Contraindications of Astragalus

Astragalus is a herb that grows in the mountains and can be found in many prescriptions in traditional Chinese medicine. Some people like to regulate their bodies through diet in their daily lives. They often use some herbs to make tea, but if the wrong herbs are used, it will be harmful to the body. There are many contraindications for Astragalus, so everyone should never blindly use these traditional Chinese medicines with tonic effects.

1. Taboos on the consumption of Astragalus

1. In terms of physique, Astragalus is most suitable for people with qi deficiency and spleen dampness. Such people tend to be bloated and have loose muscles, especially the abdominal muscles. But it is not suitable for people who are very thin and strong. In terms of physical condition, you should not eat Astragalus when you have a cold or during menstruation.

2. In terms of season, it is not suitable for ordinary people to eat astragalus in spring. Why can’t you drink Astragalus porridge when you have a cold? Because Astragalus can strengthen the exterior of the body, it helps the body close the door and prevent external evil from invading. But when the body has been affected by external evil, it will become like closing the door to keep the enemy inside, locking the disease inside the body and leaving it no way to vent. Similarly, spring is the season of growth, and the human body needs to be released, so eating astragalus is not appropriate.

3. For patients with kidney disease caused by yin deficiency, dampness, heat, and heat toxicity, the use of Astragalus will generally cause toxic side effects and should be prohibited. Because Astragalus is sweet and slightly warm in nature, taking it will cause heat in patients with Yin deficiency, which can easily damage Yin and cause bleeding; while taking it will easily cause evil to stagnate in patients with damp heat and excessive heat toxicity, making their condition worse. If you must take Astragalus, you must use it in combination.

4. When patients with Yin deficiency use Astragalus, it must be used in combination with Yin-nourishing medicines, such as Raw Rehmannia, Cooked Rehmannia, Scrophularia, Ophiopogon, Asparagus, Polygonatum, etc. Patients with damp-heat must be treated with drugs that clear damp-heat, such as Coptis chinensis, Artemisia capillaris, Scutellaria baicalensis, etc. Patients with severe heat and toxicity must be treated with heat-clearing and detoxifying drugs, such as Coptis chinensis, Gardenia jasminoides, Rhubarb, and Patrinia salsa.

2. The efficacy and function of Astragalus

1. Spontaneous sweating due to deficiency of exterior: mostly used for spontaneous sweating caused by deficiency of exterior. If the exterior Qi is not solid and sweating occurs, use Astragalus combined with Atractylodes macrocephala and Saposhnikovia divaricata to treat it. It will be effective if taken for a long time. Fang Ru Yu Ping Feng San; can also be combined with floating wheat, ephedra root, etc.

2. Night sweats due to Yin deficiency: It can be used together with Yin-nourishing medicines such as Rehmannia glutinosa and Ophiopogon japonicus.

3. Edema caused by acute nephritis: It is used for asthenic edema caused by insufficient Yang Qi, and is often used together with Fangji, Poria, Atractylodes, etc., such as Fangji Huangqi Decoction.

4. Edema in chronic nephritis, spleen and kidney deficiency: often used together with Codonopsis pilosula, Atractylodes macrocephala, and Poria cocos.

5. Weak Yang Qi: It is used for sores that have not ulcerated for a long time and have sunk inwards, which can promote ulceration and limit localization. If carbuncle does not break out for a long time, it is often used together with pangolin, soapberry thorn, angelica and Chuanxiong.

6. Ulcers and sores: If the sores do not heal for a long time, it can promote tissue regeneration and heal the sores. It is often used with honeysuckle, soapberry, and plantain. For cleaning pus, use together with Codonopsis pilosula, cinnamon bark, etc.

7. Lung Qi Deficiency Syndrome: Chronic coughing and asthma, shortness of breath, fatigue, and phlegm in the lungs that cannot be coughed out. It is often used in combination with Aster tataricus, Coltsfoot, etc. to warm the lungs, relieve asthma, and strengthen lung qi. The spleen produces phlegm and the lungs store phlegm, so we need to strengthen Taiyin to eliminate phlegm. Astragalus replenishes Qi so it is especially good at treating Qi deficiency.

8. Qi deficiency and weakness: fatigue, or sinking of Qi in the middle, rectal prolapse, or uterine prolapse. It can replenish qi and strengthen the spleen, and is often used in combination with Codonopsis pilosula, Atractylodes macrocephala, etc.; it can be used to invigorate qi, raise yang and lift the sunken, and is often used in combination with Codonopsis pilosula, Cimicifuga heracleifolia, Bupleurum chinense, and roasted liquorice, etc.