Organic medicines involve the heavy usage of herbs with positive medicinal properties. One popular herb with these qualities is found in the Chinese species of plant, astragalus.

What is the Astragalus Herb?

Astragalus is not a single plant, but rather a genus comprised of 3,000 species of herbs and shrubs. These plants are indigenous to the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. Classified as legumes, astragalus plants are a pod fruit. They are most commonly called milk-vetch. Other names for this herb are locoweed, found mostly in the western U.S., and goat’s horn. Because these plants are legumes, people with bean and pea allergies are unable to interact with them. Those with compromised immune systems also avoid the herb.

The toxicology of astragalus plants varies between species. The species of plant used in medicinal practices is the astragalus propinquus, and is also known as astragalus membranaceus. While other members of the astragalus family can show extreme toxicity, almost no side effects are found with this particular sub-species. The Chinese name for a. propinquus is “Huang Qi,” meaning “yellow leader.” When preparing the herb for medicines, only the root of the plant is used.

Visualizing Astragalus Membranaceous

Astragalus (A. Membranaceou) can grow to a height of between 16 and 36 inches, and has a slightly hairy stem that branches upward. The leaves on membranaceous are pinnate, meaning they resemble a feather in appearance with two rows of veins sprouting from a center axis point. Each leaflet can be one-third of an inch wide and up to three-fourths of an inch long. Plants grow anywhere between 9 to 21 leaflets. The base of each leaf, the peduncle, is extremely slender and can support 3 to 9 flowers. Astragalus pods are beaked at the tip and can reach up to an inch in length.

The Habitat of the Astragalus Herb

Astragalus is native to China and Mongolia. These herbs are perennial, lasting year-round, and are generally drought resistant. They grow in sandy, well-drained soil and require large amounts of sunlight. Excessive amounts of water or pools of standing water can damage and kill the plants. Generally, the astragalus herb doesn’t like to have its roots disturbed. As such, cultivated plants are generally covered in the winter as opposed to being grown in a greenhouse. This avoids the need for relocating the plant and perturbing the roots.

Medicinal Properties

This Chinese herb is said to increase stamina, strengthen vitality, improve disease resistance, and help patients with coping with physical and mental stress. The most commonly recognized property of the herb is its ability as a vasodilator. In other words, the herb has the ability to encourage blood to flow to the skin’s surface.

Chemical Makeup

The Chinese herb contains asparagine, an essential amino acid. It also contains multiple sterols, the plant equivalent of fat, which play a crucial role in lowering blood pressure. Additionally, the plant contains the chemicals calcyosin, formononetin, astragalosides, and kumatakenin. A large amount of triterpene saponins and polysaccharides are also present within the plant. All of these chemical properties contribute to the plant’s medical uses and effects.

Ornamental Usage

Some astragalus plants are grown for ornamental purposes. They are chosen for decoration based on, but not limited to, properties such as flowers, colors, scents, leaves, foliage texture. Some species used for garden decoration include A. alpinus, which has purplish-blue flowers, and A. hypoglottis, which has purple flowers.

The astragalus herb can be a fantastic plant for promoting overall wellness. If you’re interested in a natural energy supplement or vitamin, consider this commonly used Chinese herb.