Astragalus

[waiting]

Astragalus is an herb with some rather amazing health giving qualities. So much so, that you may be thinking snake oil in a moment...

Astragalus is a wonderful immunostimulater - it can fix a broken immune system.
From Healing Lyme by Stephen Harrod Buhner:
The herb has been found to be specifically useful in preventing or reversing immunosuppression from any source- age, bacterial, viral, or chemical. Phagocytosis is enhanced and superoxide dismutase production from macrophages is increased.
The herb boosts Th1 and decreases Th2.

Astragalus guards the heart from viral infections and can reverse heart damage.

Astragalus acts as an anti-inflammatory. This action is great for arthritis and allergies.

Astragalus helps to protect the brain with its antioxidant effects, which prevents senility. For me, it has helped my short term memory a lot.

Astragalus increases stamina.

and Astragalus protects the liver from many chemicals, and helps the liver to heal.

The herb is very safe - China has been using it for over 2,000 years with no side effects. There are a few instances where the Th1 response of astragalus is not good, late stage lyme disease being one of them.

and that's not all, there is more!
Astragalus is inexpensive, should be easily found in Chinese markets (Huang-Qi), is easy to grow and has a sweet taste.
The downside to growing it yourself is, it takes the roots 4 years to have the potency that is desired.

(most of this information comes from Stephen Buhner's book, Healing Lyme, but I have been using this herb for almost 2 years and appreciate it very much!)

[deesalie]

We sell a lot of Astragalus with excellent results!

Astragalus is inexpensive, should be easily found in Chinese markets (Huang-Qi), is easy to grow and has a sweet taste.
The downside to growing it yourself is, it takes the roots 4 years to have the potency that is desired.

Healthfood stores will also have it

[Trogdor]

I've used Astragalus with great results in the past. The one thing I keep coming across is "do not use when fever or elevated temperature is present."

Does your book have any more insight into that ?

[waiting]

I've used Astragalus with great results in the past. The one thing I keep coming across is "do not use when fever or elevated temperature is present."

Does your book have any more insight into that ?

In both books, Herbal Antibiotics and Healing Lyme by Stephen Buhner, he discusses Astragalus in depth (healing lyme is the most informative) and he never mentions any issues with fever. However, I looked the herb up in Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica and it says: "Contraindicated in Deficient Yin patterns with Heat signs." and "Contraindicated in Exterior Excess Heat patterns." If my brain wasn't fuzzy with a cold, I'd try to figure out what that meant. :giggle: And I'm not sure if Chinese Medicine prefers to cool down a fever, or let it go.

editing to add this: I also found the following passage in Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica :
"Stabalizes the Exterior and stops sweating: used for Deficient conditions with spontaneous sweating as it stabilizes the Protective Qi. It also tonifies the Lungs and is used for frequent colds or shortness of breath. Depending on how it is combined, it may be used for excessive sweating in Deficient Qi, Deficient Yang, or Deficient Yin patterns. This function of stabilizing the Exterior may be used to aid in producing a therapeutic sweat when diaphoretics do not work."

I've taken Astragalus while I've had a fever... last night actually, and I've never noticed any problems with it. I don't think it stops the fever. :shrug:

[Trogdor]

Thanks !
I also found this...granted my only exposure to literature about Astragalus is this book "Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child". Although hardly a definitive text on using herbs for healing , it was a great beginners guide to walk me thru some crucial times.

Throughout the book it says :

*Astragalus has a rich concentration of trace minerals and micronutrients and it strengthens the immune system.
*Do not give for more than ten days in a row as it will lose its effectiveness.
*This herb should not be given if a fever or other signs of infection are present.

I'd love to pick your brain a wee bit more if you don't mind. Do your books say anything on "not using for more than ten days " ? Or anything about using for infection ?

I use astragalus , licorice and more I can't think of right now to help with my asthma (when it gets out of control).

The book does have a nice recipe for soup.(I have yet to try *sheepish*)

1 astragalus root strip
1 burdock root
10 cups of water
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp sage
6 cups vegetables cut into bite size pieces (some choices are broccoli, cauliflower , carrots , celery , green peppers , parsley , potatoes , squash , zucchini , and string beans)
1 cup cooked barley

Simmer the astragalus and burdock in the water with the thyme and sage for 20-30 minutes. Strain out the herbs and use the broth for the soup.
Add veggies and barley to the broth and simmer for one hour.
Serve warm.

[waiting]

I'll easily confess that I'm not a herb expert, so I have much to learn too.

However, I've been taking Astragalus every day for the past 600 or so days, and I'm fine. :LMAO:
Stephen Buhner recommends taking this herb every day if you live in an area that harbors lyme disease, and you want to prevent the disease.

There are people who believe that long term use of an herb is bad, and I haven't dug into the reasons why they think that way - mainly because I wonder if they drink coffee every morning.:giggle:

I can find no mention of not taking the herb if you have an infection. The only infection that I know of which Astragalus can be bad, is in late stage lyme disease. In that case, Astragalus can make the symptoms worse because the lyme bacteria hijacks the Th1 response for its own benefit.

Astraglus has been used in China for 2,000 to 5,000 years, with no toxicity reports.

Some day I do want to try cooking with it - mainly cuz I do enjoy the flavor. Let me know if you try your recipe! and what is a Burdock?

[deesalie]

My understanding of astragalus is that it is used to support the immune system, particularly for deep seeded conditions, & shouldn't be used during the acute phase of an illness... as to why though, I'm not 100% sure...

[cartersmom]

*Do not give for more than ten days in a row as it will lose its effectiveness.
*This herb should not be given if a fever or other signs of infection are present.

My naturopath (she into chises medicine too) told me to use this herb when I'm well for 2 weeks and then go off and use echinecea for 2 weeks and to flip flop between the too for immune support. She told me not to use either while ill not because it's dangerous, but because it will not be of much help. For acute infections she has me use a mushroom blend and arabinogalactan. (sp?)

[Lexie]

and what is a Burdock?

One of the more potent blood purifiers.

[waiting]

One of the more potent blood purifiers.
Thanks! Does it have a pleasant taste?

When I began taking Astragalus I had been infected with lyme disease for about 2 to 3 months. I was experiencing odd heart rhythms, achy knee joints, lethargy and short term memory loss. Once I began the astragalus all of the issues cleared up quickly, except the lethargy, and even though it has taken a long while for me to rid my body of the infection, those issues have not returned, and I've been using astragalus the whole time.

My dh began using astragalus shortly after I did, for the mental clarity, and he no longer gets sick at all.

If the Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica suggested that astragalus was not to be used during infection, I would not argue with it. But many of the recommended uses are for during an infection...
like, "Promotes the discharge of pus and healing" and "used for postpartum fever due to Deficient Qi and Blood." and "... is used for frequent colds or shortness of breath."

For me, my choice was to take astragalus long term or suffer the deabilitating effects of lyme disease; as a pleasant surprise, I discovered astragalus fixes a life long issue I've had with a memory recall problem. This herb has been a wonderful help to me!

[Lexie]

Ooo, I'm apparently a bad person to ask about the taste of herbs, The only one that offends my taste buds is vervain, but part of that is the form I chose--powder. Otherwise, I have no problem with any of them. Meanwhile, my DH groans the moment he tastes one. I absolutely love slippery elm in soymilk with a little honey, but my mother's DP groaned for that too. I can't win. :(

[waiting]

oii, try andrographis, that one puckers the tongue. ick! :eek:
but the reason I ask about Burdocks taste is the recipe Trogdor posted with burdock root in it.
never tried vervain. :)

[Gitti]

I just brought out my Astragalus to see what I've written on the jar. (I keep all loose tees in a glass jar in the dark pantry.)

It says: General immune booster, liver stimulant, aids the kidney, diuretic, detoxicating and reduced proteinuria, used to boost immunity after drug or radiation treatment, protects body cells against heavy metals and chemical toxins. Good source of selenium.

Think I'll leave it out and make it tomorrow morning. We've been drinking "stark macher tee" (make me strong tea) which is actually robois tea.

My grandson started calling it "stark macher tee" when he was about 3 years old and it stuck.