What Is Astragalus Good For?

An Adaptogen Used Medicinally for Centuries

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Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceous) is an Asian plant used medicinally for centuries. In Mandarin (a language spoken in China), astragalus is called huang qi, which means "yellow life energy," partly due to the root's yellow color.

It is considered one of the most valuable herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). However, Western research has yet to provide full evidence of its effectiveness.

This article examines the claims about astragalus, what research says about it, and how to use it.

Astragalus Benefits

In TCM, astragalus is used for a variety of ailments. Scientists have begun studying it for its potential health benefits, including:

In addition, some people use astragalus for constipation, allergies, the common cold, or upper respiratory infections.

However, before anyone can say whether it's safe and effective for medicinal use, researchers need to conduct more and higher-quality human studies. Research to this point should be considered preliminary.

Supplement use should be tailored to your individual needs and health history and approved by a healthcare provider such as a doctor, pharmacist, or registered dietitian. No supplement is intended to treat, cure, or prevent disease. 

May Provide Immune Support

A 2016 study looked at oral (by mouth) astragalus for preventing acute respiratory tract infections in children. Researchers concluded there was inadequate evidence to support this use.

Astragalus membranaceus was also studied in a small group of adult rowers to evaluate the impact on the immune system after exercise. The small, double-blinded study used doses of 500 milligrams (mg) during an intensive six-week training camp.

Compared to the control group, the treatment group had better recovery. However, the study was too small to draw conclusions about whether astragalus changes how the immune system works.

May Help Treat Heart Disease

Researchers have studied astragalus for various heart conditions. It may have a diuretic effect, which could lower blood pressure and cause blood vessels to relax.

A small study on astragalus for females who were post-menopausal with high blood pressure (hypertension) and metabolic syndrome suggested some benefits. The study compared the regular treatment alone to the regular treatment plus 5 grams or 10 grams of astragalus daily.

After one year, the group getting 10 grams of astragalus had better diastolic (bottom number) blood pressure, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratios. While this is promising, larger studies are still needed.

A systematic review of studies on Astragalus membranaceous in humans and animals suggested it may help treat a heart condition called viral myocarditis. Astragalus lowered harmful heart enzymes and levels of troponin (a protein that indicates heart damage) in the treatment group.

Researchers concluded that astragalus is an:

  • Antiviral
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Antifibrotic (prevents the thickening and scarring of damaged connective tissue)

Again, more research is needed before astragalus can be recommended for treating viral myocarditis.

astragalus
Verywell / JR Bee

May Help Treat Diabetic Kidney Disease

Astragalus has been studied for use in diabetic kidney disease.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies suggested that both oral and injectable astragalus may reduce urine protein loss and serum creatinine levels in diabetic kidney disease.

Due to limited high-quality studies, more research is needed.

May Help Treat Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

In studies of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) an astragalus injection combined with ambroxol hydrochloride improved breathing outcomes.

Separate research suggests that astragalus may also improve the immune function of people with acute exacerbation of COPD. However, more research is needed before recommending astragalus for COPD.

May Be Adaptogenic

An adaptogen is a substance that helps your body manage stress. Astragalus contains several compounds that have been identified as beneficial for protecting the body from the effects of stress. Some of these compounds are believed to have benefits such as decreasing inflammation and boosting the immune system.

May Help Aplastic Anemia

Astragalus is one of several Chinese medicine herbs that are believed to help reduce mortality in people with aplastic anemia. The supplement is believed to help regulate the formation of new blood vessels in this group, although the research so far has been limited.

May Help Chemotherapy Side Effects

There is some evidence that astragalus may help support the immune system and improve the quality of life in people undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Some studies have found that it may reduce fatigue during cancer treatment and that it may also have an effect on the molecules that are involved in drug resistance. More research could help confirm these findings.

May Help Control Blood Sugar Levels

Astragalus has been studied for its ability to reduce blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. However, the evidence for this is still uncertain, and more research needs to be done before healthcare providers will be able to recommend astragalus as a complementary therapy for people with diabetes.

Other Potential Health Benefits

Astragalus may have other health benefits, but most of these have only been studied in animals or in laboratory conditions. Although these types of studies may suggest benefits, they don't necessarily translate to effective use in human beings.

Some of these benefits include:

  • Improving chronic fatigue symptoms
  • Anticancer effects
  • Improved seasonal allergies 
  • Anti-aging

What Are the Side Effects of Astragalus?

Even "natural" products can cause unwanted side effects, and astragalus is no exception.

Common Side Effects

Some common side effects of astragalus may include:

Long-term side effects are unknown, as studies beyond four months long haven't been done.

Severe Side Effects

Severe side effects from astragalus are likely rare. Talk with your healthcare provider about any questions you may have.

Precautions

Astragalus may cause immunomodulation (a change or increase in your body's immune response). You shouldn't use astragalus without a healthcare practitioner's recommendation if you have autoimmune diseases such as:

You also shouldn't use astragalus if you've had an organ transplant.

Also, keep in mind that supplement safety generally isn't established for children, people with chronic conditions, those taking prescription medications, or during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Dosage: How Much Astragalus Should I Take?

Researchers don't have enough scientific evidence to define an appropriate dose of astragalus for various age groups or conditions. However, a typical dose is usually between 9 and 30 grams daily.

The appropriate dose for you may depend on many factors, including your age, sex, and medical history. Talk to your healthcare provider for personalized advice and always tell them what herbs or supplements you're taking.

Interactions

Astragalus may interact badly with several classes of medications.

  • Antivirals: Theoretically, astragalus may change the effectiveness of antiviral medications such as acyclovir and amantadine.
  • Blood pressure medications: Astragalus can lower blood pressure. It could cause dangerously low blood pressure if combined with hypertension medications.
  • Cancer treatments: In mice, astragalus suppresses estrogen, so it may reduce the effectiveness of certain cancer treatments that target estrogen levels.
  • Diuretics and drugs affected by diuretics: Astragalus' possible diuretic effects may impact how well your body processes certain drugs. It may also interact with other diuretics.
  • Immunomodulators: Astragalus has immune effects. It may interfere with drugs that suppress or stimulate the immune system.

Astragalus may also interact with other herbs and supplements that have effects similar effects to the drugs mentioned above.

Be sure you carefully read the ingredient list and nutrition facts panel of a supplement so you know what's in it and at what levels. Always review this information with your healthcare provider and discuss any potential interactions with foods, medications, or other supplements. 

Third-Party Testing

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the way it regulates prescription drugs. That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. 

When choosing a supplement, look for third-party tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.

Similar Supplements

Supplements considered similar to astragalus include:

Summary

Astragalus has been used for centuries in TCM. But Western research thus far is inconclusive about its safety and effectiveness for any condition. Some early research has been promising when it comes to immune support, heart disease, diabetic kidney disease, and COPD.

If you take astragalus, watch for possible side effects. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about potential drug interactions, as well.

Don't take astragalus if you have an autoimmune disease, are pregnant or breastfeeding, have had an organ transplant, have chronic conditions, or take medications that it could react with. Safe dosages aren't established.

23 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Additional Reading
  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Astragalus.

  • Therapeutic Research Center, Natural Medicines Database. Astragalus.

By Lisa Andrews, MEd, RD, LD
Lisa Andrews, MEd, RD, is a registered dietitian, nutrition consultant, and author.

Originally written by Cathy Wong