There is a saying in folk medicine: “Drinking Astragalus soup regularly helps prevent diseases and maintain health!” Frequently using Astragalus (Huang Qi) in soups or as a tea substitute has excellent disease prevention and health benefits.
The main effects of Astragalus:
Protects the liver;
Diuretic;
Anti-aging;
Anti-stress;
Enhances immune function;
Lowers blood pressure and has broad antibacterial effects.
The 7 Best Combinations of Astragalus:>>>>
Astragalus + Goji Berries (Huang Qi + Gou Qi Zi)
Effect: Nourishes the skin and fights aging.
Indications: Suitable for those needing to prevent aging and individuals with low immunity.
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Astragalus + Angelica (Huang Qi + Dang Gui)
Effect: Tonifies Qi and nourishes blood.
Indications: Suitable for those with fatigue from internal injury, heat accumulation, thirst, weak pulse, fatigue, sores, blood deficiency with fever, and various Qi and blood insufficiencies.
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Astragalus + Ophiopogon (Huang Qi + Mai Dong)
Effect: Nourishes Yin and generates fluids.
Indications: Suitable for those with Qi deficiency and Yin injury, spontaneous sweating, and persistent cough.
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Astragalus + Licorice (Huang Qi + Gan Cao)
Effect: Harmonizes Qi and blood.
Indications: Suitable for middle-aged and elderly individuals with gradually declining bodily functions.
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Astragalus + Ginseng (Huang Qi + Ren Shen)
Effect: Sweet and warm, tonifies Qi.
Indications: Suitable for those with fatigue due to Qi deficiency, poor appetite, spontaneous sweating, and other signs of physical weakness.
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Astragalus + Atractylodes (Huang Qi + Bai Zhu)
Effect: Tonifies Qi and strengthens the spleen.
Indications: Suitable for those with fatigue and weakness due to Qi deficiency and spleen weakness, presenting with lethargy and lack of energy.
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Astragalus + Cimicifuga (Huang Qi + Sheng Ma)
Effect: Raises Yang and lifts sinking Qi.
Indications: Suitable for conditions of Qi deficiency leading to prolapse, such as uterine prolapse and anal prolapse.
3 Recommended Astragalus Dietary Recipes:>>>>
Carp and Astragalus Soup (Jiyu Huang Qi Tang)
Ingredients: 200g fresh carp, 20g Astragalus, 12g fried bitter orange peel, appropriate amounts of ginger, scallions, monosodium glutamate, and salt.
Method: Clean the carp, remove the entrails and gills; slice the Astragalus and pack it with the bitter orange peel in a cloth bag; wash and chop the ginger and scallions.
Add the medicine bag to a pot with an appropriate amount of water, boil for about half an hour, then add the carp and cook until done. Remove the medicine bag, add ginger, scallions, salt, and monosodium glutamate to taste.
Effect: Tonifies the middle and benefits Qi, lifting the internal organs.
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Astragalus and Honeysuckle Porridge (Huang Qi Jin Yin Hua Zhou)
Ingredients: 50g raw Astragalus, 40g honeysuckle, 50g japonica rice.
Method: Wash the ingredients, pack the raw Astragalus and honeysuckle in a sterilized cloth bag, place in a clay pot, add 1000ml water, boil for 20 minutes, remove the bag and residue, then add the washed japonica rice and cook until soft.
Effect: Clears summer heat, resolves dampness and toxins. Suitable for those experiencing summer heat and dampness, fever, fatigue, nausea, and loss of appetite.
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Astragalus and Black Chicken Soup (Huang Qi Wu Ji Tang)
Ingredients: 250g black chicken meat, 5g Angelica, 25g roasted Astragalus.
Method: Clean the black chicken, cut into pieces, wash the Angelica and Astragalus, and place them all in a clay pot with an appropriate amount of water. Simmer until cooked. Season and serve.
Effect: Nourishes both Qi and blood, strengthens the kidneys, and regulates essence. Suitable for menstrual disorders due to Qi and blood deficiency, kidney deficiency, presenting with irregular menstruation, light menstrual flow, fatigue, shortness of breath, vivid dreams, insomnia, dizziness, lower back pain, and pale complexion.
Note: Use roasted Astragalus (also known as cooked Astragalus) and sweet Angelica. The ratio of Astragalus to Angelica should be 5:1; if the ratio is incorrect, the soup will be bitter and unpalatable.
4 Contraindications of Astragalus:
1. From a physical constitution perspective, Astragalus is most suitable for individuals with Qi deficiency and spleen dampness. These individuals often have a weak and soft body, especially soft abdominal muscles. Those who are very thin and firm should avoid it.
2. From a health status perspective, pregnant women, those on their menstrual period, and individuals with a cold should not consume Astragalus.
3. From a seasonal perspective, ordinary people should avoid Astragalus in spring.
4. Individuals with Yin deficiency, damp-heat, or severe heat toxicity may experience adverse effects from Astragalus and should avoid it. If Astragalus must be used, it should be combined appropriately.
Patients with Yin deficiency must combine it with Yin-nourishing herbs such as Sheng Di (Rehmannia), Shu Di (Rehmannia), Xuan Shen (Scrophularia), Mai Dong (Ophiopogon), Tian Dong (Asparagus), and Yu Zhu (Polygonatum); patients with damp-heat must combine it with herbs that clear damp-heat such as Huang Lian (Coptis), Yin Chen (Artemisia), and Huang Qin (Scutellaria); patients with severe heat toxicity must combine it with herbs that clear heat and detoxify such as Huang Lian (Coptis), Zhi Zi (Gardenia), Da Huang (Rhubarb), and Bai Jiang Cao (Patrinia).
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