Traditional Chinese Medicine: Astragalus (Huang Qi)

Source:

This product is the dried root of the leguminous plant Mongolian Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao) or Membranous Pod Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge.).

Related Names:

Yuan Qi, Huang Qi, Mian Qi, Hong Qi, Xi Qi, Kou Qi, Chou Qi, Bu Kui Qi, Hun Yuan Qi, Da Lan Qi, Pao Tai Qi, Da You Qi, Zhi Qi, Du Gen, Bai Ben, Ji Cao, Wang Sun.

Origin:

Mongolian Astragalus is produced in Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, and other provinces; Membranous Pod Astragalus is mainly produced in Northeast China, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Hebei, and Sichuan. Cultivated Mongolian Astragalus is of the best quality.

Harvesting and Processing:

Harvest in spring and autumn, remove the fibrous roots and root tips, and dry.

Identification:

The medicinal material is cylindrical, sometimes branched, with a thicker upper end, measuring 30-90 cm in length and 1-3.5 cm in diameter. The surface is light brown or light brownish-yellow, with irregular longitudinal wrinkles or grooves.

It is hard and tough, not easily broken, with a fibrous and powdery fracture surface. The bark is yellowish-white, and the wood part is light yellow, with radial textures and cracks. The center of old roots may appear decayed, blackish-brown, or hollow. It has a faint aroma and a slightly sweet taste, with a slight bean-like flavor when chewed.

Herbal Slices: Astragalus Slices

These are thick, round or oval slices. The outer skin is yellowish-white to light brownish-yellow, with visible longitudinal wrinkles or grooves. The cut surface shows yellowish-white bark and light yellow wood, with radial textures and cracks, displaying a “chrysanthemum heart.” Some may have a decayed center, blackish-brown, or hollow. It has a faint aroma and a slightly sweet taste, with a slight bean-like flavor when chewed.

Honey-Fried Astragalus

The outer skin is light brownish-yellow or light brownish-yellow, slightly glossy. The cut surface shows light yellow bark and light yellow wood. It has a honey-like fragrance, sweet taste, and slight stickiness. The rest is similar to Astragalus slices.

Properties and Channels:

Sweet, slightly warm. Enters the Spleen and Lung channels.

Characteristics:

This product is sweet and warm, tonifying, entering the Spleen and Lung channels, primarily used to support the righteous Qi and also to eliminate water pathogens. It is effective in tonifying middle Qi, uplifting clear Yang, tonifying Lung Qi, benefiting Wei and securing the exterior, and can also expel toxins, promote diuresis, and reduce swelling. Additionally, by tonifying Qi, it can generate blood, retain blood, generate fluids, and relieve stagnation, treating conditions such as blood deficiency with sallow complexion, Qi not retaining blood leading to bleeding and blood in stool, Qi and fluid deficiency causing thirst, and Qi deficiency with blood stagnation leading to numbness and hemiplegia.

Functions:

Tonifies Qi and uplifts Yang, benefits Wei and secures the exterior, expels toxins and generates flesh, promotes diuresis and reduces swelling.

Main Indications:

(1)Deficiency of Spleen and Stomach Qi, deficiency of Spleen and Lung Qi, sinking of middle Qi, Qi not retaining blood, Qi deficiency with fever.

(2)Spontaneous sweating, night sweats.

(3)Abscesses and sores that do not heal or heal slowly due to Qi and blood deficiency.

(4)Qi deficiency with edema, difficulty in urination.

(5)Dual deficiency of Qi and blood, blood deficiency with sallow complexion, blood stasis causing numbness, hemiplegia, and thirst.

Compatibility:

Astragalus combined with Chai Hu (Bupleurum) and Sheng Ma (Cimicifuga): Astragalus is sweet and warm, tonifying Qi and uplifting Yang, while Chai Hu and Sheng Ma both have the function of uplifting Yang Qi. The combination of these three herbs is commonly used to tonify middle Qi, uplift Yang, and treat symptoms of sinking middle Qi.

Dosage and Administration:

Internal use: decoction, 6-30g; or in pills or powders. For tonifying Qi and uplifting Yang, it is best to use honey-fried; for other uses, it is best to use raw.

Precautions:

This product is sweet and warm, tonifying and stopping sweating, which can easily assist fire and restrain pathogens. Therefore, it is not suitable for those with excess exterior pathogens, Qi stagnation with damp obstruction, food accumulation, Yin deficiency with Yang excess, or severe toxic sores.

Pharmacology:

This product enhances immune function, delays aging, strengthens the heart, dilates peripheral blood vessels, coronary vessels, and renal vessels, improves microcirculation, inhibits platelet aggregation, lowers blood pressure, promotes bone marrow hematopoiesis, regulates glucose metabolism, has antiviral and antibacterial effects, and protects the liver.

Story:

During the Southern and Northern Dynasties, Xu Yinzong served as an official under the Southern Chen’s King of Xincai when Empress Liu suddenly suffered a stroke and could not speak. Despite consulting many famous doctors, there was no effect.

Due to her inability to take medicine, and seeing her condition worsen day by day, the King of Xincai was extremely anxious. Xu Yinzong, who was knowledgeable in medicine, proposed to use hot soup vaporization to treat the Empress.

He boiled a decoction of Astragalus and Fang Feng (Siler) in dozens of pots and placed it under the Empress’s bed, allowing the medicinal vapor to envelop her…

Unexpectedly, that very night, the Empress was able to speak again, and after a period of conditioning, she recovered to her former self.The Empress’s sudden stroke was due to her old age, weakness, and Qi and blood imbalance.

Astragalus is warm in nature, good at tonifying Qi, uplifting Yang, and securing the exterior;Fang Feng is slightly warm, good at dispersing wind and relieving pain.The combination of the two can both tonify Qi and secure the exterior, as well as disperse wind and relieve stagnation, precisely addressing the pathology.

Moreover, the hot vaporization can warm and open the meridians, promote the circulation of Qi and blood, moisten the skin, open the pores, and enhance the absorption of the medicinal components, thus achieving results in a short time.