The efficacy of泡 water with Gastrodia and Astragalus

Jan 12, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Yang Ziqi

Introduction

Under normal circumstances, soaking Tianma (Gastrodia elata) and Huangqi (Astragalus membranaceus) together in water for consumption primarily offers effects including replenishing qi and uplifting yang energy, enhancing alertness, promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis, boosting immunity, and regulating blood pressure. If one intends to use Tianma and Huangqi in this manner, it should be done under the guidance of a physician to ensure safety. Additionally, consumption should avoid concurrent use with other Chinese herbs such as Liru (Veratrum) and Wulingzhi (Five-leaf Aralia), to prevent interference with therapeutic effects or the occurrence of adverse reactions.

Generally, when Gastrodia elata (Tianma) and Astragalus membranaceus (Huangqi) are steeped together in hot water for consumption, the main benefits include replenishing qi and uplifting yang energy, enhancing alertness, promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis, boosting immunity, and regulating blood pressure. Detailed explanations are as follows:

1. Replenishing Qi and Uplifting Yang Energy: Astragalus is a commonly used herbal medicine for replenishing qi. When combined with Gastrodia for steeping, it enhances physical strength and alleviates fatigue caused by qi deficiency. The sweet taste and slightly warm nature of Astragalus, which enters the spleen and lung meridians, help to boost the body's yang energy.

2. Enhancing Alertness: Gastrodia contains gastrodin, which helps improve sleep quality and thereby indirectly combats fatigue. Astragalus promotes energy production and enhances physical vitality. The combination of these two herbs can improve mental alertness and reduce feelings of fatigue.

3. Promoting Blood Circulation and Removing Blood Stasis: Steeping Astragalus and Gastrodia together also promotes blood circulation, helping to relieve limb pain and improve poor circulation. These effects are primarily related to the blood-activating and stasis-resolving properties of Gastrodia.

4. Boosting Immunity: Polysaccharides found in Astragalus have immune-regulating properties and can increase white blood cell count, thereby enhancing the body's resistance. Consuming Gastrodia and Astragalus together helps improve overall immunity and reduce the incidence of illness.

5. Regulating Blood Pressure: Both Gastrodia and Astragalus have certain blood pressure-regulating effects. Drinking an appropriate amount of Gastrodia-Astragalus infusion can help stabilize blood pressure and may serve as an adjunct treatment for patients with hypertension.

If one intends to consume Gastrodia and Astragalus tea, it should be done under the guidance of a physician to ensure safety. Additionally, it should not be consumed concurrently with certain other herbs such as Veratrum (Lilu) or Myrrha (Wulingzhi) to avoid potential interactions that might reduce efficacy or cause adverse reactions.

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What can you eat to boost resistance and immunity?

In general, to enhance resistance and immunity, one can consume foods such as blueberries, eggs, broccoli, salmon, and kiwifruit. Additionally, under medical guidance, medications such as pidotimod oral solution, splenocyte peptide oral lyophilized powder, transfer factor oral solution, Yupingfeng granules, and Astragalus granules may be taken for immune regulation. A detailed analysis is as follows:

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What tea should be drunk when platelets are too low?

In general, drinking teas such as red date and goji berry tea, longan lotus seed tea, peanut skin tea, astragalus and angelica tea, and black sesame tea may have a supportive effect in improving low platelet levels. In daily life, in addition to using herbal teas for regulation, it is also helpful to moderately increase the intake of foods rich in protein and vitamins—such as lean meat, eggs, and fresh vegetables and fruits—to ensure balanced nutrition.