Traditional Chinese medicine has used astragalus for many conditions. Medical journals suggest the herb may stimulate the immune system and the body's ability to resist and combat various diseases.

While there are many thousands of varieties of astragalus the Chinese version of the herb has been the most extensively tested, both chemically and pharmacologically. Astragalus contains a variety of compounds, including flavonoids, polysaccharides, triterpene glycosides (e.g., astragalosides I-VII), amino acids, and trace minerals.*

Research in China indicates that astragalus may offer antioxidant benefits in people with severe forms of heart disease. Other studies suggest that astragalus can benefit immune function and improve survival in some people with cancer. However, not all studies support these claims, and more are needed.*

In the United States, astragalus has been the subject of much study in recent years. Studies at the University of Houston have shown that astragalus may help improve immune function by increasing T-cell counts.*

Because astragalus has many potential applications and few, if any, side effects, it holds promise as an alternative treatment option.

Astragalus has been used in connection with the following:

• Heart health*
• Diabetes Support*
• Anti-Aging and Antioxidative Support*

• Anti-Inflammatory*
• Protects Cardiovascular System*
• Provides Supplemental Therapy for Chronic Asthma*
• Boosts Immune function*
• Slows or Prevents Tumors*
• Fights Fatigue*
• Liver Protection*

Astragalus has no known harmful side-effects.

Astragalus is an exciting and potentially promising herb. Further research may prove astragalus to be invaluable in the medical treatment of a variety of conditions and illnesses.

Supporting Literature

Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics, 2d ed. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1996, 50-53.Shu HY. Oriental Materia Medica: A Concise Guide. Palos Verdes, CA: Oriental Healing Arts Press, 1986, 520-523.Klepser T, Nisly N. Astragalus as adjunctive therapy in immunocompromised patients. Alt Med Alert 1999;Nov:125-128.

More Info:

• According to traditional Chinese medicine, the astragalus root is good for problems that arise in the body because of spleen deficiencies. However, here’s a look at some of the other ways in which it can benefit us:
• Astragalus root has been used since time immemorial to infuse the body with energy, gain more strength, and enhance metabolism. Moreover, it has been credited with making the immune system stronger as well.*
• People suffering from night sweats seem to have benefited from the astragalus root. It also helps keep away colds and prevents diarrhea, thus making it an overall excellent medicine.*
• Wounds and injuries seem to heal faster when astragalus root is mixed in with the medicine and consumed.*
• Some of the other functions performed by the astragalus root include improving lung function, bettering the health of the adrenal glands and the gastrointestinal tract, and reducing fatigue greatly.*
• There has been some research conducted on the effects of astragalus root, which shows that it can reduce some of the severity of atopic dermatitis and even asthma. However, these studies have mostly been conducted on rodents, and human trials haven’t yet been performed to ensure the accuracy of these claims. Nevertheless, there is plenty of hope with the astragalus root.*
• Research on the benefits of the astragalus root has been conducted in China extensively, but it hasn't been corroborated as yet by Western medical practitioners. Despite some skepticism on this subject, it’s good to know that the astragalus root is being used for the following health problems as well:
• Astragalus can help control the hazardous effects of chemotherapy, which is the standard procedure to kill cancerous cells. These studies have also claimed that astragalus root induces the production of interferon, an important chemical of the immune system which also helps fight cancer.*
• Some studies have indicated that astragalus can be used in the fight against AIDS. It is also known to be helpful against lupus and can even prevent aging.*
• Clinical studies in China have shown that astragalus root can be used to treat chronic aplastic anemia. The results were indeed very favorable.*
• The Astragalus root is mainly composed of polysaccharides, which have some beneficial effects on insulin resistance and hyperglycemia.*
• There are some studies that have shown that the astragalus root can protect the heart tissue and prevent heart failure as well.*
• In some cases, the astragalus root can act as a diuretic and be of great help to those suffering from kidney problems.*
• The Astragalus root contains cycloastragenols and astragalosides, two powerful molecules that have been shown to activate telomerase enzyme production.*

All these studies have claimed that there are no side effects on humans. However, the results of these studies have mostly been published in obscure journals in the Far East, and the promises of the efficacy of this root haven’t yet breached Western barriers. Nevertheless, the astragalus root appears to be a wonder herb, and much is to be said for all these studies that have been conducted by Chinese scientists.*

Side effects

Typically, astragalus is completely safe and non-toxic and does not have any side effects. However, when taken along with certain other medications, there may be some complications because of the interaction of Astragalus with the drug. Also, the astragalus root can increase the effects of immune system suppressants, anticoagulants, and hypoglycemic agents, so it’s better to consult a doctor before taking astragalus root.*

Astragalus Root Extract is commonly used in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic nephritis, Epstein-Barr syndrome, and certain cancers. Considered stronger than Echinacea and can be used by those who suffer from autoimmune conditions.*

Antioxidative Activity*
Astragalus membranaceus has strong protective effects on free radical-mediated renal tubular damage induced by high-energy shock waves in a rabbit study. [5] Probably, because of its strong anti-oxidative activities, astragalus may carry many health benefits. Further, swainsonine Golgi α-mannosidase II activity in the N-glycan biosynthesis pathway. As a result, swainsonine inhibits the production of complex β1,6-branched N-linked glycans, which are related to the malignant phenotype of tumor cells. [A1]

Asthma*
Ninety asthmatic children during the remission stage were assigned to the astragalus treatment group (Group A), the hormone treatment group (Group B), and the combined group of astragalus and hormone treatment (Group C), 30 in each. Thirty healthy children were set up as the control group. The total effective rate was higher in Group B (73.3%) than in Group A (66.7%), but with no statistical difference between the two groups. It was highest in Group C (96.7%), showing a significant difference from the other two groups. Thus, astragalus played a role in preventing the recurrence of asthma, astragalus may benefit people at risk of asthma. [A7]

Cancers*
Roots of Astragalus species are used to treat leukemia and for wound healing in Turkish folk medicine, and astragalus root is believed to benefit people at risk of various cancers. IL-2 inducing activity of the triterpene saponins might be the mechanism involved for its immunomodulatory and anticancer effects. [6] Astragalus saponins exert promising anti-tumorigenic effects by suppressing the growth of HT-29 human colon cancer cells and tumor xenograft. Astragalus saponins also showed that it could modulate the invasiveness and angiogenesis of human gastric adenocarcinoma cells besides pro-apoptotic and anti-proliferative activities. [A9]

Cholesterol*
The effect of Astragalus polysaccharide (dosage: 0.25g/kg/d) on plasma and liver lipids, fecal bile acids and neutral sterol, cholesterol absorption and synthesis, HMG-CoA reductase activity, and gene and protein expressions in the liver and small intestine was investigated in twenty-four hypercholesterolemia hamsters. Treatment periods lasted for three months. Astragalus polysaccharide significantly lowered plasma total cholesterol by 45.8%, triglycerides by 30%, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol by 47.4%, comparable to simvastatin. Further examinations revealed that astragalus polysaccharide reduced total cholesterol and triglycerides in the liver, increased fecal bile acid and neutral sterol excretion, inhibited cholesterol absorption, and by contrast, increased hepatic cholesterol synthesis and HMG-CoA reductase activity. Plasma total cholesterol or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significantly correlated with cholesterol absorption rates. Astragalus polysaccharide up-regulated cholesterol-7α-hydroxylase and LDL-receptor gene expressions. [A5]

Diabetes*
In a study, ten-week-old fat-fed streptozotocin-treated rats, an animal model of type II diabetes mellitus, were treated with Astragalus polysaccharide (dosage 400 mg/kg p.o.) for 5 weeks. The diabetic rats responded to astragalus polysaccharide with a significant decrease in body weight, plasma glucose, and improved insulin sensitivity. [4]

IMMUNO-MODULATION*
Astragalus has demonstrated a wide range of immunopotentiating effects and has proven efficacious as an adjunct cancer therapy. [2] Astragalus polysaccharides can activate IL-12-producing CD11c(high)CD45RB(low) dendritic cell, and further induce the activation of the immune function of T lymphocyte with shifting of Th2 to Th1 in vitro. APS can enhance the immune response via promoting the phenotypic and functional maturation of CD11c(high)CD45RB(low) DC. [A2] Astragalus polysaccharides markedly increased the titer of foot-and-mouth disease virus-specific antibody in a dose-dependent manner, and up-regulated mRNA expression of IFN-γ and IL-6. [A3]

Infection*
Astragalus verus Olivier, Fabaceae has been used against ringworm in Kurdish ethnomedicine throughout millennia. [A10]

Intestinal Mucosa Injury*
Previous studies have shown that Astragalus membranaceus could attenuate intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury induced by hemorrhagic shock in rats. Using a hemorrhagic shock rat model to examine the effect of Astragalus membranaceus on intestinal mucosa injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion, researchers found that Astragalus
membranaceus could partly attenuate intestinal mucosa ischemia-reperfusion injury. [A8]

Liver Issues*
Astragalus membranaceus is a popular traditional Chinese medicine, commonly used to treat liver disease. Injection of astragalus solution decreased fibrosis and in the expression of laminin in a study of rat hepatic stellate cells. [3] In a study, rats were randomly divided into a normal control group, a liver fibrosis model group and a root extract of Paeonia lactiflora and Astragalus membranaceus (dosage 40, 80, 160 mg•kg-1) treated group. After a 16-week treatment, Paeonia lactiflora and Astragalus membranaceus-treated rats showed significantly reduced liver damage and symptoms of liver fibrosis upon pathological examination. Administration of Paeonia lactiflora and Astragalus membranaceus root extracts significantly decreased serum HA, PC III levels, and content of hydroxyproline in the liver tissue of fibrotic rats. It also restored the decrease in SOD and GSH-Px activities. [A6] Thus, the astragulus root may benefit people at risk of liver fibrosis.

Metabolic Syndrome*
Astragaloside IV, a major active constituent of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch) Bge., is able to prevent the development of hypertension and endothelial dysfunction in fructose-fed rats, by affecting the lipid metabolism, endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation, and the nitric oxide-cGMP-related pathway. [A4]

Neuronal Disorders*
Alzheimer's disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder marked by a progressive loss of memory and cognitive function. Stress-level glucocorticoids are correlated with dementia progression in patients with Alzheimer's disease. In a study, 12-month male mice were chronically treated with stress-level dexamethasone (dosage 5 mg/kg) and extract of Astragalus (dosage, 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg) or Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1, dosage 6.5 mg/kg) for 21 days. It was found that that dexamethasone can induce learning and memory impairments and neuronal cell apoptosis. Treatment groups with Astragalus extract (dosage 20 and 40 mg/kg) or Rg1 (dosage 6.5 mg/kg) significantly improve learning and memory. Thus, astragalus extract may benefit people at risk of certain neuronal disorders. [A11]

Astragalus side effects*

Astragalus is probably SAFE for most healthy adults. The astragalus side effects are not known. Although astragalus side effects have not been reported, high doses might affect the immune system and cause hypoglycemia.

Our NON-GMO Astragalus Root Extract is used in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic nephritis, Epstein-Barr syndrome. Considered stronger than Echinacea and can be used by those who suffer from autoimmune conditions.

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