| Astragalus membranaceus
Leguminosae
Names: Milk-vetch root, huang qi
Part Used: Root.
Constituents: Glycosides, Polysaccharides,
choline, betaine, rumatakenin, [[beta]]-sitosterol
Actions: Immunomodulator
Indications: Used since ancient times in
Traditional Chinese Medicine, it has become an important remedy in the west since its effects upon the immune system came to light. As the
power of immunological research is focused on medicinal herbs a whole new array of effects are being discovered. The polysaccharides in
Astragalus have been shown to intensify phagocytosis of reticulo-endothelial systems, stimulate pituitary-adrenal cortical activity
and restore depleted red blood cell formation in bone marrow. Astragalus is also one of the herbs known to stimulate the bodies natural
production of interferon. The therapeutic potential offered is very exciting. The conclusion
being drawn by most western herbalist's is that Astragalus is an ideal remedy for anyone who might be immuno-compromised in any way.
This can range from someone who easily `catches' colds to someone with cancer.
Preparations & Dosage:
Decoction: put l teaspoonful of the root into a cup of water, bring to boil and simmer for l0-l5 minutes. This should be drunk three times a day.
Tincture: take 2-4 ml of the tincture three times a day.
Citations from the Medline database for the genus Astragalus:
Astragalus, Chai ZN [Effects of Codonopsis pilosular-Astragalus injection on the
cyclicnucleotide levels and phosphodiesterase activity in platelets]
Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih (1984 Aug) 4(8):486-7 (Published In Chinese)Chai ZN [Effects of Codonopsis pilosulae-Astragalus injection on superficial activity and ultrastructure
of platelets]
Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih (1984 Aug) 4(8):484-5 (Published In Chinese) Chang CY Hou YD Xu FM
[Effects of Astragalus membranaceus on enhancement of mouse natural killer cell activity]
Chung Kuo I Hsueh Ko Hsueh Yuan Hsueh Pao (1983 Aug) 5(4):231-4 Chen LJ Shen ML Wang MY Zhai SK Liu MZ [Effect of Astragalus polysaccharides
on phagocytic function in mice(author's transl)]
Chung Kuo Yao Li Hsueh Pao (1981 Sep) 2(3):200-4 (Published In Chinese) Chu DT Lepe-Zuniga J Wong WL LaPushin R Mavligit GM Fractionated extract of Astragalus membranaceus, a Chinese medicinal herb, potentiates LAK cell cytotoxicity generated by a low dose of recombinantinterleukin-2.
J Clin Lab Immunol (1988 Aug) 26(4):183-7 Chu DT Wong WL Mavligit GM Immunotherapy with Chinese medicinal herbs. II. Reversal of cyclophosphamide-induced immune suppression by administration of fractionated Astragalus membranaceus in vivo.
J Clin Lab Immunol (1988 Mar) 25(3):125-9 Chu DT Wong WL Mavligit GM Immunotherapy with Chinese medicinal herbs. I. Immune restoration of local xenogeneic graft-versus-host reaction in cancer patients by fractionated Astragalus membranaceus in vitro.
J Clin Lab Immunol (1988 Mar) 25(3):119-23 Dong DC Zhou LF Chen JX [Changes in proteinuria, renal function and immunity after treatment withinjections of a solution of Astragalus membranaceus]
Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih (1987 Jul) 7(7):403-4, 388 (Published InChinese) Geng CS [Advances in immuno-pharmacological studies on Astragalusmembranaceus]
| 
Tell A Friend
Printer friendly version 
Whilst working in conservation and lecturing in ecology and the eco-crisis for the University of Wales, David Hoffman became convinced that to heal the world, to embrace planetary wholeness and responsibility for it 
