Astragalus - Uses & Side Effects

Scientific Name(S): Astragalus membranaceus Bunge, and Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus (Bunge) P.K. Hsiao, Family: Fabaceae (Beans)

Common Name(S): Huang chi, huang qi, astragalus

Astragalus is a plant native to China. The Chinese name of the herb, huang qi , means "yellow leader", because the root is yellow and it is one of the most important herbs in Chinese medicine. The part of the plant used medicinally is the root.

Botany: The genus Astragalus is an enormous group of more than 2000 species distributed worldwide, commonly known as milk vetches. The Chinese species A. membranaceus and the related A. mongholicus are now thought to be varieties of the same species. Both are perennial herbs native to the northern provinces of China and are cultivated in China, Korea, and Japan. The dried root is used medicinally. Astragalus roots are sold as 15­to 20-cm long pieces, which have a tough, fibrous skin with a lighter interior. Some products are produced by frying the roots with honey, although the untreated root itself also has a sweetish, licorice-like taste.

History: Astragalus root is a very old and well-known drug in traditional Chinese medicine, and is currently official in the Chinese Pharmacopeia. It is used in China principally as a tonic and for treatment of diabetes and nephritis. It is an important component of Fu-Zheng therapy in China, where the goal is to restore immune system function. There is extensive Chinese language literature on the drug.

Uses of Astragalus

Astragalus root may have use in the restoration of immune function after cancer chemotherapy and for the treatment of HIV infection.Some are the possible benefits of astragalus:

1. May improve the immune system of cancer patients and others.
2. May help with disease resistance.
3. May help normalize blood pressure.
4. May help the body fight against bacterial and viral infections.
5. May help hasten recovery from the common cold.
6. May help improve symptoms in Alzheimer's patients.
7. May help improve appetite and digestion.
8. May help to generally strengthen the body.
9. May help in the treatment of respiratory infections.
10. May have a diuretic effect.

Common Doses

A typical dose is 9 to 12 grams of the root per day. It is usually made in a decoction - the roots are boiled in water then removed. Astragalus can also be found in supplement form.

Possible Interactions

If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use astragalus without first talking to your healthcare provider.

Antiviral medications

Astragalus may increase the effects of some antiviral medications such as acyclovir and interferon.

Cyclophosphamide

Astragalus may also counteract the immune-suppressing effects of cyclophosphamide, a medication used to reduce the chances of rejection in transplant recipients.

Toxicology: An astragalus hot water extract that had been boiled for 90 minutes was mutagenic in the Ames test in S. typhimurium TA98 when activated by S9 rat liver fractions, The activity was dose-dependent. In addition, the mutagenic activity was not removed by XAD-2 resin treatment. The same preparations given by IP injection at 1 to 10 g/kg produced chromosomal abbe rations in the bone marrow of mice, and increased the incidence of micronucleated cells in bone marrow. No attempt was made to isolate the mutagenic compounds responsible for these effects.

The pharmacology and toxicology of the genus Astragalus have been reviewed.