What would you do if you wanted to reduce your risk for heart disease, arthritis, and cancer; improve your blood sugar levels and slow down the damage caused by diabetes; reduce inflammation and free radical damage; and boost your immune system?
You could get busy on the internet, looking up the herbs, mushrooms, and other supplements recommended for each. Or you could just pick up some Astragalus, which has been used for all that and more.
Astragalus has so many benefits
Also known as milkvetch or huáng qí, astragalus is a medicinal herb with a long history in TCM (traditional Chinese medicine). The roots contain a wide range of powerful substances, including saponins, polysaccharides, and flavonoids. These compounds make astragalus a powerful medicine for a huge variety of conditions.
How huge? According to a 2019 review of astragalus studies, studies have demonstrated some major effects (1):
- It’s an adaptogen. This means it helps the body adapt to stress – and not just the emotional kind. Astragalus can help us adapt to just about anything stressful, from that demanding boss to toxins in the environment to a muscle-wasting disorder. Our bodies are constantly under stress, so this is no small thing.
- It enhances and regulates the immune system, improving disease resistance. It’s been used for all sorts of problems, from colds and flu to chronic conditions like diabetes, cancer, and osteoporosis.
- It fights tumors and reduces the side effects of chemotherapy, making it a great addition to conventional cancer treatments.
- It’s anti-inflammatory. This is huge because chronic inflammation is involved in cancer, heart disease, diabetes, asthma, Alzheimer’s disease, and many other conditions. (2)
- It’s a powerful antioxidant. Excess oxidation damages our cells, so this is another biggie.
- It destroys harmful bacteria.
- It promotes metabolism, which is the process of converting what we eat and drink into energy. Our bodies need energy for everything, so poor metabolism equals poor health.
- It fights fatigue and increases energy.
- It regulates blood sugar, increasing it when it’s low and reducing it when it’s high.
- It protects the cardiovascular system, the liver, the kidneys, and the lungs.
- It protects us from some effects of radiation.
- It builds bone marrow.
- It increases white blood cell count and strengthens the blood.
- It’s a diuretic.
Brain boosting adaptogen
This list is just the beginning. Astragalus is also used for UTIs (urinary tract infections), gastric ulcers, poor digestion, rheumatoid arthritis, slow-healing wounds, anemia, night sweats, poor sleep quality, and support for the weak and elderly.
It also increases the activity of an enzyme called telomerase. Telomeres are found at the ends of your chromosomes. As your chromosomes divide (that’s how they replicate), they tend to become shorter. Telomerase slows down this process by adding telomeres to the ends of your chromosomes. For this reason, some see telomere length as an important factor in aging and disease. (3) If they’re right, astragalus may slow down some aspects of the aging process.
Astragalus Dosage and Safety
Once you understand how versatile astragalus is, the next question is how to use it. It’s available in the form of tea, as a powder, in capsules, and as an extract.
If you’re looking for a general pick-me-up or minor immune booster, consider drinking it as a tea. For a stronger effect, try capsules, powders, or tinctures (alcohol and/or water extracts). To speed up wound healing, try a cream.
If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, you could add the dried root to a homemade soup stock. Just make sure you don’t miss any pieces when you strain it!
What more do you need to know?
Before you jump in, make sure you’ll be using Astragalus safely. Here are a few important warnings: (4)
· Because it strengthens your immune system, so anyone with an autoimmune disease should avoid it (unless working with a qualified professional), and it may decrease the effects of immunosuppressant drugs.
· Be careful if you have issues with your blood sugar or blood pressure, as astragalus can affect both.
· Doses of up to 60 grams a day for four months are safe. Going beyond that takes you into uncharted territory.
· If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, astragalus may not be safe for your baby.
If you plan to go beyond a daily cup of tea, it’s best to consult a professional.
Why not give it a try?
Astragalus has been used in TCM for over 2,000 years; it’s earned a reputation as a super-herb, especially for the immune system. If you’re feeling stressed, you’d like a little help getting through the cold and flu season, or you just like the idea of supporting nearly every organ and system in your body with one plant, it could be just what you’re looking for.
References
(1)https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336316197_A_REVIEW_OF_ASTRAGALUS_SPECIES_AS_FOODSTUFFS_DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTS_A_TRADITIONAL_CHINESE_MEDICINE_AND_A_PART_OF_MODERN_PHARMACEUTICAL_SCIENCE
(2)https://www.webmd.com/arthritis/about-inflammation
(3)https://www.healthline.com/health/telomeres#significance
(4)https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/astragalus#dosage
(5)https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334121942_Astragalus_an_Ancient_Medicinal_Root_in_Traditional_Chinese_Medicine_a_Gift_from_Silk_Road/link/5d18b315458515c11c046502/download
Image: 17 Remarkable Science Backed Benefits of Astragalus Root – My Health Maven
