Astragalus is native to parts of China. The portion of the plant used medicinally is the dried root, which is collected in the spring. While there are more than 2,000 types of astragalus worldwide, the Chinese version has been extensively tested, both chemically and pharmacologically.
Research shows that astragalus contains flavonoids, polysaccharides, triterpene glycosides (e.g., astragalosides I-VII), amino acids, and trace minerals. It appears to restore T-cell (a specific type of white blood cell) counts to relatively normal ranges in some cancer patients. Shen Nong, the founder of Chinese herbal medicine, classified astragalus as a "superior herb" in the first century A.D. The Chinese name for astragalus, "huang qi," translates as "yellow leader," referring to the yellow color of the root and its status as one of the most important tonic herbs.
Practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine sometimes recommend this herb for night sweats, deficiency of chi (e.g., fatigue, weakness, and loss of appetite), and diarrhea. Astragalus also seems to act as an immune tonic, a diuretic, and a means to lower blood pressure. It has been found useful for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, chemotherapy support, common cold and sore throat, and immune function. As a primary herb used in Chinese medicine, Astragalus seems to tone the immune system of the lungs. It is useful for conditions of immune deficiency that lead to spontaneous sweating. It also is used for spleen deficiency and to treat symptoms of being weak, having low metabolism, and edema. Astragalus can assist with blood deficiencies caused by the loss of blood, especially after childbirth.
