What are the ways to take Astragalus?

Astragalus, also known as Mianqi by some people. Most of the Astragalus grows in northern areas such as Inner Mongolia and Heilongjiang. Astragalus is a traditional Chinese medicine and also a tonic that can effectively prevent diseases when combined with other foods. Not only that, Astragalus also has a good therapeutic effect on diseases such as hypertension. There are many ways to eat Astragalus, it can be boiled into soup or added to dishes. Today I will talk about how to consume Astragalus.

Astragalus is sweet in taste and can replenish qi and blood. Ordinary people can boil it in water and drink it, which can indeed achieve the health-preserving effects of enhancing immunity, replenishing the spleen and lung qi, and strengthening physical fitness. However, Chinese medicine emphasizes that Astragalus can be soaked in water and drunk, but the water must be freshly boiled so that the medicinal flavor can be brewed out. But even so, at most only three or four tenths of the medicinal effect can be extracted, which is a bit of a waste of medicinal materials. It is recommended that Astragalus be decocted for better results.

In addition, not everyone can drink Astragalus water, it also depends on your body constitution. Generally, people with kidney yin deficiency should not take it. If you find that your tongue coating is red, your hands and feet are hot, you feel hot in your five hearts, have dry mouth and tongue, and are easily upset, these are symptoms of yin deficiency. People with this constitution are not suitable to drink Astragalus water. People with damp-heat constitution should also avoid drinking Astragalus water. If they want to take it, it is best to pair it with heat-clearing things, such as Coptis chinensis, Scutellaria baicalensis, etc.

Astragalus is divided into raw Astragalus and roasted Astragalus. In comparison, roasted Astragalus is better in replenishing qi and raising yang. When taking Astragalus for tonic purposes, it is generally necessary to start with a small amount and increase the dosage gradually. While taking it, observe whether there are any symptoms of getting a sore throat or whether any existing illnesses have worsened. If so, the dosage should be discontinued or replaced with other medications before continuing. If symptoms such as fatigue, sweating or shortness of breath are alleviated, mental and physical strength are improved without the above side effects, the dosage can be increased. Generally speaking, 5 to 10 grams of it can be boiled in water each time.

Of course, Astragalus can also be used as an ingredient in some stews, such as stewed chicken, stewed duck, etc. Although it has many benefits, you should not eat too much Astragalus. When consuming, you should also judge whether it is suitable for use based on your personal constitution. You cannot use it casually just because it has benefits. Some special groups of people may suffer health effects after consuming Astragalus.