Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Astragalus_membranaceus.jpg
Common name Milk vetch
Plant family Fabaceae
Parts used Root (Bone, 2003)
Qualities Sweet, warm (Holmes, 2007).
Constituents
Polysaccharides (astragalans or astragologlucans), triterpine saponins (astragalosides I-VII), isoflavones and other flavonoids, amino acids, phytosterols (Stargrove, Treasure & McKee, 2008).
Actions
Immune enhancing, tonic, adaptogenic, cardiotonic, diuretic, hypotensive, antioxidant (Bone, 2003).
Cardioprotective (anti-ischemic, fibrinolytic, antioxidant), immunostimulant, immunomodulating, antiviral, myeloprotective, anti-diabetic, hypoglycaemic, increase insulin sensitivity (Stargrove, Treasure & McKee, 2008). Evidence of chemoprotective properties (see Indications).
Indications
Impaired immunity, such as in chronic viral infections, as a prophylactic for common colds (Bone, 2003).
Chemotherapy toxicity may be reduced with the use of astragalus- a 2002 study found that astragalus injection given intravenously with chemotherapy reduced the loss of white blood cells when compared with a control group, and the authors suggested that a supplementing chemotherapy with astralagus could inhibit the development of tumor, decrease the toxic-adverse effect of chemotherapy, elevate the immune function of organism and improve the quality of life in patients (Duan & Wang, 2002).
A 2012 study found that chemotherapy patients treated with an astragalus extract infusion suffered less from fatigue than a control (Chen et al., 2012).
Cardioprotective properties of a ginseng, astragalus and Angelicae sinensis combination were found to . reduce the frequency and severity of angina episodes (Liao et al., 1989).
Evidence suggests that astragalus can be of use in patients with type 2 diabetes- a 2003 study of the effect of astragalus extract injection showed that it could control blood glucose and insulin. Subjects, who were concurrently taking standard allopathic diabetes drugs, improved fasting and postprandial blood glucose and insulin levels Huang & Lu, 2003).
A 2009 study that used TCM to treat newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients found that a TCM combination of astragalus, goldthread, and honeysuckle was shown to ameliorate insulin resistance (Chao et al., 2009).
Cautions/Contraindications
The results of a 2009 study performed on pregnant rats and rabbits study with an astragaloside extract of the herb found that it could be toxic and lead the authors to advise caution to women using the herb during pregnancy.
Dosage
Per day, 5-7 g of the dried herb. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, astragalus is most commonly combined with other herbs (Rakel, 2012).
Per day 4.5-8.5 1:2 liquid extract, per week 30-60 ml of 1:2 liquid extract (Bone, 2003).
Combinations
A TCM combination of astragalus, goldthread, and honeysuckle was shown to amelioriate insulin resistance (Chao et al., 2009). A TCM combination of ginseng, astragalus and Angelicae sinensis combination were found to . reduce the frequency and severity of angina episodes (Liao et al., 1989).
References
Bone, K. (2003). A clinical guide to blending liquid herbs. Edinburgh [u.a.]: Churchill Livingstone.
Chao, M., Zou, D., Zhang, Y., Chen, Y., Wang, M., & Wu, H. et al. (2009). Improving insulin resistance with traditional Chinese medicine in type 2 diabetic patients. Endocr, 36(2), 268-274.
Chen, H., Lin, I., Chen, Y., Chang, K., Wu, M., & Su, W. et al. (2012). A novel infusible botanically-derived drug, PG2, for cancer-related fatigue: a phase II double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled study. Clinical And Investigative Medicine, 35(1), 1-11.
Duan, P., & Wang, Z. (2002). Clinical study on effect of Astragalus in efficacy enhancing and toxicity reducing of chemotherapy in patients of malignant tumor. Chinese Journal Of Integrated Traditional And Western Medicine, 22(7), 515-517.
Holmes, P. (2007). The energetics of Western herbs. Cotati, Calif.: Snow Lotus Press.
Huang, C., & Lu, Y. (2003). Effect of Astragalus injection on insulin resistance in auxiliary treating patients with diabetes mellitus type 2. Chinese Journal Of Integrated Traditional And Western Medicine, 23(10), 779-780.
Jiangbo, Z., Xuying, W., Yuping, Z., Xili, M., Yiwen, Z., & Tianbao, Z. (2009). Effect of astragaloside IV on the embryo-fetal development of Sprague-Dawley rats and New Zealand White rabbits. Journal Of Applied Toxicology, 29(5), 381-385.
Liao, J., Chen, J., Wu, Z., Guo, W., Zhao, L., & Qin, L. et al. (1989). Clinical and experimental studies of coronary heart disease treated with yi-qi huo-xue injection. Journal Of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 9(3), 193-198.
Rakel, D. (2012). Integrative medicine (3rd ed.). Saunders.
Stargrove, M., Treasure, J., & McKee, D. (2008). Herb, nutrient, and drug interactions. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby/Elsevier.