Herb module
Huang Qi
Astragalus RootAstragalus membranaceus
A golden root that builds Qi and strengthens the body's protective layer, the Wei Qi that guards us at the surface.
Huang Qi is one of the most relied-upon Qi tonics in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is traditionally used to build Qi and Blood, support the Spleen and Lungs, and firm up the body's outer defenses. That is why it appears in three Zoi formulas: Resilience | Fós™, Longevity | The Zoi™, and Lung Meridian™.
Best functions
- Tonifies Qi and Blood and strengthens the Spleen, lifting the Yang Qi of the Spleen and Stomach
- Tonifies Wei Qi and the Lungs and stabilizes the Exterior, traditionally used to stop excess sweating
- Promotes urination and is used to ease puffiness from fluid buildup
- Promotes discharge of pus, generates flesh, and expels toxins, supporting tissue repair
- Generates body fluids and relieves numbness and pain
Fascinating facts
- The name Huang Qi is often translated as "yellow leader." Huang means yellow, a nod to the pale yellow color inside the root, and the name reflects its place as a leading tonic herb.
- Traditional Chinese Medicine describes a protective layer of Qi at the body's surface, called Wei Qi. Huang Qi is known as the great builder of this protective Qi.
- In Chinese home cooking, slices of astragalus root are often simmered into soups and broths. The slices add a mild, slightly sweet flavor and are taken out before eating.
- Research has looked at cycloastragenol, a compound from astragalus, and its activity on telomerase, an enzyme connected to the protective caps at the ends of our chromosomes.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine
Huang Qi is slightly warm in nature, with a sweet flavor. It is a tonic herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and it enters the Lung and Spleen channels.
Biomedical deep dive
Huang Qi Astragalus Root
From the Zoi Medicinals fact sheets’ Biomedical Details, with lines from Noa’s herb notes marked “Noa’s notes”.
On the fact sheet
- Huang Qi (Astragalus Root, Astragalus propinquus) is slightly warm, enters the LU and SP meridians; tonifies Qi and Blood, strengthens the Spleen, raises Yang Qi of the Spleen and Stomach, tonifies Wei Qi and the Lungs, stabilizes the Exterior, promotes urination and reduces edema, promotes discharge of pus, generates flesh and expels toxins, generates body fluids, and relieves numbness and pain. Resilience | Fós · Longevity | The Zoi · Lung · Meridian sheets
Key active constituents
- Astragalus saponins (named in the title of a colon-cancer cell study the Longevity sheet cites)
Pharmacology and mechanisms
- Astragalus has been shown to have immunomodulation properties (helping balance immune activity), along with Ophiopogon, Codonopsis and dandelion.
- The Longevity sheet lists Astragalus among herbs with anti-tumor functions in research, with Cordyceps, fleeceflower, wolfberry, Dan Shen and magnolia bark.
- Contains astragalosides, flavonoids, polysaccharides and saponins. Noa’s notes
- Immunomodulatory, adaptogenic, liver-protective, antioxidant and cardioprotective effects. Noa’s notes
- Immune-stimulating: increases white blood cells, IFN-α, NK cell activity and T-lymphocyte growth. Noa’s notes
- Cycloastragenol activates telomerase (an enzyme that protects chromosome tips), studied as anti-aging at the cell level. Noa’s notes
- Cardioprotective; reduced cardiac remodeling after heart attack in clinical studies. Noa’s notes
What the research says
- In a randomized controlled trial of 64 people with post-stroke fatigue, astragalus was associated with better quality of life and Brief Fatigue Index scores after 28 days (Liu et al., J Ethnopharmacol 2016).
- Astragalus has been shown to counteract side effects of chemotherapy (Tin et al., Carcinogenesis 2007).
- A clinical study found a 2.7 times lower risk of colds and flu in children with a history of allergies and chronic bronchitis who took Astragalus (Chen & Chen, Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology 2001).
Safety, interactions and cautions
- Every Zoi fact sheet: do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding unless directed by your health care practitioner.
- The Resilience fact sheet cautions: if you have a medical condition or take medication, check with your doctor first; if it interferes with sleep, take the last dose 3 or more hours before bed.
- Avoid in exterior conditions with fever, excess conditions, acute infection, or Yin deficiency with Heat. Noa’s notes
- May interact with immunosuppressant drugs, blood thinners and blood pressure medicines. Noa’s notes
- May interfere with the metabolism of drugs processed by cytochrome P450 liver enzymes. Noa’s notes
In these Zoi formulas
- ★ Resilience | Fós (#2 on the fact sheet)
- Longevity | The Zoi (#7 on the fact sheet)
- Lung Meridian (#11 on the fact sheet)
