Astragalus

Botanical Name:

Astragalus membranaceus bunge

(syn. A. propinquus Bunge, A. mongholicus Bunge) ²

Family:

Fabaceae

Phylum: Angiosperm

Class: Eudicot

Genus: Astragalus L.

Common names: Milkvetch, TCM – Huang Qi

Botanical Information

Identification Characteristics

Astragalus is a deciduous perennial with pinnately compound light green leaflets on oppositely arranged leaves. Blossoms develop into racemes with pealike yellow flowers in the fall. These mature into long seedpods.

Potential look a likes and differences between them.

Astragalus lentiginosus and A. mollissimus contain the neurotoxin swainsonine linked to livestock poisoning. These species should not be used for human consumption. Astragalus membranaceus is the species used in TCM and Western herbalism. ⁸

Astragalus Lentiginosus

Astragalus Mollissimus

Native Region: Native to East Asia - China, Mongolia, and Siberia

Habitats: Dry sandy soils, mountain thickets, meadows, coniferous forests. Altitudes 800-2000. ¹⁰

Geographical Distribution: Arkansas, Colorado, Montana, South Dakota, Wyoming

Cultivating Guidelines

Hardy in USDA zones 4-10. Soak seed overnight and scarify with sandpaper. Sow seeds in spring or fall. Germination within 6 to 20 days with bottom heat. Drought tolerant, do not overwater. Space 2 feet apart with good drainage. Astragalus is appealing to gophers. Companion plants – blackberry, safflower, ephedra, lily, wolfberry, and ashwagandha. Grow in full sun with sandy soils. Nitrogen Fixer. Gophers are major pest. Deer occasionally feed on flowering tops. Some wild species are poisonous. ³

Harvesting Guidelines

The root should be harvested in the fourth year in spring or fall. Roots are whitish yellowish tap roots that grow 3 to 4 feet straight down. Roots should be firm without discoloration. Yield is ¾ a pound per plant. Possibly 6232 pounds per acre. ³

Nutritional Information

Daily intake: 10-30 grams, up to 100 grams. ⁶

Nutrient	Rank	Per Daily Intake of 100g⁹	DRI	Suggested Supplementation⁷
Silicon	Very High	2mg	12-16mg	10-100mg
Zinc	Very High	.50mg	1.1-1.4mg	10-50mg
Magnesium	Very High	500mg	1.8-2.3mg	3-5mg
Iron	High	2mg	310-420mg	250-500mg
Dietary Fiber	Very High	60% of DRI	25-30g

Folk History and Use:

Astragalus has a long history in TCM. There are records of its supplemental use in the Medical Casebook of Shi Shan (Shi Shan Yi An), published in 1531. It was introduced to the USDA in 1925 for the research needs of forage-crop specialists. Astragalus has been cultivated in North America for about 10 years. North America's primary consumer use is based on the immunological properties of astragalus. Astragalus has been used in TCM for vital energy and to strengthen bodily defenses. It is also used for tissue healing, diuresis, and disperse poisons. ⁵

Energetics: Slightly warming. ⁴

Taste: Sweet. ⁴

Constituents:

More than 40 saponins (e.g., astragaloside). Flavonoids include isoflavones, pterocarpans, and isoflavones, polysaccharides. Major metabolites of flavonoid constituents are glucuronides. Multiple trace minerals, amino acids, and coumarins.

Herbal Actions:

Antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, anticancer, diuretic. ⁸

Tonic, liver protectant, anti-inflammatory, vasodilator, anticancer, and as hypertensive agent, renoprotective.

Topical - vasodilator, speed healing.

In combination with Ligustrum lucidum (glossy privet), used orally for treating breast, cervical, and lung cancer.

Indications:

Common cold, URI, swine flu, strengthen and regulate the immune system.
Hepatitis B, chemotherapy toxicity, chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes, menopausal symptoms.
Allergic rhinitis – standardized to contain 40% polysaccharides – 160 mg orally 2xd for 3-6 weeks (improve rhinorrhea, sneezing, and itching).
Lung cancer – taking supplement may increase the effectiveness of platinum-based chemotherapy or radiotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Reduce the risk of death at 1 and 2 years by 33% and at 3 years by 24%. ¹

Preparation methods: Nourishing food in soups, decoctions, powders, concentrated granules, extracts, tablets, capsules, and pills. ³

Plant parts used: Root (4th year of growth). Thick pieces of soft chewy golden-brown root. Nutty aroma and flavor.

Dosing strategies⁹:

Adults
- Standardized root extract – 160 mg 2x day for 3-6 weeks.
- 9-30 grams when indicated. ⁴
Children
- Food under 3: 2-7.5 grams 2xd, 3-6 yrs old:10 g 2x day, 6 plus yrs: 15 grams 2xd. Reduces risk of infection.
Oral
- 1-2 tsp dried herb steeped in tea.

Contraindications (medications, life stages, health issues, etc.):

Interaction with drugs: Cyclophosphamide, immunosuppressants, and lithium. May exacerbate certain autoimmune diseases.

Astragalus lentiginosus and A. mollissimus contain the neurotoxin swainsonine linked to livestock poisoning.

Astragalus Chai

Yield 1 serving

Ingredients

20-30 grams astragalus root (approximately 15 to 20 small slices)
1 TBSP dried orange peel *
2 TSP minced fresh or dried ginger
½ TSP cinnamon chips
½ TSP whole peppercorns
1 or 2 cardamom pods
2 whole cloves

*If you make your own dried orange peels, mince finely before drying. They are difficult to cut once dried.

Stovetop method

Place all ingredients in a pot with 2 ½ cups of water.
Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cover, simmer for 20 minutes.
Strain, add milk and honey as desired.
Drink within 36 hours.

Slow cooker method

Place all ingredients in a slow cooker with 2 ½ c water.
Set to low heat, cover, and let cook overnight.
If the water looks low, add more water.

Citations:

Cheng, Y.Y., Hsieh, C.H., & Tsai, T.H. (2018). Concurrent administration of anticancer chemotherapy drug and herbal medicine on perspective of pharmacokinetics. Journal of Food and Drug Analysis, volume 26, issue 2. Retrieved from: https://www.jfda-online.com/journal/vol26/iss2/1/.
Amiri, M.S., Joharchi, M.R., Nadaf, M., and Nasseh, Y. (2020). Ethnobotanical knowledge of Astragalus spp.: The world’s largest genus of vascular plants. Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine, 10(2), pp 128-142. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7103437/.
Schafer, P. (2011). The Chinese medicinal herb farm. Pg 42. Chelsea Green Publishing: VT.
Tierra, M. (1998). The way of Chinese herbs. NY: Pocket Books.
Foster, S. (nd). The secret garden: Important Chinese herbs in American horticulture: A photo essay. HerbalGram, 64(pp 44-51).
Forte, R. (nd). Astragalus Health Benefits. Herbs with Rosalee. Retrieved from: https://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/astragalus-health-benefits.html.
Murray, M.T. & Pizzorno, J. (2012). The encyclopedia of natural medicine (3rd ed). Pg 72. NY: Atria Paperback.
Natural Medicines (2021). Astragalus monograph. Retrieved from: https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/databases/food,-herbs-supplements/professional.aspx?productid=963
Pederson, M. (1998). Nutritional herbology: A reference guide to herbs. IN: Whitman Publications.
Plants For A Future (nd). Astragalus membranaceus – Moench. Retrieved from: https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Astragalus+membranaceus.