Introduction to Astragalus
Astragalus, also known as Huang Qi (黄芪), is a perennial herb that grows to a height of 50-100 cm. It has a thick, woody main root that is often branched and grayish-white. The stem is erect, with many branches in the upper part, featuring fine ridges covered with white soft hairs. It is primarily found in regions such as Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Gansu, and Heilongjiang.
Distribution of Astragalus
The Astragalus genus comprises about 2000 species, found in subtropical and temperate regions worldwide, except for Oceania, with the majority in the northern temperate zone. China is home to over 270 species, distributed from the northeast to the southwest. Astragalus is mainly produced in North China, Northeast China, Inner Mongolia, and Northwest China, particularly in provinces such as Gansu, Shanxi, Heilongjiang, Liaoning, and Hebei, as well as in Sichuan, the former Soviet Union, North Korea, and Mongolia. The membranous pod Astragalus is mainly distributed in Northeast China, North China, Gansu, Sichuan, and Tibet; while Mongolian Astragalus is primarily produced in Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, and Heilongjiang, and is now widely cultivated.
Medicinal Value of Astragalus
Astragalus has the effects of tonifying Qi and consolidating the exterior, promoting diuresis and detoxification, expelling pus, and promoting tissue regeneration. It is used for symptoms of Qi deficiency, fatigue, poor appetite, loose stools, prolapse of the middle Qi, chronic diarrhea, rectal bleeding, metrorrhagia, spontaneous sweating due to exterior deficiency, difficult-to-heal sores, chronic ulcers, blood deficiency with sallow complexion, and internal heat with thirst. The Shennong Bencao Jing states: “It is indicated for abscesses, chronic ulcers, expelling pus and relieving pain. It tonifies deficiency and treats various diseases in children.” The Rihua Zibencao records: “It assists Qi, strengthens muscles and bones, promotes flesh, and nourishes blood.”
Enhancing Anti-Fatigue Effects
Astragalus can enhance the muscle strength of rats and mice. When rats are administered an Astragalus decoction for 6 or 14 days, it significantly improves their swimming endurance and increases the plasma cortisol levels in stressed rats, surpassing those in the blank stress group and normal control group. Astragalus also increases the adrenal weight and thickens the adrenal cortex in stressed rats, indicating that its enhancement of stress resistance is achieved through improved adrenal cortex function.
Astragalus for Qi and Blood Nourishment
Regular consumption of Astragalus has benefits for Qi and blood nourishment, which is beneficial for internal injuries, physical fatigue, spleen deficiency with cold, frequent diarrhea, symptoms of Qi deficiency, Qi decline, and blood deficiency. Daily intake of Astragalus can help nourish Qi and blood, protecting the body from the harm of these diseases, but it must be consistent. For example, consuming Astragalus daily can achieve excellent results in Qi and blood nourishment.
Slowing Natural Aging
Astragalus can extend the average lifespan of silkworms and fruit flies, slowing the natural aging process of human diploid lung cells in vitro, extending their lifespan to 98 generations compared to only 61-66 generations in the control group, thus increasing lifespan by one-third. It also has protective effects on mouse kidney cell cultures. Astragalus exhibits antioxidant properties, reducing the levels of lipid peroxides and lipofuscin in animal serum. Hydrogen peroxide damage to Chinese hamster lung cells (V79) reduces SOD activity, while total flavonoids from Astragalus can restore SOD activity, reducing lipid peroxides’ damage to biological membranes.
Methods of Consuming Astragalus
1. Use 3 slices of Astragalus daily, steeped in water. This is particularly effective for those with Qi and blood deficiency.
2. Take 2 slices of Astragalus and decoct them. Use the decoction to cook rice or porridge, resulting in Astragalus rice or porridge, which is also very beneficial.
3. You can also add some Astragalus when cooking meat, chicken, or duck to enhance the nourishing effect, which works well.
Astragalus Chicken Porridge
Ingredients include 10 grams of Astragalus, 160 grams of rice (one cup), chicken breast (or any bone-in chicken), and goji berries (do not add goji berries in the first week after childbirth). Do not use old hens that lay eggs. Wash the rice thoroughly, add an appropriate amount of water, and add the Astragalus. Use the rice cooker to cook porridge. Cut the chicken into small pieces, add salt, shrimp powder (ground shrimp as a substitute for MSG), and minced ginger, and marinate. When the porridge starts boiling and the rice is cooked to a mushy consistency, about ten minutes before the rice cooker switches to keep warm, open the lid, add the chicken, and stir to break it apart without clumping. Finally, add goji berries. Adjust the water amount according to personal preference; if you like thicker porridge, add less water, and if you prefer thinner porridge, add more water. If too much water is added and you want it thicker, simply cover the rice cooker again for a while, and the porridge will thicken.
Precautions for Astragalus
Astragalus is a commonly used Chinese medicine with good preventive and therapeutic effects for diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and osteoporosis. However, attention should be paid to the dosage to avoid excessive use, which may lead to heat symptoms or other side effects. Here are six precautions for using Astragalus:
1. Avoid raw and cold foods, as well as smoking, alcohol, and strong tea.
2. Avoid excessive fatigue, worry, anger, and fear.
3. Not recommended for newborns and infants.
4. Avoid use in individuals with allergies.
5. Not suitable for those with spleen and stomach damp-heat.
6. Strictly avoid incompatible combinations.
Selecting Astragalus
When selecting Astragalus, first examine the outer skin; it should be white, and the inner part should be yellow for the best quality. Next, check the cut surface of the Astragalus slices for holes, as Astragalus is prone to mold and pests; any black holes indicate poor quality. It is best to chew a piece; a strong bean-like aroma is preferable.
Astragalus should have a mild aroma, and a sweet taste when chewed. When selecting Astragalus, choose those that are dry, thick, have few wrinkles, sufficient powdery texture, firm and fibrous, not easily broken, sweet in taste, and without black hearts. If the cut surface shows no or minimal golden veins, it may indicate that the Astragalus has absorbed moisture and undergone quality changes.
Of course, there are basically no wild Astragalus available in the market; they are all cultivated, which is important to note.
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