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Astragalus |
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What is Astragalus?
Other names: Astragalus membranaceous, Huang Qi, Bei Qi,
Hwanggi, Milk Vetch
Astragalus is a
plant native to Asia. The Chinese name of the herb, huang
qi, means "yellow leader", because the root is yellow and it is
considered to be one of the most important herbs in traditional
Chinese medicine. The part of the plant used medicinally is the
root.
In traditional
Chinese medicine, astragalus is usually made into a decoction - the
roots are boiled in water then removed. It's often combined with
other herbs, such as ginseng. Astragalus can also be found in
supplement form at some health food
stores. |
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Why Do People Use
Astragalus
Astragalus is used
in traditional Chinese medicine for night sweats, diarrhea and for
energy tonics that are taken daily at certain times of the
year.
- Immune
Function
One of the key uses
for astragalus is to improve immune function. Although more
evidence is needed, one of the ways astragalus is thought to work
is by increasing the production of immune cells. It may also have
mild antiviral activity and help with the prevention of colds.
There's little evidence from human studies, however, on the
effectiveness of astragalus as an antiviral.
- Heart Disease
Astragalus is also
used for various heart conditions. It may have a diuretic effect
which would lower blood pressure and it may cause blood vessels to
relax. It hasn't been explored in human studies, so it shouldn't be
used as a replacement for conventional care.
Side Effects
and Safety Concerns
People with
autoimmune diseases, such as Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis,
psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes or systemic lupus
erythematosus shouldn't use astragalus unless recommended by a
qualified healthcare practitioner. People who have had transplant
surgery should not use astragalus.
The safety of
astragalus in pregnant or nursing women or children isn't
known. |
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Possible
Interactions
Astragalus may
interfere with the effectiveness of corticosteroid medications,
such as:
- Nasacort
(triamcinolone)
- Beconase,
Vancenase (beclomethasone)
- Decadron
(dexamethasone)
- Deltasone
(prednisone)
-
hydrocortisone
- Medrol
(methylprednisolone)
-
prednisolone
Astragalus may
decrease the effectiveness of drugs that suppress the immune
system, such as Imuran (azathioprine), CellCept, cyclosporine,
Prograf, Rapamune and Zenapak.
Theoretically,
astragalus can increase the effectiveness of antiviral medications
such as acyclovir and amantadine. |
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