Family:Leguminosae;

Chinese SynonymsArrow Astragali, Mianqi, Mouth Astragali, Black-skinned Astragali, White-skinned Astragali, Red-skinned Astragali, Solitary Astragali, etc.

English Commonly UsedAstragali, Huang-qi, Milk-Vetch Root, Huang Ch'i

Botanical SourceThis product is the Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao, Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. or Hedysarum polybotrys Hand.-Mg. The dried roots of Hedysarum polybotrys Hand.-Mazz.

Herbal name Astragalus membranaceus

Brief descriptionAstragalus membranaceus is a type of Chinese medicine traditionally used for its immune-boosting properties, as well as for tonifying the qi - a symptom of fatigue and lack of energy, for example. Genuine Mongolian Astragalus is only found in Northwest China in southern Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, Gansu Hexi Corridor, Shaanxi and other areas of the Mongolian Plateau, with more than 2,000 species of similar plants in the same family worldwide.

Botanical DescriptionAstragalus is a perennial plant that grows to a height of about 40-80 cm and is mainly found in the cold-temperate regions of northwest China and the southern part of the Mongolian Plateau. The stem is hairy, with 12 to 18 pairs of leaflets. Genuine herbs root is generally 4 years digging for good, habit hardy, drought-resistant, afraid of heat, afraid of flooding. Mostly grow in dry sunny hillside meadows or sunny forest edge scrub. Cultivation should be cool and dry climate, to well-drained, deep sandy loam soil is good.

Harvesting season in spring and fall to dig more than 4 - 5 years of growth of astragalus, cut off the root head, remove the roots, soil, sun dry.

Medicinal specification commercial astragalus according to the place of origin divided Bukui astragalus, Ningnan astragalus, Ningguta astragalus, Zhengkou astragalus, Mianqi astragalus, Hongqi astragalus according to the processing method of Chong Zhengqi astragalus, Zhengbaoqi astragalus, vice Baoqi astragalus, Zheng Xiaojiao, Vice Xiaozhi, and so on. According to traits and divided into black skin astragalus, white skin astragalus, red skin astragalus three. Each species is further divided into 1-3 and so on. To root thick and long, single branch without fork, the outer skin smooth, wrinkles less, the quality of firm and woolly, broken surface color yellow-white, powdery enough, sweet taste is good. Astragalus to the south of Ningxia Xihaigu mountainous area, Shanxi's Hunyuan, Hunyuan, Fanshi, Daixian area, Shaanxi Xunyi and the Qinling area, Inner Mongolia's Wuchuan, Zhuozhi, Ulaanchabu League, Oroqen Banner, Xilinguole League, Zhelimen League, and other places of large yield, good quality. Red Astragalus to Gansu Hexi Corridor Minxian, Dangchang and other areas of the best quality.

Characteristics: Astragalus taproot cylindrical, some have branches, the upper end of the thicker, 30 ~ 90 cm long, 1 ~ 3.5 cm in diameter, the surface of the longitudinal wrinkled color light brown-yellow or light brown, there are untidy longitudinal wrinkles or longitudinal grooves texture, hard and tough powdery, the skin part of the yellowish-white lax; wood chrysanthemum texture, the gas is like a soybean fishy taste slightly sweet. The old root center is occasionally withered and rotten, black-brown or hollow. Gas slightly, taste slightly sweet, chewing slightly soybean flavor. The quality of long and thick roots, chrysanthemum heart sharp, small hollows, less broken skin is good; red astragalus to the skin color red, root uniform, solid, powdery enough is good. Specifications are generally divided into three grades according to thickness and length.

According to clinical application, Astragalus has no side effects, but large doses can cause flatulence and diarrhea.　Astragalus should not be taken in large quantities, nor should it be taken in a state of fever or yin deficiency, nor should it be used in conditions of pain and dampness.

Value:Astragalus is a very good single tonic, but may be more effective at low doses (100-200mg/day) in combination with other immune tonics.

Dosage: About 500 mg/day can boost immunity. Or, a dose of 250 mg per day in divided doses can also be very effective