Four Sigma Foods 101 – Astragalus
Astragalus membranaceus, also known as Milk Vetch Root, locoweed and in mandarin, Huang Qi. It is worth of mentioning that most of locoweeds are not astragalus though. You can find astragalus natively in Northern and Eastern China as well as in Mongolia. Astragalus is one of the superior tonic herbs in the Traditional Chinese Medicine where it has a history of use for over 2,000 years.
Some shocking studies that show how Astragalus can boost production of telomerase, an enzyme directly linked with our cell replication and aging.
Why To Use Astragalus
Traditionally, the Chinese have used astragalus to fight fatigue, digestive issues, and pathogens due to its immunostimulant, antibacterial, antiviral, anti- inflammatory, adaptogenic, and diuretic effects. There’s also some shocking studies that show how it can boost production of telomerase, an enzyme directly linked with our cell replication and aging.
Astragalus is one of the world’s best tonics for athletes and basically for anyone looking to have more energy and vigor.
Astragalus may elevate body’s resistance to bacteria and viruses. It also may improve digestion and lower excess stomach acidity, so it’s good remedy for those suffering heartburns. Even if you don’t have any heartburns or you are not an athlete, astragalus is still beneficial to you as it strongly tonifies your day to day energy.
Photo credit: tigerente
How To Use Astragalus
Traditionally astragalus is taken as a decoction (boiled). A proper dosage is usually 3-6 grams per day, but it may be significantly more depending on a many variables such seasons, health conditions, age, gender, etc. Today, the most common way to get astragalus is as dietary supplements from local health food stores.
Where to buy Astragalus
Many of the traditional grocery stores have astragalus supplements and if they don’t, you can try online stores such as iherb and Amazon. If you want to take an easy way out, then you can get some high quality astragalus extract from FSFstore and mix it with your smoothies or daily drinks.
