Astragali membranacei (Huang Qi)

Astragali membranacei

Huang Qi

I am sure that the majority of you have read of the immune building properties of Astragalus. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, if you want to treat the immune system you tonify the spleen and augment the Qi. One of the benefits of using Astragalus is to diminish spontaneous sweating. When a person over perspires while sweating out a cold, that person can feel weak. Astragalus helps to control the sweating. If my cold is more from feeling deficient and weak rather than excess, I put Astragalus in my chicken soup.

Another function of Astragalus is to tonify both Qi and Blood thus building strength and faster recovery. Astragalus also reduces edema or swelling from the accumulation of fluids by increasing urination. If you feel puffy and stiff and swollen then you are suffering from a damp condition. This damp condition can cause aches and pains. Astragalus also reduces inflammation and thus pain. If you have aches and pains, or edema, put Astragalus in your chicken soup.

Finally, Astragalus contains choline, which is a precursor to acetylcholine. Acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that plays an important roll in memory. Choline improves memory by increasing acetylcholine, therefore put herbs that contain choline in your chicken soup. So even if I am not sick but I am making a soup, I put 3-4 sticks of Astragalus in my soup.