The Efficacy, Uses, and Contraindications of Astragalus (Huang Qi)
Astragalus (Huang Qi) is a common traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herb known for its mild warming properties and sweet taste. It is associated with the Spleen (Pi) and Lung (Fei) meridians and possesses various efficacies and functions, but there are also some contraindications and foods that should not be consumed together with it.
Efficacy and Functions
Tonifying Qi and Stabilizing the Exterior: Astragalus can enhance the body’s immune system, improve resistance, and help prevent colds and other diseases.
Tonifying the Middle and Benefiting Qi: Astragalus helps regulate the balance of Qi and blood in the body, strengthens the constitution, and alleviates symptoms of fatigue and tiredness.
Diuretic and Reducing Edema: Astragalus promotes metabolism and helps expel excess water from the body, thus having diuretic and anti-edema effects.
Strengthening the Spleen and Benefiting the Stomach: Astragalus aids in digestion and absorption, improving symptoms such as poor appetite and abdominal distension.
Restraining Sweating and Stabilizing Deficiency: Astragalus can tonify the Qi of the Lung and Spleen, benefiting the Wei Qi and stopping sweating, treating spontaneous sweating due to Spleen and Lung Qi deficiency.
Promoting Healing and Discharging Pus: With its Qi-tonifying and blood-nourishing properties, Astragalus can help expel toxins and discharge pus, promoting tissue regeneration and healing, particularly for acne and boils.
Regulating Blood Pressure: The hypotensive components of Astragalus, such as γ-aminobutyric acid and astragalosides, have a dual regulatory effect on blood pressure.
Enhancing Immune Function: Astragalus significantly increases the total number of white blood cells in the blood and promotes the phagocytic and bactericidal functions of neutrophils and macrophages.
Protecting the Liver: Astragalus has protective effects against liver damage caused by carbon tetrachloride and can enhance the ability of chronic hepatitis patients to clear viruses.
Cardiotonic Effects: Astragalus can increase the amplitude of heart contractions and output, showing significant improvement in cases of poisoning or heart failure.
Contraindications
Contraindicated Populations: Pregnant women, those with heavy menstrual flow, and individuals allergic to Astragalus should avoid its use.
Contraindications: Astragalus is generally not recommended for individuals with excess heat syndrome, deficiency heat syndrome, wind-heat colds, inflammation, chickenpox, and other related conditions.
Methods of Consumption
Astragalus can be consumed in various ways, such as in soups, stews, porridge, or tea. Specific methods include:
Tea Preparation: Take 10 grams of Astragalus slices, pour boiling water over them, cover, and steep for 15 minutes before drinking as tea.
Porridge Preparation: Take 15 grams of Astragalus, 10 grams of Codonopsis (Dang Shen), 100 grams of glutinous rice, and 30 grams of jujube. First, decoct Astragalus and Codonopsis together to extract the liquid, then add jujube and glutinous rice to cook into porridge.
Cooking: When preparing dishes like braised pork or duck, adding an appropriate amount of Astragalus can enhance flavor and provide nourishing benefits.
Foods to Avoid Combining
Astragalus should generally not be consumed with the following foods to avoid affecting its medicinal efficacy or causing adverse reactions:
Almonds: Almonds have cough-relieving and bowel-regulating properties, which conflict with the effects of Astragalus, so they should not be consumed together.
Scrophularia (Xuan Shen): The main function of Scrophularia is to clear heat, cool the blood, detoxify, and nourish Yin, which is antagonistic to Astragalus, so they should not be used together.
Radishes: Astragalus is a Qi-tonifying herb, while radishes can produce gas; consuming them together may lead to abdominal distension.
Ledebouriella (Fang Feng): Ledebouriella has effects of reducing fever, eliminating dampness, and relieving pain, which are antagonistic to Astragalus, so they should not be used together.
Mung Beans: Mung beans have detoxifying properties and may also counteract medications, so Astragalus should not be consumed with mung beans when used as a medicine.
Please note that the above information is for reference only. If needed, please consult a doctor or pharmacist. When using Astragalus, be sure to follow medical advice to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the treatment.