Re: Astragalus Root

February 6, 2004

Hey Tatezi-

Thanks for the info on Astralgus-I knew I got excited about it for good reason.

Or maybe I got so excited as there has not been much hope in my life lately-who

knows. I need some sun! Every day I have off from work lately, it is grey,

cloudy, and raining-argh!!! I ordered some (along with other things) for

husband to take-for its cardiac properties. He had developed the all-over

muscle hurting from the Rx statin prescribed for his high cholesterol. He

stopped taking it and the pain is receding. Actually, it is good that you

replied as I though of you while reading on Astralgus-wondered if it would help

some with the tiredness. So you are taking it now?

I haven't gotten around to making the lotion yet. My brother-in-law died last

week and left no will, no arrangements, nothing. So it has been a little hectic

for me the past week. I am hoping to get to produce this Sunday, now I have

three batches to make instead of two.

Glad to see you come roaring back.

gail

Astragalus Root

Yep, it's me and I'm back, sorta...and undetectable mid treatment. I just

couldn't sit back while this discussion of astragalus was going on with no one

really knowing much about it.

Note: I'm having some problems with my mail client and my font size keeps

changing. I don't know how it will come through because incoming mail font size

is messed up too. So bear with any changes in the font.

Ya'll are talking chinese here and if you want to research a chinese herb, it

would help to know it's chinese name: tian men dong or more commonly, huang qi

(commander of blood).

Chinese herbs are difficult to truly research because of the nature of oriental

medicine. The balance of yin and yang and the Eight Principals are crucial to

oriental medicine. Chinese never treat with just one herb...they use a

combination of herbs along with specific nutrition because an excess or

stagnation of Qi (blood) requires different herbs dependent on your type

(hot/dry, hot/moist, windy/dry, etc.). It is a very involved way of treating the

whole essence.

For instance, if you were to look astragalus root up in a chinese herb book, you

would find something like 'indicated for yin deficiency of the lung and kidneys

when there are signs of false heat because of the yin deficiency.'

Yeah, right...I follow oriental medicine and don't understand what that is

telling me.

With the popularity of chinese herbs in american culture, the western herbalists

have tried to isolate the exact properties of astragalus and they have done a

pretty good job.

Astragalus does strenghen the immune system, supports the lungs and strenghens

the digestive system, including the liver. By strenghening the blood (Qi,

pronounced Chi), it strenghens the body's vital energy.

Here is some information on astragalus root. I've been taking it for many years

and have no problems with it. With the other two main immune boosters (echinacea

and Pau de Arco) you can't take them all the time or they lose their

effectiveness. It's not a new herb...it's a very ancient herb...

Astragalus, or Huang Qi, as it is sometimes called, is a common component of

traditional Chinese herbal formulas. It is used by the Chinese to strengthen the

spleen, blood and liver. The Chinese have used Astragalus for many thousands of

years as a superior tonic that is often combined with ginseng [note: ginseng is

not good for those with Hep C and liver disease] for replenishing a persons

vital energy. The root of this plant is said to strengthen the body's surface

resistance and is supposed to invigorate and promote tissue regeneration. It's

also been seen as an immune system stimulant as well as a protector of adrenal

cortical function. Astragalus Root is considered to have a normalizing effect on

the body's functions.

Chinese medicine is very different from the scientific approach we are used to.

It is based on the promotion of health and does not limit its treatment to only

one part of the body. Health is represented as a balance of yin and yang - two

forces that represent the bipolar manifestation of all things in nature. In the

Oriental medicine a doctor is often paid only when the patient is well, not

sick. This practice would probably not be greeted with enthusiasm by western

medical professionals.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine Astragalus is considered a deep immune tonic

that increases the " bone marrow reserve " , increasing the body's ability to

produce more immune effector cells (such as T-cells), protecting us from

" pathogens " . Also used as a daily tonic when one is not feeling well; it has the

ability to build the energy reserves in the body and exhibits several

anti-stress properties.

Astragalus is used medicinally in China as an immune strengthener and general

tonic. In fact, it is one of the best herbs in the world for enhancing the

protective effects of the immune system. Astragalus incresaes the levels of

certain immune cells that fight viruses and other microbial intruders.

Astragalus also stimulates the secretion of a powerful anti-viral chemical known

as interferon, which prevents viruses from replicating. In addition, it has been

shown that astragalus has a supportive effect on bone marrow, the core of the

bones where white blood cells mature. Astragalus boosts the levels of

anti-bodies in the body.

It has been used to optimize immune function and as a tonic to build stamina.

Ancient Chinese texts record the use of astragalus for tonifying the spleen,

blood and qi (chi). Astragalus builds energy and helps warm up the body. It is

one of the most important double direction immune modulating herbs in the world.

Astragalus is said to strengthen the primary energy of the body and strengthen

all metabolic, respiratory and eliminative functions. Tonifies the three burning

spaces, increases Qi, overcomes weakness, Tonifies the Lungs and Spleen, raises

Yang, reduces perspiration, facilitates excretion of water and eliminates edema

(swelling).

As an adaptogen, it helps the body regain balance and is the most popular herb

in Chinese medicine for its tonifying, diuretic, cardiotonic, vasodilating and

other useful qualities, to help maintain normal functions of the liver, lung,

kidney, stomach and heart, to boost energy, defer aging, detoxify, etc., to

bolster white blood cells growth, support the immune systems, and to promote the

effect of other herbs, and help reduce side effect of chemotherapy and

radiation.

In the United States, Astragalus is used to stimulate the immune system when

treating colds and flu. It improves adrenal gland function and digestion.

Astragalus produces spontaneous sweating by increasing the metabolism, and

enhances energy levels and helps protect your body from the effects of stress.

Although many people take Astragalus at the onset of cold or flu symptoms, the

Chinese believe taking Huang Qi at that time will cause the infection to go

deeper. They instead use it while healthy as a defense shield against future

illnesses.

One study showed that astragalus increases the production of interferon-an

important component of the immune system's defensive network. When combined with

interferon, astragalus root helped promote and maintain respiratory health in

study group participants. Astragalus also enhances the body's production of

immunoglobulin and stimulates macrophages. It can help activate T cells and

natural killer cells. Research shows that astragalus has immunostimulatory

properties. It increases the number of stem cells in bone marrow and lymph

tissue and encourages their development into active immune cells. It appears

that this herb helps trigger immune cells from a " resting " state into heightened

activity.

In studies performed at the Nation Cancer Institute and 5 other leading American

Cancer Institutes over the past 10 years, it has been positively shown that

Astragalus strengthens a cancer patient's immune system. Researchers believed on

the basis of cell studies that Astragalus augments those white blood cells that

fight disease and removes some of those that make the body more venerable to it.

There is clinical evidence that cancer patients given Astragalus during

chemotherapy and radiation, both of which reduce the body's natural immunity

while attacking the cancer, recover significantly faster and live longer. It is

evident that Astragalus does not directly attack cancers themselves, but instead

strengthens the body's immune system. In these same studies, both in the

laboratory and with 572 patients, it also has been found that Astragalus

promotes adrenal cortical function, which also is critically diminished in

cancer patients. Astragalus also ameliorates bone marrow pression and

gastrointestinal toxicity caused by chemotherapy and radiation.

Animal studies have shown that Astragalus is effective at controlling bacterial

infections, stimulating the immune system, and protecting the body against a

number of toxins. It seems to work by binding to cholesterol on the outer

membranes of viruses, destabilizing their defenses and allowing for the body's

immune system to attack the weakened invader. Astragalus also increases

interferon production and enhances NK and T cell function, increasing resistance

to viral conditions such as hepatitis, AIDS and cancer. Astragalus shows support

for peripheral vascular diseases and peripheral circulation.

***Not to be used when experiencing acute fever. ***

February 6, 2004