Astragalus is a plant that is native to China, Mongolia and Korea. It can grow up to 3 feet in height, but the part of the plant that has medicinal uses is the root. Astragalus root has been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine, and it is available in forms such as tinctures (a liquid extract with an alcohol base), tablets, injections and topical ointments. Astragalus root is still being used for its many medicinal benefits.
Immune System Booster
One of the benefits of astragalus root is its ability to boost the immune system. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), patients with poor immune systems, whether from chemotherapy, radiation or other illness, that have been treated with astragalus supplements have been shown to have an increase in healing time, as well as an extension in the duration of life expectancy. The Nutritional Supplement Education Center (NSEC) reports that astragalus root increases the body's resistance to infection and disease.
Antioxidant
Astragalus root is also a powerful antioxidant, as it contains many flavonoids. These flavonoids protect the healthy cells in the body from damage that can be caused by free radicals, which are cells that cause damage to the healthy cells. The NSEC also states that along with flavonoids, astragalus also contains polysaccharides, which increase the production of white blood cells that help fight infection. These polysaccharides also help increase the immune system response mentioned above.
Energy Booster
In the June 2009 issue of "Complementary Therapies in Medicine," researchers in South Korea point out that astragalus, combined with another herb, salviae, showed positive results when given to patients suffering from chronic fatigue. The UMMC states that not only is astragalus used for chronic fatigue, it is also used to combat fatigue and poor appetite that are a result of chemotherapy treatments.
Liver Protector
A study in the August 2008 issue of "Basic and Clinical Toxicology and Pharmacology," reports that astragalus root is also effective in protecting the liver. Researchers in China found that when given to mice with liver damage, astragalus reduced the degree of liver damage that had already occurred, and also had protective effects against further damage.
Heart Function Booster
Along with the many positive benefits of astragalus root listed above, it is also able to have positive effects on the heart. As reported in the 2009 issue of "The American Journal of Chinese Medicine," astragalus is used to treat cardiovascular disease. The study also reports that when administered to rats that had suffered heart damage, astragalus improved the damaged heart function, and can have heart protective benefits.
Member Comments