As the saying goes, a person lives by their Qi!
Those with abundant Qi always appear vibrant and energetic;
while those with Qi deficiency look weak and lack vitality.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) teaches: humans are born from Qi. When the original Qi (yuan qi) is sufficient, the physiological functions of the organs can operate normally; when the original Qi is deficient, various diseases easily arise, leading to a multitude of ailments.
We all know that winter is a great time for nourishment, and the most important aspect of nourishment is to replenish Qi. There is a miraculous herb in TCM that is particularly suitable for making medicinal dishes and herbal teas in winter, referred to by Li Shizhen as the “Premier Qi-Boosting Herb”, which is the well-known Astragalus (Huang Qi).
The Five Major Benefits of Astragalus
1. Tonifies the Middle and Boosts Qi
Astragalus not only strengthens the spleen and boosts Qi but also replenishes the Qi of the five organs. When symptoms of Qi deficiency appear, some Astragalus can be used for adjustment.
Symptoms of Qi Deficiency: fatigue, shortness of breath, low voice, poor appetite, loose stools, pale tongue, weak pulse.
2.Raises Yang and Lifts the Sinking
The spleen governs upward movement; when spleen Qi rises to the heart and lungs, it distributes throughout the body, playing a role in regulating blood. If spleen Qi is insufficient, it will sink, leading to conditions such as organ prolapse, uterine prolapse, abnormal bleeding, and rectal prolapse.
Astragalus can replenish Qi, allowing spleen Qi to rise normally and avoid sinking.
3.Boosts Qi and Strengthens the Defensive Qi
Defensive Qi (wei qi) protects the body’s surface. Astragalus not only replenishes internal Qi but also enhances external Qi, thereby improving the body’s immunity and preventing pathogenic invasion. Those who frequently catch colds can use Astragalus for prevention.
4.Diuretic and Reduces Edema
The medical sage Zhang Zhongjing mentioned in his work, the Shang Han Lun, the use of Astragalus to treat rheumatic edema, particularly effective for edema caused by Qi deficiency.
5.Promotes Healing and Tissue Regeneration
If the body is deficient in Qi and blood, leading to sores and abscesses that do not heal, or surgical wounds that are slow to recover, Astragalus can be very beneficial.
In addition to these five major benefits described in TCM, modern medical research has also found that Astragalus helps protect vascular endothelium and cardiac muscle, benefiting the heart and blood vessels.
Regularly Drinking Astragalus Soup for Disease Prevention and Health Maintenance
The simplest way to use Astragalus is to
boil it in water to make a herbal tea.
What are some common combinations?
Astragalus in Medicinal Dishes for Delicious Health
Astragalus can be added to dishes to create medicinal meals,
allowing you to enjoy delicious food while also benefiting your health.
Astragalus Lamb Soup — Warming Yang and Dispelling Cold
Benefits: Lamb is warming in nature, benefiting the kidneys and raising Yang; Astragalus replenishes original Yang, warms the spleen and stomach, promotes blood circulation, and disperses cold. It is suitable for those with Yang deficiency who are sensitive to cold, have cold extremities, and experience lower back pain, helping to replenish Yang, dispel cold, and prevent disease.
Ingredients: 150g lean lamb, 30g dried ginger, 15g Astragalus, 15g red dates, a pinch of salt, scallions, Sichuan pepper, and star anise.
Method: Wash the dried ginger, Astragalus, and red dates; cut the lamb into pieces and place it in a pot with Sichuan pepper and star anise to stew. After boiling, add salt and scallions, and simmer until the lamb is tender.
Precautions: Lamb is a warming food; excessive consumption can lead to internal heat. Those with edema, malaria, colds, fevers, or toothaches due to internal heat or heat constitution should avoid it.
Spleen-Strengthening and Qi-Boosting Congee — Strengthens the Spleen, Nourishes the Stomach, and Boosts Qi
Ingredients: 15g roasted Astragalus, 50g rice, 3g dried tangerine peel.
Method:
1. Mix honey and water in a 1:3 ratio; combine 15g of raw Astragalus with one and a half tablespoons of honey water, let sit for half an hour, then dry in a clay pot to make roasted Astragalus.
2. Soak the rice for half an hour in advance; soak the roasted Astragalus in 450g of water for half an hour.
3. Pour the Astragalus and water into a pot, bring to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes, strain out the Astragalus water, add more water, bring to a boil again, and simmer for another 10 minutes. Remove the Astragalus and pour the first boiled Astragalus water back into the pot.
4. Once boiling, add the rice and a small amount of oil, cook, and after boiling, add the dried tangerine peel powder and cook for 25 minutes.
Ginseng and Astragalus Congee —Replenishes Vital Qi, Anti-Aging
Ingredients:
4g ginseng, 18g Astragalus, 70g glutinous rice, 4g white sugar, 8g Bai Zhu (White Atractylodes).
Method: Slice the ginseng, Astragalus, and Bai Zhu, and simmer in water to extract a concentrated decoction. After straining, use the decoction to cook glutinous rice congee, adding white sugar to eat while hot. Consume twice daily.
Angelica and Astragalus Black Chicken Soup—— Nourishes Qi and Blood, Regulates Menstruation
Ingredients: 250g black chicken meat, 15g Angelica (Dang Gui), 20g Astragalus.
Method: Clean and cut the black chicken into pieces, wash the Angelica and Astragalus, place them all in a clay pot, add an appropriate amount of water, and simmer until cooked. Season to taste and consume the soup and meat, one small bowl each morning and evening.
Benefits: Nourishes Qi and Blood, strengthens the kidneys, and regulates menstruation. Suitable for menstrual disorders, Qi and blood deficiency, and kidney deficiency, with symptoms such as irregular menstruation, light menstrual flow, fatigue, shortness of breath, vivid dreams, insomnia, dizziness, lower back pain, and pale complexion. Long-term consumption can harmonize women’s Qi and blood, making the skin smooth, white, and radiant.
However, if you have the following symptoms,
it is not suitable to use Astragalus in water!
Astragalus is warming and tonifying; those with a thin, dry body, prone to internal heat (such as heat in the palms and soles, dry mouth and throat, lower back pain, fear of heat, night sweats, insomnia with vivid dreams, colds, etc.) should avoid it.
Pregnant women and those menstruating should also avoid it. Those with loose stools or constipation should not consume Astragalus.
In addition to consumption,
Astragalus can also be used externally to nourish the kidneys and boost Qi!
Astragalus Water for Spraying in the House Take 120g of Astragalus, boil it in water, and then spray it in the house. This allows the medicinal effects of Astragalus to be absorbed through breathing and skin, suitable for those with severe Qi and body deficiency.
Astragalus Plaster on Acupoints By making a plaster with Astragalus and other herbs, it can be applied to acupoints, promoting blood circulation and nourishing the kidneys.
[Method] Take equal amounts of Dendrobium (Shi Hu), Astragalus, Hawthorn (Shan Zha), Peach Kernel (Tao Ren), and Schisandra (Wu Wei Zi), grind into fine powder, spread on the plaster, and apply to the blood sea acupoint on both knees. Remove after 24 to 48 hours. Combining with acupoint massage enhances the effect.
How to Select Astragalus
The market is flooded with Astragalus of varying quality;
how should one choose?
1. Smell: High-quality fresh Astragalus has a strong bean-like aroma. Old Astragalus has little to no scent.
2. Taste: Astragalus can be chewed raw. Take a piece and taste it; good Astragalus has a sweet flavor. If it tastes sour or strange, it has been treated with sulfur.
3. Look: Astragalus is the root of a plant, with a brownish outer skin and yellowish interior. If the outer layer is black, it may be moldy. Sliced Astragalus is not better just because it is larger. There is a type of particularly wide Astragalus slice that is thin and looks good, but it is made from ordinary Astragalus pressed together by machines. Because it is thin, it is easier to extract flavor when brewed as tea. However, if you are stewing at home, there is no need to buy this type.
Final Thoughts from the Author
Astragalus has so many health benefits.
Is it in your thermos?
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM Tune in to the TV
Guangdong Public Channel “Health is Most Important”
Bringing you the most practical health knowledge
For collaboration or submissions, please contact: