Astragalus (Huang Qi) is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicinal herb known for its high nutritional value and health benefits when consumed as a tea. Regular consumption can not only enhance the body’s immune system but also protect the cardiovascular system. So, do you know how to prepare Astragalus tea? What are the benefits of drinking Astragalus tea? Today, we will explore the top 10 benefits of drinking Astragalus tea.
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 in color. The stem is erect, with many branches and fine ridges covered in white soft hairs. It is primarily found in regions such as Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Gansu, and Heilongjiang.
Astragalus has been used medicinally for over 2000 years, known for its ability to enhance immune function, protect the liver, promote diuresis, combat aging, reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and exhibit broad-spectrum antibacterial effects. However, it should be avoided in cases of excess pathogenic heat, Qi stagnation, food accumulation, early-stage or unresolved abscesses, and in individuals with Yin deficiency and Yang excess.
How to Prepare Astragalus Tea
There is a popular saying that “drinking Astragalus soup regularly can prevent illness and promote health,” indicating that frequently brewing Astragalus as tea has excellent health benefits. Astragalus tea can tonify the middle and boost Qi without being cloying, improving Qi deficiency and anemia, enhancing physical strength, and promoting longevity. For better effects, it can be combined with other herbs such as Gou Qi Zi (枸杞子, Goji Berries), Dang Shen (党参, Codonopsis), and Fu Ling (茯苓, Poria).
1. Use about 30 grams of Astragalus daily, decoct it in water, and consume it. Alternatively, brew it as tea. Combining 30 grams of Astragalus with 15 grams of Goji Berries is particularly beneficial for those with weak Qi and blood.
2. Take about 50 grams of Astragalus, prepare a decoction, and use the liquid to cook rice or porridge, resulting in Astragalus rice or porridge, which is also very beneficial.
3. Some people like to add Astragalus when cooking meat, chicken, or duck to enhance the nourishing effect.
Astragalus can be brewed in water, but it is essential to use freshly boiled water to extract its medicinal properties. However, this method may only extract about 30-40% of its efficacy, which can be wasteful; therefore, decocting is recommended for better results.
Benefits of Drinking Astragalus Tea
Astragalus can be used not only as a medicinal herb but also as an ingredient in food. Additionally, a simple way to maintain health in daily life is to brew it in water. Drinking Astragalus tea can significantly promote blood circulation in the body, and it can also have therapeutic effects for patients with chronic illnesses.
From a TCM perspective, Astragalus is known for its excellent ability to tonify the middle and boost Qi, comparable to Ren Shen (人参, Ginseng).
Moreover, regular consumption can help reduce swelling, promote diuresis, enhance beauty, lower blood sugar, and prevent colds, making it a versatile remedy for various ailments. Astragalus is readily available in most traditional Chinese medicine shops and is quite affordable.
In daily life, about 100 grams of Astragalus can be brewed for approximately six to seven times, providing excellent nourishing effects. However, it is essential to be cautious when purchasing Astragalus, as many unscrupulous vendors may sell inferior products. When buying, pay attention to the appearance and color, and ensure it has a distinct bean-like aroma, which indicates genuine Astragalus.
Experienced TCM practitioners recommend that office workers should consistently drink some Astragalus tea daily, as it can enhance physical constitution and immunity, promote spleen and stomach health, and address issues like fatigue, cough, and colds effectively.
If you feel stressed and fatigued, drinking Astragalus tea can help rejuvenate your body.
Many people experience puffiness around the eyes upon waking, which is intolerable for many beauty-conscious women. To improve this condition, simply brew a cup of Astragalus tea to restore your appearance.
For significant beauty benefits, combining Astragalus with Bai Zhi (白芷, Angelica Dahurica) and Hong Hua (红花, Safflower) in tea can lead to increasingly fair skin with consistent use. Now, let’s explore the magical benefits of drinking Astragalus tea.
1. Enhance Physical Strength and Boost Immunity
Drinking Astragalus tea can address excessive sweating due to Qi deficiency, fatigue from spleen deficiency, and cough and shortness of breath from lung deficiency. During flu season or in autumn and winter, Astragalus tea can help prevent colds.
2. Protect the Cardiovascular System
Astragalus has properties that strengthen the heart, lower blood pressure, prevent arrhythmias, and protect the cardiovascular system, making it suitable for individuals with heart disease, angina, heart failure, coronary heart disease, and hypertension.
3. Liver Protection
Drinking Astragalus tea can protect the liver, benefiting those with hepatitis, gastric ulcers, gastritis, or liver damage.
4. Regulate Blood Sugar
Astragalus tea can lower blood sugar levels and has a synergistic effect with metformin and insulin in raising blood sugar levels.
5. Anti-Tumor Effects
The polysaccharides in Astragalus can enhance the efficacy of anti-tumor medications while reducing side effects. For cancer patients, long-term use of Astragalus can yield significant anti-cancer effects.
6. Diuretic and Anti-Edema
Whether it’s morning puffiness around the eyes, leg swelling, or edema caused by hypertension and diabetes, drinking Astragalus tea can help reduce water retention.
7. Antibacterial and Antiviral Properties
Astragalus tea has inhibitory effects on dysentery, pneumonia, hemolytic streptococcus A, B, C, and various strains of staphylococcus.
8. Tonify Qi and Raise Yang
Astragalus tea can be used for conditions like prolapse of the rectum, uterine prolapse, metrorrhagia, dizziness, and fatigue caused by Qi deficiency, often combined with Sheng Ma (升麻, Cimicifuga) and Chai Hu (柴胡, Bupleurum).
9. Stabilize the Exterior and Control Sweating
It is commonly used for spontaneous sweating due to physical weakness. If the exterior Qi is not solid, and sweating occurs due to external wind-cold, Astragalus can be combined with Bai Zhu (白术, Atractylodes) and Fang Feng (防风, Saposhnikovia) for effective treatment.
10. Promote Wound Healing and Drain Pus
It is used for chronic ulcers that do not rupture and have internal infiltration, promoting rupture and localized effects. It is also effective for ulcers that have ruptured but do not heal, promoting tissue regeneration and closure, often combined with Yin Hua (银花, Honeysuckle), Zao Jiao (皂角, Soapberry), and Di Ding (地丁, Ranunculus).
Side Effects of Drinking Astragalus Tea
The most common side effect is the rapid onset of “excess heat” symptoms, such as facial redness, irritability, poor sleep or insomnia, sore throat, elevated blood pressure, or dizziness, which can even worsen the condition. Clinically, frequent standalone use of Astragalus or excessive intake can lead to adverse effects.
When using Astragalus, it is generally recommended to start with a small amount and gradually increase while monitoring for any signs of excess heat or worsening of pre-existing conditions.
If symptoms such as fatigue, excessive sweating, or shortness of breath improve without the aforementioned side effects, the dosage can be increased. A safer approach is to start with Dang Shen (党参, Codonopsis) for effective results without side effects before adding or switching to Astragalus, using a gradual increase in dosage to avoid adverse effects. The safest method is to use it in combination with other herbs.
Three Types of Kidney Deficiency: Caution with Astragalus
Patients with kidney disease characterized by Yin deficiency, damp-heat, or excessive heat toxicity should generally avoid Astragalus, as it can lead to toxic side effects. Astragalus is sweet and slightly warm, and its use in Yin-deficient patients can exacerbate heat and harm Yin, while those with damp-heat or excessive heat toxicity may experience stagnation of pathogens, worsening their condition. If Astragalus must be used, it should be combined with appropriate herbs.
Signs of Yin Deficiency
Symptoms include heat in the palms and soles, dry mouth and throat, lower back pain, night sweats, insomnia with vivid dreams, a red tongue with little coating, and a thin, rapid pulse. Symptoms of damp-heat include bitter mouth, dry mouth, and a yellow greasy tongue coating.
Symptoms of excessive heat toxicity include various purulent infections, such as acne, throat infections, and peritonitis, presenting with facial redness, red throat, dry throat, sore throat, bitter mouth, dry mouth, red and swollen lips and tongue, yellow dry tongue coating, and a slippery, rapid pulse.
For Yin-deficient patients using Astragalus, it must be combined with Yin-nourishing herbs such as Sheng Di (生地, Rehmannia), Shu Di (熟地, Prepared Rehmannia), Xuan Shen (玄参, Scrophularia), Mai Dong (麦冬, Ophiopogon), Tian Dong (天冬, Asparagus), and Yu Zhu (玉竹, Polygonatum). Patients with damp-heat must combine it with herbs that clear damp-heat, such as Huang Lian (黄连, Coptis), Yin Chen (茵陈, Artemisia), and Huang Qin (黄芩, Scutellaria). Patients with excessive heat toxicity must combine it with herbs that clear heat and detoxify, such as Huang Lian, Zhi Zi (栀子, Gardenia), Da Huang (大黄, Rhubarb), and Bai Jiang Cao (败酱草, Patrinia).
Contraindications for Drinking Astragalus Tea
The primary function of Astragalus is to tonify the middle and boost Qi. It not only treats Qi deficiency but also prevents colds and enhances beauty, making it a popular tonic for many. Astragalus has been used in China for over 2000 years and is beloved by many. However, it is not suitable for everyone. Below are the contraindications for drinking Astragalus tea.
Many people enjoy drinking Astragalus tea daily, especially women who like to combine it with red dates and Goji berries, which not only enhances physical strength but also improves complexion.
However, the amount of Astragalus used each time should not exceed 15 grams and should be divided into two or three doses to avoid excessive intake. If Astragalus is consumed in excess, patients may experience dizziness, poor sleep quality, flushed cheeks, and irritability.
Experienced TCM practitioners inform us that drinking Astragalus tea does not typically produce side effects, but why do some individuals experience discomfort after excessive consumption? This is primarily due to the disruption of the internal balance caused by excessive Astragalus intake, leading to various physical discomforts.
While Astragalus can effectively improve memory decline and alleviate dizziness and fatigue, excessive consumption of Astragalus tea may not only fail to improve dizziness but can worsen the condition, leading to more severe dizziness and inadequate recovery of memory.
Astragalus is a warming tonic herb, and excessive intake can lead to symptoms such as irritability and facial flushing.
Although it is recommended to drink a cup of Astragalus tea daily for optimal health benefits, it is best to divide this into two or three doses and avoid consuming it all at once. Additionally, the amount of Astragalus used for brewing tea should be controlled at around 15 grams, while some online recipes suggest using 20-30 grams, which should be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Furthermore, the amount of Astragalus used for brewing tea differs from that used for cooking porridge; for tea, it is as mentioned above (15 grams), while for porridge, about 50 grams is recommended. In fact, whether brewing tea or cooking porridge, the dosage of Astragalus should be clearly defined, and excessive amounts should be avoided!
Contraindications for Specific Populations
Astragalus is a natural medicinal herb commonly used in various forms, including tea, porridge, and soup. While Astragalus and Ginseng have similar effects, their prices differ significantly, making Astragalus a popular choice for daily health maintenance.
However, it is important to note that Astragalus is not suitable for daily consumption, and not everyone can drink it. The specific contraindications are as follows:
1. Patients with kidney Yin deficiency, damp-heat, or excessive heat toxicity should avoid drinking Astragalus tea, as it will not restore health and may worsen their condition. These patients should consider using herbs like Huang Lian, Da Huang, Bai Jiang Cao, and Zhi Zi instead of Astragalus.
2. Patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, presenting symptoms such as hemoptysis, dry mouth, and fever, should also avoid using Astragalus tea alone and should combine it with appropriate herbs based on their specific condition.
3. Women during menstruation should not consume Astragalus tea, as it may adversely affect their menstrual cycle and overall health.
4. Patients with colds and fevers should also refrain from drinking Astragalus, as it is not conducive to reducing fever.
5. Pregnant women should exercise caution when consuming Astragalus, as it may lead to miscarriage and harm both the fetus and the mother, especially in the late stages of pregnancy.
If a pregnant woman inadvertently consumes Astragalus, it may lead to a reduction in amniotic fluid, potentially prolonging labor and increasing risks for the fetus.
Additionally, research has shown that Astragalus consumption may increase the rate of chromosomal abnormalities and micronuclei, potentially harming the future child’s physical and cognitive development. Therefore, women who are pregnant or planning to conceive should be cautious when consuming Astragalus.
In conclusion, there are many methods to prepare Astragalus tea. In addition to brewing it directly, it can also be combined with other herbs or floral teas, such as red dates, Schisandra, licorice, cinnamon twig, safflower, Goji berries, and rose petals, which are excellent choices.
Combining Astragalus with red dates and Goji berries for tea can effectively enhance physical strength and provide benefits for vision and blood replenishment, making it particularly suitable for office workers. Astragalus can also be brewed directly with boiling water, which not only revitalizes the body but also improves overall health and skin complexion, achieving multiple benefits.
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