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Do not take astragalus root for more than seven consecutive days unless your physician instructs otherwise. Don’t take astragalus root if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have trouble swallowing or are taking immunosuppressant medications.
Individuals with autoimmune diseases: Astragalus may increase the activity of your immune system. Consider avoiding astragalus if you have an autoimmune disease, such as multiple sclerosis, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis ( 1 ). ). Astragalus may also have effects on blood sugar levels and blood pressure.
Summary Astragalus is generally well tolerated but should be avoided if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have an autoimmune disease or are taking immunosuppressant drugs. Astragalus root can be found in many different forms. Supplements are available as capsules and liquid extracts.
Moderate Interaction Be cautious with this combination Cyclophosphamide interacts with ASTRAGALUS Cyclophosphamide is used to make the immune system less active. Astragalus increases the activity of the immune system. Taking astragalus along with cyclophosphamide might decrease the effects of cyclophosphamide.
What meds interact with Astragalus?
Medications that decrease the immune system (Immunosuppressants) interacts with ASTRAGALUS
Early research shows that giving astragalus intravenously (by IV) for 12 days each month for 3 months with conventional drugs can improve symptoms and reduce infections in people with lupus. Ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
Early research shows that administering a specific astragalus extract intravenously (by IV) three times weekly for 4 weeks during chemotherapy improves fatigue scores after one week but not after two and four weeks. Long-term kidney disease (chronic kidney disease or CKD).
Overview. Astragalus is an herb. The root is used to make medicine. Astragalus is used for hay fever, diabetes, kidney disease , and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. There are several different species of astragalus.
However, other early research using the same dose shows no benefit. When taken by mouth along with conventional drugs for heart failure, some early research shows that astragalus can improve heart function and walking distance compared to conventional drugs alone. Diabetes.
Some species contain a nerve toxin and have been linked to livestock poisonings. Some of these species include Astragalus lentiginosus, Astragalus mollissimus, and others. However, these species of astragalus are usually not found in dietary supplements used by humans.
Astragalus might have an effect like a water pill or “diuretic.”. Taking astragalus might decrease how well the body gets rid of lithium. This could increase how much lithium is in the body and result in serious side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider before using this product if you are taking lithium.
How long is astragalus good for?
However, there are no studies to determine the safety of high doses in the long term. Summary. There’s no official consensus for recommended doses of astragalus.
There are many preliminary studies on astragalus that indicate the herb may have other potential benefits, including: 1 Improved symptoms of chronic fatigue: Some evidence shows astragalus may help improve tiredness in people with chronic fatigue syndrome when combined with other herbal supplements ( 29, 32 ). 2 Anticancer effects: In test-tube studies, astragalus has promoted apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in various types of cancer cells ( 33, 34, 35 ). 3 Improved seasonal allergy symptoms: Though studies are limited, one clinical study found that 160 mg of astragalus twice daily may reduce sneezing and runny nose in individuals with seasonal allergies ( 36 ).
Though there are over 2,000 species of astragalus, only two are primarily used in supplements — Astragalus membranaceus and Astragalus mongholicus ( 2. Trusted Source. ). Specifically, the root of the plant is made into many different forms of supplements, including liquid extracts, capsules, powders and teas.
Astragalus is believed to prolong life and used to treat a wide variety of ailments , such as fatigue, allergies and the common cold.
Astragalus contains beneficial plant compounds that may enhance your immune system. The primary role of your immune system is to protect your body against harmful invaders, including bacteria, germs and viruses that can cause illness ( 7. Trusted Source.
The active compounds in astragalus root may help lower blood sugar levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes. ). In animal and test-tube studies, astragalus has been shown to improve sugar metabolism and reduce blood sugar levels. In one animal study, it also led to weight loss ( 24.
Yet, findings are mixed ( 18. ). Though research findings are mixed, astragalus may help improve heart function in patients with heart failure and reduce symptoms of myocarditis.
How does astragalus work?
One of the key uses for astragalus, in alternative medicine , is to improve immune function. Although evidence is needed, one of the ways astragalus is said to work is by increasing the production of immune cells. It may also have mild antiviral activity and help with the prevention of colds. There’s little evidence from human studies, however, on the effectiveness of astragalus as an antiviral.
Uses for Astragalus. Astragalus is used in traditional Chinese medicine for night sweats and diarrhea. It is also used for energy tonics that are taken daily at certain times of the year. So far, scientific support for the potential benefits of astragalus is lacking.
Astragalus supplements haven’t been tested for safety and due to the fact that dietary supplements are largely unregulated, the content of some products may differ from what is specified on the product label. Also keep in mind that the safety of supplements in pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, and those with medical conditions …
People with autoimmune diseases, such as Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes or systemic lupus erythematosus shouldn’t use astragalus unless recommended by a qualified healthcare practitioner. People who have had transplant surgery should not use astragalus.
Astragalus is also used for various heart conditions. It may have a diuretic effect which would lower blood pressure and it may cause blood vessels to relax. It hasn’t been explored in human studies, so it shouldn’t be used as a replacement for conventional care.
It’s often combined with other herbs, such as ginseng. There is not enough scientific evidence to define an appropriate dose of astragalus. The appropriate dose for you may depend on factors including your age, gender, and medical history.
Astragalus may interfere with the effectiveness of corticosteroid medications and drugs that suppress the immune system. Theoretically, astragalus can increase the effectiveness of antiviral medications such as acyclovir and amantadine. Astragalus supplements haven’t been tested for safety and due to the fact that dietary supplements are largely …
What is Astragalus used for?
Astragalus is used to protect and support the immune system, preventing colds and upper respiratory infections, lowering blood pressure, treating diabetes, and protecting the liver. Astragalus has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. People sometimes use it on the skin for wound care.
Astragalus is a perennial plant, about 16 to 36 inches tall, that is native to the northern and eastern parts of China, as well as Mongolia and Korea. It has hairy stems with leaves made up of 12 to 18 pairs of leaflets.
At recommended doses, astragalus has no serious side effects and can generally be used safely. It does interact with other herbs and medications (see Possible Interactions section). Evidence about whether astragalus is safe for women who are breastfeeding or nursing is lacking.
Preliminary research suggests astragalus may help protect the kidneys and may help treat kidney disease. More studies are needed. Seasonal allergies. One study found that astragalus may help reduce symptoms in people who have allergic rhinitis or hayfever.
Higher doses may suppress the immune system. For best results, use a standardized astragalus supplement. Dosages depend on a number of factors, such as whether astragalus is being used primarily as an adaptogen or for other reasons.
According to TCM, you should not give astragalus to a child with fever because the herb may make the fever last longer or grow stronger. Dosage should be determined by your doctor. Adult. Dosage depends on condition being treated, age, and weight.
In addition, studies have shown that astragalus has antiviral properties and stimulates the immune system, suggesting that it may help prevent colds. In the United States, researchers have looked at astragalus as a possible treatment for people whose immune systems have been weakened by chemotherapy or radiation.
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