INDIVIDUAL HERBS

Pharmaceutical Latin: Radix Astragali
Common English: Astragalus Root
Milk-Vetch Root
Herbs that Tonify Qi
Taste Temperature Entering Meridians Dosage
Sweet
Slightly Warm
(Lukewarm)
Lung
Spleen
9-30g
Exceptional cases: 30-60g
Tincture: 2-4ml
Actions Indications/Syndromes

Tonifies Qi and Blood

Postpartum fever due to Qi and Blood Deficiency

Recovery from severe Blood loss

Strengthens the Spleen and raises the Yang Qi of the Spleen and Stomach

Spleen Qi Deficiency with anorexia, fatigue and diarrhea

Central Qi Sinking (prolapse)

Lung and Spleen Qi Deficiency

Qi Failing to contain Blood

Qi and Blood Deficiency

Fever from Qi Deficiency

Tonifies Wei Qi, stabilizes the Exterior and tonifies the Lungs (aids the circulation of moisture downward from the face)

Wei Qi Deficiency with spontaneous sweating

Lung Qi Deficiency with frequent colds or shortness of breath

Excessive sweating associated with Qi, Yang or Yin Deficiency

Dampness in the head

Promotes urination and reduces edema

Spleen Deficiency edema or superficial edema with reduced urination (It can be used as a stand-alone herb for this)

Promotes the discharge of pus, generates flesh and expels toxins Chronic ulcerations and sores that either have trouble forming pus or have formed pus but are not draining well
Generates Body Fluids

Wasting and thirsting disorder

Bi Syndrome with numbness of the limbs and paralysis

Relieves numbness and pain Numbness and pain due to Deficiency of Qi and Blood
CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Contraindicated for those with early-stage sores.
  • Contraindicated for those with skin lesions with Heat toxin.
  • Contraindicated for those with exterior Excess.
  • Contraindicated for those with Qi Stagnation.
  • Contraindicated for those with Yin Deficiency with Heat signs.
  • Contraindicated in those with Excess Heat.
  • Contraindicated for those with Damp Obstruction.
  • Contraindicated for those with Food Stagnation.
  • Contraindicated for those with Heat, Excess Fire or Deficiency Cold of the Lower Jiao.
  • Use with caution during the third trimester of pregnancy.
INCOMPATIBILITIES
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS
  • This herb may be effective in preventing ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity associated with the use of aminoglucosides such as gentamicin, tobramycin and amykacin.
  • This herb has an inhibitory influence on copper-induced oxidative stress.

Rx. Ginseng
Ren Shen

or

Rx. Codonopsis
Dang Shen

Rx. Aconiti Lateralis Preparata
Zhi
Fu Zi

Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae
Bai Zhu

 

Qi Deficiency with general debility, anorexia, fatigue, tired extremities and spontaneous sweating.

Yang Deficiency with spontaneous sweat.

Spleen Qi Deficiency with weakness, lassitude and loose stools.

Arillus Longan
Long Yan Rou
Rx. Angelicae Sinensis
Dang Gui
Sm. Zizyphi Spinosae
Suan Zao Ren

Rx. Angelicae Sinensis
Dang Gui

Rx. Notoginseng
San Qi
Colla Corii Asini
E Jiao

Insomnia and other signs of Qi and Blood Deficiency.

Blood Deficiency due to hemorrhage with fatigue, low grade fever, irritability and thirst in patients with a weak pulse due to Qi and Blood Deficiency.

Qi and Blood Deficiency with chronic non-healing sores, numbness, painful obstruction and paresthesia.

Bleeding due to Qi Deficiency.

Rz. Cimicifugae
Sheng Ma
Rx. Bupleuri
Chai Hu
(Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae)
(Bai Zhu)

Rx. Codonopsis
Dang Shen
Rx. Asteris
Zi Wan
Per. Citri Reticulatae
Chen Pi
(Poria)
(Fu Ling)

Rx. Saposhnikoviae
Fang Feng
Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae
Bai Zhu

Spleen Qi Sinking with rectal and/or uterine prolapse or excessive uterine bleeding.

Spleen and Lung Qi Deficiency.

Wei Qi Deficiency with spontaneous sweating.

Concha Ostreae
Mu Li
Sm. Tritici Levis
Fu Xiao Mai

Rx. Ophiopogonis
Mai Men Dong
Fr. Schisandrae
Wu Wei Zi

Rx. Rehmanniae
Sheng Di Huang
Cx. Phellodendri
Huang Bai

Sweating that occurs during the day but worsens at night.

Night sweats.

Yin Deficiency with night sweats.

Rx. Stephaniae Tetrandrae
Han Fang Ji

Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae
Bai Zhu
(Rx. Glycyrrhizae)
(Gan Cao)
(Rz. Zingiberis Recens)
(Sheng Jiang)

Rx. Stephaniae Tetrandrae
Han Fang Ji

Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae
Bai Zhu

Rz. Dioscoreae
Shan Yao
Fol. Pyrrosiae
Shi Wei

Rx. Stephaniae Tetrandrae
Han Fang Ji
Poria
Fu Ling
Ram. Cinnamomi
Gui Zhi

Wind edema with sweating, heavy sensations of the body and aversion to Wind.

Edema and proteinuria from chronic nephritis.

Superficial floating edema with swelling of the extremities.

Squama Manitis
Chuan Shan Jia
Spina Gleditsiae
Zao Jiao Ci

Rx. Angelicae Sinensis
Dang Gui
Cx. Cinnamomi
Rou Gui

Rx. Stephaniae Tetrandrae
Han Fang Ji

Yin type suppurative sores that do not perforate or only produce a thin clear discharge.

Flat sores that do not pustulate or ulcers that do not heal.

Wind edema with numbness, pain, swelling of the face and extremities, sweating, sensitivity to Wind and reduced urination.

Rx. Dioscoreae
Shan
Yao
Rx. Rehmanniae
Sheng Di Huang

(Fr. Corni)
(Shan Zhu Yu)

Ram. Cinnamomi
Gui Zhi

Rx. et Rz. Notopterygii
Qiang Huo
Rz. Curcumae Longae
Jiang Huang

Wasting and Thirsting Disorder.

Qi and Blood Deficiency and Ying and Wei Deficiency with numbness and painful obstruction of the musculature.

Wind-Damp painful obstruction of the shoulder.

Rx. Angelicae Sinensis
Dang Gui
Flos Carthami
Hong Hua

Sm. Persicae
Tao Ren

Rx. Codonopsis
Dang Shen
Fr. Ligustri Lucidi
Nu Zhen Zi
Fr. Corni
Shan Zhu Yu

Cx. Lycii
Di Gu Pi

Sequelae of Windstroke with Qi Deficiency and Blood Stasis.

Side effects of chemotherapy or radiation in cancer patients.

Counteracts the side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Ganoderma
Ling Zhi
Rx. Codonopsis
Dang Shen

Rz. Cimicifugae
Sheng Ma

Sm. Tritici Levis
Fu Xiao Mai

Increases phagocytosis.

Raises the Yang Qi of the Spleen, allowing turbid Yin to descend and be eliminated, treating chronic diarrhea, a dragging sensation in the abdomen, fatigue, shortness of breath, uterine bleeding and prolapses.

Treats spontaneous sweating due to Qi Deficiency and night sweats due to Yin Deficiency.

Poria
Fu Ling
Rz. Dioscoreae
Shan Yao
Sm. Lablab
Bai Bian D
ou
Sm. Coicis
Yi Yi Ren

Yang Tonics

Rx. Ginseng
Ren Shen
Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae
Bai Zhu
Rx. Angelicae Sinensis
Dang Gui
Sm. Zizyphi Spinosae
Suan Zao Ren

Loose stools or diarrhea due to Spleen Deficiency.

Spleen Yang Deficiency.

Qi and Blood Deficiency with shortness of breath, and a pale face.

Hb. Schizonepetae
Jing Jie
Rz. Dryopteris
Guang Zhong
Rx. Notoginseng
San Qi
Endoconcha Sepiae
Hai Piao Xiao
Colla Corii Asini
E Jiao
Restore the Spleen Decoction
Gui Pi Tang

Ganoderma
Ling Zhi
Fr. Ligustri Lucidi
Nu Zhen Zi
Rx. Codonopsis
Dang Shen
Rx. Ginseng
Ren Shen
Cordyceps
Dong Chong Xia Cao
Fr. Corni
Shan Zhu Yu

Rx. Angelicae Sinensis
Dang Gui
Rx. Ginseng
Ren Shen
Rx. Aconiti Lateralis Preparata
Zhi Fu Zi
Rx. Ophiopogonis
Mai Men Dong
Fr. Schisandrae
Wu Wei Zi

Hematemesis, hematochezia, and profuse menstrual bleeding from leakage of Blood due to Spleen Not Governing Blood.

Qi Deficiency due to chemotherapy and radiation.

Qi and Blood collapse (use 60-120g Huan Qi).

Concha Ostreae
Mu Li
Rx. Ephedrae
Ma Huang Gen

Sm. Tritici Levis
Fu Xiao Mai

Rx. Aconiti Lateralis Preparata
Zhi
Fu Zi
Rz. Zingiberis
Sheng Jiang

Rx. Rehmanniae
Sheng Di Huang
Rx. Ophiopogonis
Mai Men Dong
Fr. Schisandrae
Wu Wei Zi
Sm. Tritici Levis
Fu Xiao Mai

Cx. Lycii
Di Gu Pi

Spontaneous perspiration due to Exterior Deficiency.

Profuse perspiration and extreme fatigue due to Yang Deficiency.

Night sweats due to Qi and Yin Deficiency.

Squama Manitis
Chuan Shan Jia
Spina Gleditsiae
Zao Jiao Ci

Rx. Angelicae Sinensis
Dang Gui
Rx. Chuanxiong
Chuan Xiong

Rx. Ginseng
Ren Shen
Rx. Angelicae Sinensis
Dang Gui
Rx. Chuanxiong
Chuan Xiong
Rx. Angelicae Dahuricae
Bai Zhi
Rx. Saposhnikoviae
Fang Feng

Rx. Angelicae Sinensis
Dang Gui
Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata

Shu Di Huang
Rx. Ginseng
Ren Shen
Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae
Bai Zhu
Cx. Cinnamomi
Rou Gui

Chronic non-ulcerating sores with pus.

Chronic sores with underlying Deficiency.

Flat chronic sores and non-healing ulcers.

Rx. Ginseng
Ren Shen
Cx. Cinnamomi
Rou Gui
Rx. Glycyrrhizae Preparata
Zhi Gan Cao

Ram. Cinnamomi
Gui Zhi

Rx. Paeoniae Alba
Bai Shao
Rz. Zingiberis Recens
Sheng Jiang
Fr. Jujube
Da Zao

Rx. et Rz. Notopterygii
Qiang Huo
Rx. Saposhnikoviae
Fang Feng
Rz. Curcumae Longae
Jiang Huang

Rx. Angelicae Sinensis
Dang Gui

Qi Deficiency lesions in children.

Skin and muscle numbness and pain due to Qi and Blood Deficiency.

Numbness and pain in the extremities due to Wind-Dampness Invasion with Disharmony between the Ying and Wei.

Extremitas Radicis Angelicae Sinensis
Dang Gui Wei
Rx. Chuanxiong
Chuan Xiong
Flos Carthami
Hong Hua

Sm. Persicae
Tao Ren
Pheretima
Di Long

Rx. Dioscoreae
Shan
Yao
Rx. Anemarrhenae
Zhi Mu
Rx. Puerariae
Ge Gen
Rx. Trichosanthis
Tian Hua Fen

 

Post-stroke complications.

Wasting and Thirsting with Interior Heat.

 

  1. Its action of stabilizing the exterior may produce therapeutic sweat when diaphoretics do not work.
  2. It can cause Qi Stagnation.
  3. It is said that this herb can cure infantile diseases.
  4. It has been shown that this herb inhibits the growth of cancer cells.
  5. This herb is said to cure Deficiency Syndrome when roasted with honey, stomach disorders when roasted with milk, gastric Deficiency when roasted with millet broth, remove toxicity when roasted with salt water and warm the Stomach and heal dysentery when roasted with wine.
  6. It clears Heart and Deficiency Heat, sores and ulcers when used raw.
  7. It disperses Qi Stagnation when used with CX. Mori Sang Bai Pi.
  8. For furuncle, subcutaneous ulcer, carbuncle of the back, appendicitis, mastitis, unidentified swelling, sudden malignant pain, high fever with aversion to Cold and Exogenous invasion grind 150g Huang Qi together with 150g Flos Lonicerae Jin Yin Hua, 36g Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui, 30g Rx. Glycyrrhizae Gan Cao. Take 6g of the powder, decoct into 1 1/2 cups of wine and boil down to 1 cup. If the disease is on the upper part of the body, take after meals. If it is on the lower part, take before meals and again shortly after the first administration.
  9. It is better than Rx. Codonopsis Dang Shen for Blood Deficiency.
  10. This herb promotes other herbs, especially those that strengthen overall energy, digestion, Blood production and Blood circulation.
  11. Both Huang Qi and Rx. Ginseng Ren Shen tonify primal Qi. Huang Qi also supports the Yang and is most appropriate for disorders that involve sinking of clear Qi. It also stops sweating, promotes the discharge of pus, generates flesh and facilitates urination, none of which Ren Shen can do. Ren Shen also generates fluids and its tonic effect is stronger and longer lasting than Huang Qi.
  12. Dry-fried Astragalus Chao Huang Qi has stronger Spleen warming and tonifying properties.
  13. Wine-fried Astragalus Jiu Chao Huang Qi has a greater ability to reach the exterior and allows it to tonify without being cloying. It also is better able to treat Qi Deficiency patterns involving Cold, such as wheezing due to Qi Deficiency with Cold in the Lungs or Qi Deficiency with Cold in the Stomach causing diarrhea.
  14. Honey-prepared Astragalus Mi Zhi Huang Qi allows the Huang Qi to travel internally to raise the clear Qi of the Middle Jiao. It is also slightly moistening and is appropriate when Blood Deficiency or Spleen Dryness is involved.