What are the differences between roasted Astragalus and Astragalus?

Roasted Astragalus and Astragalus are the same Chinese medicinal materials, but roasted Astragalus is processed from Astragalus, while Astragalus is in its original form, which is what we often call raw Astragalus. There are certain differences in the effects of the two. Astragalus is used to replenish qi and blood, while roasted Astragalus focuses on replenishing qi and raising yang.

1. There are many names for Astragalus, such as Huangqi, Cotton Astragalus, Mianqi, Mianqi Huangqi, Beiqi, etc., and it is also divided into many categories. It is a general term for plants and Chinese medicinal materials. The plant Astragalus is produced in Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Gansu, Heilongjiang and other places, and is a national third-level protected plant. The Chinese medicinal herb raw Astragalus is the root of the leguminous herb Astragalus mongolica and Astragalus membranaceus. It has the effects of replenishing qi and strengthening the exterior, promoting diuresis and reducing swelling, expelling toxins and draining pus, and promoting tissue regeneration.

Raw Astragalus can replenish Qi. For example, lack of energy in speaking, lack of energy in walking, and pale complexion are all manifestations of spleen and lung Qi deficiency. Raw Astragalus can replenish the qi of the whole body. For example, raw Astragalus can be used for qi deficiency in the upper body, and it can also be used for qi deficiency in the lower body. Raw Astragalus has the effects of invigorating Qi and strengthening the exterior, promoting diuresis and reducing swelling, detoxifying, and promoting tissue regeneration. It is suitable for spontaneous sweating, night sweats, blood stasis, edema, carbuncles that do not ulcerate or ulcers that do not heal for a long time, etc.

2. Roasted Astragalus is made from traditional Astragalus preparation, which is made by slicing raw Astragalus and frying it with honey. The preparation process is relatively rough and labor-intensive. Roasted Astragalus is good at replenishing Qi and producing blood. It is suitable for shortness of breath due to lung deficiency, weak Qi and blood, and constipation due to Qi deficiency. Doctors often use it for patients with "insufficient Qi and sagging organs".

Roasted Astragalus focuses on replenishing Qi and raising Yang, and is the most widely used of all processed Astragalus preparations. Due to the large clinical demand for its medicinal pieces, research on its processing has received particular attention. There are many research reports on the improvement of traditional methods, processing temperature, processing time, amount of auxiliary materials, and finished product quality analysis.

Simply put, roasted astragalus is mainly roasted with honey, which means slicing the raw astragalus and then frying it with honey. Raw Astragalus is mainly used to replenish Wei Qi and also to discharge pus and relieve pain. Roasted Astragalus is mainly used to replenish the middle Qi, that is, the Qi of the spleen and stomach. In case of Qi deficiency, fatigue, poor appetite and loose stools, it can be used together with Codonopsis pilosula. Among them, taking too much roasted Astragalus can easily cause getting a sore throat.