Astragalus > Sources & Forms

Nutritional Supplement

Astragalus

How to Use It

Textbooks on Chinese herbs recommend taking 9–15 grams of the crude herb per day in decoction form.8 A decoction is made by boiling the root in water for a few minutes and then brewing the tea. Alternatively, 3–5 ml of tincture three times per day, are sometimes recommended.

References

1. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics, 2d ed. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1996, 50-3.

2. Shu HY. Oriental Materia Medica: A Concise Guide. Palos Verdes, CA: Oriental Healing Arts Press, 1986, 521-3.

3. Klepser T, Nisly N. Astragalus as an adjunctive therapy in immunocompromised patients. Alt Med Alert 1999;Nov:125-8 [review].

4. Qun L, Luo Q, Zhang ZY, et al. Effects of astragalus on IL-2/IL-2R system in patients with maintained hemodialysis. Clin Nephrol 1999;52:333-4 [letter].

5. Tang W, Eisenbrand G. Chinese Drugs of Plant Origin. Berlin: Springer Verlag, 1992, 1056.

6. Li SQ, Yuan RX, Gao H. Clinical observation on the treatment of ischemic heart disease with Astragalus membranaceus. Chung Kuo Chung His I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih 1995;15:77-80 [in Chinese].

7. Foster S, Yue CX. Herbal Emissaries: Bringing Chinese Herbs to the West. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press, 1992, 27-33.

8. Foster S. Herbs for Your Health. Loveland, CO: Interweave Press, 1996, 6-7.

9. Tong X, Xiao D, Yao F, Huang T. Astragalus membranaceus as a cause of increased CA19-9 and liver and kidney cysts: a case report. J Clin Pharm Ther 2014;39:561–3.