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What Are the Effects and Functions of Astragalus complanatus?

Oct 25, 2020 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Xiuhong
Introduction
Astragalus complanatus (Shā Yuàn Zǐ) has a sweet taste and warm nature, and it enters the Liver and Kidney meridians. It is an excellent herb for tonifying the Kidney and consolidating Essence. It effectively alleviates various symptoms arising from Kidney deficiency. Astragalus complanatus is used to treat conditions such as spermatorrhea and premature ejaculation. This is because it tonifies Kidney Yang and strengthens Kidney Qi, thereby restoring the Kidney’s normal function of containment and preventing involuntary leakage of semen.

　　Astragalus complanatus (also known as “Sha Yuan Zi”) is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicinal herb. It possesses multiple therapeutic effects, including tonifying the kidneys and consolidating essence, nourishing the liver and improving vision, enhancing yang energy and reducing urinary frequency, strengthening the kidneys to stabilize pregnancy, and relieving fever and pain. A detailed analysis follows:

　　1. Tonifies the Kidneys and Consolidates Essence

　　Sha Yuan Zi has a sweet taste and warm nature, entering the Liver and Kidney meridians. It is an excellent herb for tonifying the kidneys and consolidating essence, effectively alleviating various symptoms caused by kidney deficiency. It is particularly effective in treating conditions such as spermatorrhea and premature ejaculation. This is because Sha Yuan Zi strengthens kidney-yang and replenishes kidney-qi, thereby restoring the kidney’s normal function of containment and preventing involuntary leakage of semen.

　　2. Nourishes the Liver and Improves Vision

　　Sha Yuan Zi also exerts beneficial nourishing effects on both the liver and eyes. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory, the liver “opens into the eyes,” meaning that the health of the liver directly influences ocular function. Sha Yuan Zi nourishes the yin of both the liver and kidneys, thus promoting clear vision and resolving corneal opacities. It can help improve symptoms such as blurred vision and dim sight resulting from liver-kidney yin deficiency.

　　3. Enhances Yang Energy and Reduces Urinary Frequency

　　Sha Yuan Zi also enhances yang energy and is highly effective in treating frequent urination and enuresis caused by kidney-yang deficiency. Insufficient kidney-yang impairs bladder qi transformation, leading to symptoms like urinary frequency and enuresis. By warming and tonifying kidney-yang, Sha Yuan Zi enhances bladder qi transformation, enabling normal urine storage and excretion.

　　4. Strengthens the Kidneys to Stabilize Pregnancy

　　In gynecology, Sha Yuan Zi offers certain protective benefits for pregnant women. It strengthens the kidneys and stabilizes the fetus, making it suitable for treating fetal restlessness due to liver-kidney deficiency. During pregnancy, if the mother suffers from liver-kidney insufficiency, the fetus may receive inadequate nourishment and lack stable physiological support—potentially resulting in fetal restlessness. By nourishing the liver and kidneys, Sha Yuan Zi creates a stable intrauterine environment for fetal development, thereby exerting its stabilizing effect on pregnancy.

　　5. Relieves Fever and Pain

　　Sha Yuan Zi also exhibits antipyretic and analgesic properties, helping reduce fever and alleviate associated discomfort. It may also be used to relieve headache, joint pain, and other types of pain.

　　Sha Yuan Zi can be administered orally as a decoction, incorporated into pills or powders, or steeped in wine. However, dosage and administration must be guided by a qualified healthcare practitioner; self-administration is not recommended to avoid potential adverse reactions.

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