Used in traditional Chinese medicine, it is obviously native to China. The dried aged roots of the Astragalus plant are used in herbal medicine.
Action of Astragalus
Astragalus contains many different active compounds including Amino Acids and various minerals. It has both a boosting and balancing effect on the immune system.
Astragalus Uses
The dried Astragalus roots are a useful treatment for immune deficiencies, including the side-effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and can also be added to stocks for making soup.
Our experts recommend Astragalus for the following disorders:
| Chronic fatigue syndrome
| Oral Thrush
| Osteomyelitis
| Tired All The Time (TATT)
Other Astragalus Information
Astragalus is often used as an alternative or as a supportive immune boosting herb to Echinacea. It can therefore be used for general immune support, recurrent infections and as a general tonic. It may be a very useful herb for auto-immune problems where the immune system needs re-balancing.
This sweet-tasting herb is related to the pea family and is available at most reputable Chinese herbalist shops. Astragalus is available in tablets, capsules or as a herbal tincture, and can be used in tincture form for children 1 year of age and above.
Herb tincture dosage is lower than adult levels. A simple guide for children is one drop per stone of weight. If you are unsure see a herbalist or registered naturopath.
Cautions When Using Astragalus
| Generally, there are no side effects or contra-indications from using Astragalus herbal supplements.
| The safety of Astragalus during pregnancy or lactation has not been sufficiently investigated, so is best avoided until more is known.
| When this article was written there were no well-known negative drug interactions with Astragalus.
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