root
Prominent Constituents Reported in the Scientific Literature:
Polysaccharides, triterpene glycosides including astragalosides, isoflavonoids, flavonoids, lignans and phytosterols.2,6
Supports healthy function of the immune system.*
Supports vital energy and reinforces the body’s natural defenses, including healthy lung function.*
Take over time for deep immune support.*
Huang Qi, the plant’s Chinese name, translates to “yellow leader.”4
The use of Astragalus is perceived to date back to the first century A.D. and was introduced in the ancient text Divine Husbandman’s Classic of the Materia Medica by the founder of agriculture and Chinese civilization, Shen-nong Ben-cao Jing.6 Astragalus was thought to be in a highly respected superior class of tonic herbs that are not the strongest, but work more slowly over the long-term.6 The scholar T’ao Hung-ching wrote that superior herbs were “rulers… they control the maintenance of life and correspond to heaven”.6 The translation of the herb’s Chinese name, Huang Qi, stands for “yellow leader,” which denotes the color of its roots and its principal position within the superior class of herbs.4
Different species of Astragalus have been used by indigenous people across North America for food, ceremony, fodder, tools, toys and in herbalism.5