm comes from these 3 Chinese herbs,
Don’t think they are good herbs
Drinking Astragalus in moderation will not cause kidney damage, so there is no need to worry excessively. The real kidney harm actually comes from some herbs containing aristolochic acid.
Aristolochic acid has long been classified as a Class 1 carcinogen. Herbs containing aristolochic acid can induce genetic mutations in the kidneys, leading to the occurrence of kidney cancer, among other issues.
The BBC once published a report about a British patient who developed kidney failure after taking a medication containing aristolochic acid, and subsequently developed cancer.
Dr. Feng Sizhong, head of the Urology Oncology Department in Taiwan, found that kidney cancer patients in Taiwan often occur in the upper urinary tract, such as the ureters and renal pelvis, which is significantly different from lower urinary tract lesions in European countries. Among these patients, the incidence rate in women is even higher than in men, despite women having a low smoking rate. Further research revealed that aristolochic acid is the “culprit” behind the high incidence of kidney cancer in women.
Professor Zheng Minzhan from the National Cancer Center of Singapore found through research that aristolochic acid causes significant damage to the human body. It can induce upper urinary tract carcinoma, causing 150 mutation points in a million genes, which is higher than the genetic mutations caused by smoking or ultraviolet rays.
A study published in the authoritative journal Science Translation Medicine pointed out that herbs containing aristolochic acid are highly toxic and are one of the important causes of liver cancer in Asians.
Due to the strong carcinogenicity of aristolochic acid, in 2005, the National Pharmacopoeia explicitly banned the use of Guang Fang Ji, Qing Mu Xiang, and Guan Mu Tong, which are considered to contain high levels of aristolochic acid. Don’t think they are good herbs.
In addition to these 3 banned herbs, Tian Xian Teng, Xi Xin, and Zhu Sha also need to be noted, as these herbs also contain aristolochic acid. Blindly consuming them can easily lead to renal tubular necrosis, resulting in symptoms such as facial and generalized edema, frequent urination, and urgency, and can even progress to renal failure and uremia, posing a threat to life safety.
03
Why do some say Astragalus should not be consumed in spring?
Many people say that Astragalus is a warm herb, and since spring is inherently humid and rainy, drinking Astragalus can easily exacerbate some discomfort symptoms. Is this claim true?
In fact, as long as there is no internal heat and clinical differentiation is appropriate, Astragalus can be consumed in any season. Some individuals with existing heat symptoms should avoid Astragalus as it may worsen their condition.
In addition to those with heat symptoms, there are also times when Astragalus should not be consumed.
Before bed:Astragalus has the effect of dilating blood vessels and promoting blood circulation, so drinking it before bed can affect sleep quality. Additionally, Astragalus has a diuretic effect, which can increase nighttime urination and disrupt normal sleep.
People with high blood pressure:Astragalus has a bidirectional regulatory effect on blood pressure, and using less than 15g can easily lead to increased blood pressure. This amount is often the daily dosage, which is not friendly for those with high blood pressure.
People with colds and fevers:This group often has Yang heat symptoms in their bodies, and consuming Astragalus will increase Yang Qi, thereby worsening symptoms and hindering recovery.
For daily consumption of Astragalus, it is recommended to use 5-10g per serving, steeped in boiling water for 10-20 minutes, and then consumed as tea. Alternatively, it can be decocted in water to help extract the effective components of Astragalus. Those who need to combine Astragalus with other herbs should follow medical advice and not blindly mix TCM herbs.
Astragalus is a commonly used herb with many benefits, but it should not be consumed indiscriminately. It needs to be used with differentiation. Daily use should be under the guidance of a physician, and based on individual conditions for appropriate matching to truly benefit the body.
References:
[1] “Major Paper Points to Aristolochic Acid as a Strong Carcinogen: Should It Be Restricted or Banned?” Financial Magazine. 2017-10-21
[2] “Be Aware of These Chinese Herbs That Can Cause Renal Toxicity Reactions”. Chinese Community Physician Journal. 2020-11-27
[3] “Four Ways to Health | Is Astragalus Easy to Cause Heat? Experts Tell You How to Use Astragalus Correctly”. Second Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Sichuan Province. 2021-03-26
