Botanical Index No. 529

Huang Qi

astragalus spp.

Medicinal Actions

Bitter extracts are antiseptic, antispasmodic, diuretic, immunostimulant, phagocytotic, Antiviral activity perhaps synergistically due to enhanced immunity and possible enhanced interferon production, Aldose-Reductase Inhibitor, Antiaggregant, Antianginal, Antibacterial, Antidiaphoretic, Antiedemic, Antifatigue, Antihypoglycemic, Antiinflammatory, Antimetastatic, Antimutagenic, Antinephrotic, Antioxidant, Antipyretic, Antiretroviral, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Antitumor, Antiviral, cAMP-Genic, Cardiotonic, Carminative, Cerebroprotective, CNS-Stimulant, Diuretic, Enterotonic, Fungicide, Glutathionigenic, Hepatoprotective, Hypoglycemic, Hypotensive, Immunostimulant, Interferonigenic, Interluekingenic, Leukocytogenic, Memorigenic, Natriuretic, Peristaltic, Phagocytotic, Positive Inotropic, Pulmonotonic, Saluretic, SOD-Genic, Tonic

Primary Conditions Treated

Oral doses or nasal sprays protect mice from parainfluenza type 1 Prophylactic against common cold Also effective against Coxsackie B myocardial infections In vitro augments interferon response and acts synergistically with administered interferon Increases human urine output by 64% and sodium excretion by 14.5% Adaptogen Bitter Glycogen-Sparing Pectoral Vasodilator Amenorrhea Anasarca Angina Anorexia Autoimmune Disease Arthrosis Bacteria Bronchosis Cancer lung Cardiopathy Cervicosis CFS Chemotherapy Cold Cramp Debility Diabetes Diarrhea Dyspnea Dysuria Edema Encephalosis Fatigue Fever Fibrosis Flu Fungus Gas Hepatosis Herpes High Blood Pressure HIV Immune Dysfunction Immunodepression Infection Infertility Inflammation Ischemia Leukopenia Metastasis Mycosis Myocardosis Nephrosis Night Sweats Pain Palpitation Paralysis Proctocele Prolapse Proteinuria Puerperium Pulmonosis Respirosis Sore Throat Splenosis Swelling Tumor Ulcer Urethrosis Uterorrhagia Uterosis Viral Hepatosis Virus Water Retention

General Dosage

s/day; 2 capsules 3 ×/day; 2–3 tablets or 500 mg capsules/day. At 200 mg/kg root extract increases human urine output by 64% and sodium excretion by 14.5%. 2–4 tbsp fresh root/day; 1–3 g root/day for long-term use; 10–30 g root/day; 9–15 g sliced root; 3–6 g dry root/day; 4.5 g dry root:22 ml alcohol/23ml water; 2–6 g dry root/day or 4–12 ml fluid extract; 9–30 g/day to 69 g in cancer; 3–5 ml tincture 3 ×/day; 6 capsules/day; 2 capsules 3 ×/day; 2–3 tablets or 500 mg capsules/day.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 1. No side effects reported but “pregnant women should check with their practitioners before using.” Do not use with fever or during pregnancy. High doses may induce high blood pressure, increased heart rate, insomnia, overstimulation, and/or palpitations. No botanist knows all the species of Astragalus, and some very toxic ones look pretty much like the innocuous ones. Some may contain dangerous levels of selenium. LD50 astragalus = 39,800 ipr mouse, LDlo = >100,000 mg/kg orl rat. Class 1. No side effects reported but “pregnant women should check with their practitioners before using.” Do not use with fever or during pregnancy. High doses may induce high blood pressure, increased heart rate, insomnia, overstimulation, and/or palpitations. No botanist knows all the species of Astragalus, and some very toxic ones look pretty much like the innocuous ones. Some may contain dangerous levels of selenium.

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