Astragalus is a tonic herb that has been used for thousands of years in Chinese medicine to treat a variety of health conditions.
It can be taken in various ways, and it's believed to hold many powerful healing properties.
But what exactly is astragalus, and can it be taken daily? Read on!
What Is Astragalus?
Astragalus is a herb native to China and other parts of Asia. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), it is known as Huang Qi or Huáng Qí and has been used for its wide variety of health benefits.
The plant's root contains saponins, which are considered to have anti-inflammatory effects.
Astragalus comes in several forms, including capsules, tablets, tinctures, and teas, and is also available as a dietary supplement.
How Does Astragalus Work?
The active ingredient in astragalus is called polysaccharides. Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates found in plants.
They're typically made up of long chains of sugar molecules joined together by chemical bonds.
Polysaccharides are thought to help with immune function, blood clotting, blood pressure and wound healing. They may also play a role in reducing inflammation and pain.
To discover more about this, read our full article on how astragalus works.
Can Astragalus Be Taken Daily?
Astragalus is considered a safe supplement for most people to take on a daily basis; however, research into its long-term effects is currently limited.
Nevertheless, has been conducted into the efficacy of Astragalus on several conditions, with treatments at different dosages.
Collectively, these studies suggest that astragalus may be safe in doses up to 60 mg daily when treating specific conditions, however, the studies indicate that a dose of between 10-30 grams is sufficient for most ailments.
It should be noted that doses up to 60 mg were only trialled for four months and that there is also no official dosage recommendation for astragalus consumption.
Even though astragalus appears to be well tolerated by most people, you should always consult a licensed medical practitioner or your GP before starting any supplements or alternative medicine.
When Should You Not Take Astragalus?
Although astragalus is considered a safe supplement, it may not agree with everyone.
Unfortunately, it does interact with other medications and may exacerbate the symptoms of some pre-existing health conditions.
There are three main types of drugs that interact with Astragalus.
These are:
1.) Lithium
Lithium is a psychiatric medication often used to treat mood disorders such as bipolar disorder and manic depressive disorder.
Unfortunately, astragalus can affect how the body manages lithium levels, making it harder to leave the system.
This is because astragalus has diuretic qualities, which can cause dangerous lithium levels to build up in the body.
For this reason, if you've been prescribed lithium, you'll be advised not to consume astragalus.
2.) Immunosuppressant Drugs
Immunosuppressant drugs are also called immunosuppressive agents or antirejection medications.
These drugs are often prescribed to patients who have overactive immune systems or are at risk of rejecting transplanted organs by slowing down the immune system's response to attack healthy organs and tissue.
Astragalus has immunostimulatory effects, meaning it can activate or increase the activity of the components in the immune system.
If you've been prescribed an immunosuppressant drug, you should avoid taking astragalus as it may interact with your medication.
3.) Diuretics
Because astragalus has diuretic qualities, it may interfere with the functioning of other diuretic drugs.
If you're taking diuretic medication, your medical professional may advise you not to take astragalus as it may make the effects of your existing medication stronger.
Note: Pregnant Or Breastfeeding Women
If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, your healthcare provider may also advise you not to take astragalus.
This is primarily because research into the effects of astragalus consumption in pregnant or breastfeeding women is still very limited.
What Are The Side Effects Of Astragalus?
Astragalus is considered a safe supplement with no major complications recorded.
Everyone has a slightly different constitution, however, and as with nearly all supplements, there have been instances recorded of some discomfort and minor adverse reactions in a very small percentage of the population.
These reactions include:
- Nausea and, in rare cases, vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Itchiness
- Rashes
- A runny nose
Again - it should be noted that these side effects appear to be quite rare.
Astragalus Dosing
Astragalus is typically consumed as a dried root, extract, or liquid - usually made into tea, tincture or mixed in with food and drink.
NOTE: We recommend and use both SuperFeast Astragalus Extract and Teelixir Astragalus Extracts.
Sometimes, it's even used in combination with other herbs and as it stands - there is no official dosage recommendation for astragalus.
However, studies have been performed to assess how effective astragalus is at treating certain conditions.
We'll list these studies below and the dosages used to give you an idea of the dose you may require if you are seeking astragalus for a specific condition.
NOTE: Astragalus is an alternative supplemental medicine - consult your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms and conditions first and foremost.
Chest Pain
For the treatment of coronary heart disease and angina-related chest pain, one study found that astragalus (when paired with other herbs) effectively reduced symptoms when given at a dosage of 20 g.
Seasonal Allergies
This study indicates that taking 160 mg of astragalus daily could reduce the symptoms associated with seasonal allergies, such as allergic rhinitis.
Menopausal Symptoms
Astragalus may also work to reduce the symptoms of menopause.
Although no exact dosage is given, astragalus is anecdotally effective for many people when orally ingested at doses between 3-15 mg.
There is still much research work to be done, but early trials indicate that astragalus may also be effective in helping to treat a wide range of other symptoms and conditions such as:
- HIV
- Myocarditis
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
- Liver Scarring (Cirrhosis)
- Lung Cancer
- Kidney Disease
- Irregular Menstruation
- Chemotherapy-Related Fatigue
- High Blood Pressure
- Diabetes
If you're suffering from any of the above conditions and want to try a course of astragalus, we recommend talking to your doctor to determine the correct dosage for you.
The Bottom Line
Astragalus has been used as a herbal medicine in ancient cultures for millennia. It's still widely used today, and although modern science has a long way to uncover its healing properties from a ‘clinical perspective’ - early results are promising.
The fact that it is very well tolerated by most people means that nearly everyone can use it without experiencing any adverse effects.
That being said, always consult a medical professional before taking it and if you do decide to start taking it, start out with small doses and slowly increase them so your body can adapt and adjust.