Exploring the Wonders of Astragalus: A Powerful Herb for Immune Support and Vitality

Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus) is one of the most powerful herbs in Chinese medicine to reduce inflammation and modulate the body’s immune response. The plant is rich in triterpenoid saponins and flavonoids, which help regulate your immune system, control inflammation, protect your body against infection, and nurture the balance that sustains the processes keeping your cells alive and healthy. Although beneficial, caution is indicated when using Astragalus as it may cause unwanted effects to your body. Hence, it is important to explore the wonders of astragalus with your naturopathic doctors, who will guide you throughout your journey of healing and wellness.
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Historical Background
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Astragalus has traditionally been used in Chinese medicine to nourish Qi and protect the immune system, liver, kidneys, heart, and brain.₃ As a background, Qi is a term used in Chinese medicine that simply means air, an element that exists everywhere, connects everything together, and holds great importance to our existence even though we are not able to see or witness it using our senses. Qi represents our innate healing ability or “vital force.” In the context of the body, Qi acts similarly to air: it links the mind and body and plays an important role in maintaining overall balance. Astragalus nurtures this balance, making sure that the processes within the body are regulated and protected. Particularly, its roots are famous to help boost your immune response, keep your body strong and fight fatigue, as well as serve as herbal remedy for different health concerns! In fact, the Astragalus species has been used to manage disease conditions for almost 2000 years!₃​ Although the Astragalus species are present all over the world, Astragalus membranaceus is the variety most commonly used as an herbal remedy. 

Mechanism of action 
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The powers of Astragalus lie in its active chemical components, namely, triterpenoid saponins and flavonoids, which exert antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-degenerative effects. ₁₂ Simply put, these active ingredients enhance your body’s natural defenses and keep the processes within it regulated and in balance!
 
Your immune system is a complex network of cells and processes that protect your body from harm and heal it once damage has been made. For it to function effectively, your immune system consists of thousands of cells (white blood cells and antigen-presenting cells) which work together to maintain balance within the body. Once broken, your body can be susceptible to millions of diseases, eventually causing harm and irreversible damage to your cells. Astragalus is a powerful option since it stimulates the functions of your macrophages, a type of white blood cell responsible in not only protecting your body against harmful pathogens, but also healing it from damage.₁ Additionally, Astragalus helps streamline the levels of inflammatory mediators in the blood, ensuring that inflammation should only protect and not cause harm to your body.

​Tincture

Support Strong Immunity

Prevent Stress & Sickness

Safety and Considerations
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Although with beneficial effects for your health, Astragalus has a paradoxical nature in that it may worsen your autoimmune problems by making your immune system extra reactive by increasing the numbers of your white blood cells. Hence, the use of Astragalus for your health problems should be with the expertise of your naturopathic doctor who will guide you in incorporating this herb to your journey to wellness.
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Strengthening Your Immune System
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The beneficial effects of Astragalus for your immune system can only be fully enjoyed if its use is paired with holistic practices aimed at nurturing your overall well-being. Eating foods that are beneficial for your health, supplementing your diet with vitamins and minerals, modifying your lifestyle and environment, exploring natural options to target the root cause of your health problems, and making proactive and conscious decisions about your health every day, are practices that nurture both your mind and body towards your personal health goals. At Natural Path to Wellness, we are committed to help you achieve optimal well-being through helping you discover holistic and natural options for your health throughout every step of your journey. Take charge of your health today!

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​This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your licensed naturopathic physician or other licensed healthcare provider before making changes to your medications or supplements. Disclosures & Policies: This and other blog posts may contain affiliate links. Please view our disclosures page for more information.

REFERENCES:

1. D'Avino D, Cerqua I, Ullah H, et al. Beneficial Effects of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge Extract in Controlling Inflammatory Response and Preventing Asthma Features. Int J Mol Sci. 2023;24(13):10954. Published 2023 Jun 30. doi:10.3390/ijms241310954
2. Bildziukevich U, Wimmerová M, Wimmer Z. Saponins of Selected Triterpenoids as Potential Therapeutic Agents: A Review. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2023;16(3):386. Published 2023 Mar 2. doi:10.3390/ph16030386
3. Abd Elrahim Abd Elkader HT, Essawy AE, Al-Shami AS. Astragalus species: Phytochemistry, biological actions and molecular mechanisms underlying their potential neuroprotective effects on neurological diseases. Phytochemistry. 2022;202:113293. doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2022.113293