In many texts devoted to traditional Chinese herbal medicines there are five definitive treatments that stand out as primary utilizations for astragalus and a few more diverse and recent uses that are being closely watched. The five primary uses according to traditional medicine are:

i. Meant to revitalize one’s qi and enhance spleen. Also used to increase appetite, bind loose stools, assist with exhaustion [reenergize], and curtail bleeding.

ii. Rejuvenate qi in order to stimulate yang in abdominal – pelvic area [prolapse of rectum, uterus or stomach]

iii. Rejuvenate the qi on the way to fortifying an individual’s body [fighting the common cold in weakened patients, curb abnormal perspiring caused by this weakness]

iv. Alleviate infections of the skin and enhance healing process due to abscesses, eroded or damaged skin, harmful gashes. Astragalus ingested to treat stomach lining wear, ulcers and atrophic gastritis.

v. Act as a diuretic and to alleviate edema, specifically spleen deficient form of edema

vi. Newer diverse uses include treatment for diabetes and low blood sugar, hemiplegia, asthma, and lowered white blood cell counts; astragalus is prescribed for these illnesses when one’s qi and or yang appear lacking.

Expert practitioners of ancient herbal medicine must be able to determine between treatment based on dogmatic beliefs and those not based upon vigilant patient study and therapies based on evidence determined via clinical research and patient experiences. In other words it would not be prudent to believe that a prolapsed organ will simply return to its place of origin because that patient will ingest astragalus in its various forms. This treatment was based on three reflective concerns:

I. Indications are that a prolapse proves muscle weakness, according to qi, musculature is dependent upon the spleen qi so deficient spleen qi means astragalus for the spleen.

II. The prolapse of an organ means it has dropped from its place, the rising flow of qi means if a rejuvenation of the yang and qi will assist this upward flow than astragalus would appropriately be utilized in directing the action of rising forces that fight against the dropping organ.

III. A prolapse leaves one feeling full and swollen where the dropped organ relocates, not unlike fluid buildup, certain herbs promote fluid drainage such as astragalus, hence it may offer some relief from the prolapse.

In theory the reasoning behind these astragalus uses remain unfailing in Asian medicinal conjecture, that is not to say there is any evidence that using astragalus in treating a prolapse will actually do anything to effectively assist in improving the prolapse. If a prolapse were to be non-surgically repaired it would mean building up the muscles in the area around the organ in question through exercise.

In so doing if taking astragalus has the effect of energizing someone to exercise more diligently and perhaps relieving some physical discomfort. The astragalus itself may not only assist with the symptoms but also provide a more receptive host for the health challenge to be undertaken and aid in garnering discipline.

There is no doubt that the active ingredients in astragalus can have a beneficial effect on the digestive tract of those who ingest it. Symptoms involving the stomach, bowel and general digestion can be directly affected by elementary action of the ingredients in the system. There have been after all proven to be Saponins and polysaccharides as basic elements in astragalus and their potential benefit in smaller dosages contacting digestive tract lining could only be helpful.

The diuretic effect is somewhat more difficult to ascertain because of fluid intake along with any tonic and the metabolized active ingredients themselves will be discharged via urination so would they remain active in the system to prove they had anything to do with the diuretic effect? Certainly a higher dosage would be needed and would only mean a higher elimination of the active elements. In any case in order to ingest enough active ingredient copious amounts of fluid would need to be taken which in itself would cause frequent urination.

Expert opinion must be sought if astragalus usage is to have any positive effect on any indicated illness or condition. The correct dosage is vital to have any effective result on the proposed application of the astragalus. The herbal practitioner dispensing the medicine must make a proper diagnosis and properly interpret signals and heed warnings that are shown in traditional Asian texts.

Astragalus

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Astragalus root has been used in Asia predominantly for centuries to help boost a person’s immunity so they can better fight against the common cold or influenza virus. There have been studies that indicate the antiviral elements and assistance to the immune system provided when taking astragalus. There has not been any actual independent research conducted that specifically investigates whether or not astragalus is effectual against rhinitis or the common cold in human beings.

Astragalus is known to be an antioxidant, therefore being administered for illnesses such as heart disease. As a herbal remedy experiments are being conducted to see if it is an effective therapy for those people that have weakened immunity due to a chronic illness or long-term condition. Today astragalus is available as a supplement in capsule or extract form and is becoming more popular as a tea. It is also found in its original root form but this type of astragalus is slightly more difficult to find. Health supplement stores, Asian herbal businesses, or authentic Asian grocers may also carry it.

Customary Chinese medicine enthusiasts would suggest ingesting astragalus as a defense against colds but to stay away from it if you are really sick. A good way to take your astragalus is in a soup or broth several times a week during the cold and flu season to prevent infection.

Astragalus has the ability to augment the effectiveness of other antiviral drugs such as interferon or acyclovir that could actually exacerbate the side effects you could naturally feel if taking these medications as part of a prescribed medical protocol. There is perhaps the chance it could offset any immune stifling medications like cyclophosphamide or corticosteroids. One could also experience a drop in their blood glucose level or blood pressure, which in turn may enhance the effectual nature of the drugs that combat these illnesses.

Clearly there are potential contraindications with astragalus if you are taking other more conventional medications prescribed by your physician. Astragalus can amplify the results attained from taking diuretics and prescribed blood thinners that are anti clotting or anti platelet drugs including such familiar ones as aspirin or Plavix and more obscure meds like ticlopidine [Ticlid] and Warfarin [Coumadin]. Anyone who is on any of these prescriptions should ask their primary health care provider if astragalus is a viable option for them.

Therefore, if you are suffering with a nasty cold or a bout of the flu, you really should just make a note that when you are eventually recovered it may not be a bad idea to supplement your immunity with astragalus in some form. There just isn’t enough evidentiary data to give a risk free recommendation to start using astragalus as a part of your health regimen unless you are already in reasonably good health and even then you should consult an expert herbalist or practitioner.

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The astragalus root has recently been discovered as a major breakthrough as an alternative treatment in HIV/AIDS patients, as noted by researchers at the UCLA AIDs Institute. It offers both a natural and cost effective method to treat this disease. Many patients have limited results when being treated with HIV/AIDS drugs and these drugs can be very expensive.

In Asia, the Chinese use the astragalus root in the treatment of heart disease, diarrhea, and the immune system. As cells age, they lose their ability to divide and lose their disease fighting capabilities. Thus, the immune system is compromised. The astragalus root has shown success in curbing the development of telomere, which is the area in the rear of each chromosome cell, and it contains the repeated DNA series without genes; hence the telomeres instead protect the chromosome ends from becoming fused as one.
Of the 50 most utilized herbs in ancient Chinese remedies, astragalus is the most prolifically used of any of them. It is usually boiled in water or the roots used in soups and it has properties proven to improve human immunity to disease, so much so that it has raised the hopes of many researchers worldwide. There is optimism in the ranks of HIV research because of the capacity to augment telomerase action as well as the antivirus utility of CD8T-lymphocytes that leads researchers to believe a useful stratagem for treating HIV virus could be in expected or perhaps likely in the future.

Cell aging reduces the capability of cell division due to the telomere portion of the chromosome reducing regularly during cell separation. The consequence of this is the many variations of divided cells and the immunity potential then becomes suspect and even negated. When the cell can’t divide any longer this is known as replicative senescence and may appear that the cell has reached its end, though this is not the case, since the cell has simply morphed into a cell with fresh genetic and well-designed uniqueness.

Massive amounts of cell separation is required in the immunity system for this human immune structure to complete its role correctly. For instance, the aptly named “killer” CD8 T cells, which battle against infection, have exclusively sensitive nerve endings for exacting antigen matches. When a body is invaded by virus, those killer T cells, whose receptors distinguish that the virus, by virtue of its dividing, has created versions of itself, which now also enter into immunity combat against the viral invader.

Usually the telomeres within the cells are indeed lengthy enough that their ability to divide over and over again without trouble is not compromised. While fighting infections, T cells may introduce the telomerase enzyme thereby stopping any shortening of the telomeres. A large obstacle in this HIV fight or any virus is the T cells do not have the ability to produce telomerase indefinitely. The T cells will shut off, telomeres shorten and they enter into the replicative senescence phase.

Earlier testing has revealed when injection of the telomerase gene into T cells takes place, this may keep the telomeres from getting shorter thus allowing them to continue their battle against the HIV virus for a longer period. As a genetic therapy method, this really is not the most realistic method of treatment for the tens of millions of HIV sufferers worldwide.

In the most current study, instead of using genetic therapy, scientists utilized a compound known as TAT2 that had its origin from the astragalus plants that are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine and are known to activate telomerase actions in cells when tested. Tests were conducted in a few ways with TAT2. Initially showing the CD8 T cells from an HIV positive individual to TAT2 to measure if the compound actually stymied the shortening of telomeres and if the cells manufacture improved of soluble factors referred to as chemokines and cytokines which had already shown the ability to hinder HIV replication and it did!

Researchers then gathered blood samples of HIV infected patients, separating the CD8 T cells along with CD4 T cells that are the ones infected with HIV. They then treated the CD8 T cells with their TAT2 then mixed them among the CD4 T cells in the lab dish and realized their treated CD8 cells actually inhibited the manufacture of HIV via the CD4 cells.

This capability to improve telomerase action as well as the antiviral utility of the CD8 T – lymphocytes puts forward that this stratagem has the potential to be used in the treatment of HIV illness and the immunodeficiency plus the amplified vulnerability to more viruses out there that are linked with persistent illness or simply aging.

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