What are the benefits and side effects of Astragalus?
Sep 18, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
Astragalus membranaceus (Huangqi) is generally known for its effects of reinforcing qi and strengthening the defensive system, promoting diuresis to reduce edema, enhancing qi and fluid production, expelling toxins and promoting pus discharge, and boosting immune function. Potential side effects may include inducing heat-related symptoms, exacerbating yin deficiency with internal heat, causing blood pressure fluctuations, impairing digestive function, and triggering allergic reactions. Before using Astragalus, one should clearly understand their body constitution—those with qi deficiency may use it moderately, while individuals with yin deficiency and excessive fire or internal damp-heat should avoid it.
The effects of Astragalus (Huangqi) generally include reinforcing qi and consolidating the exterior, promoting diuresis and reducing edema, benefiting qi and generating body fluids, supporting detoxification and pus discharge, and enhancing immunity. Potential side effects may include causing heatiness symptoms, exacerbating yin deficiency with hyperactivity of fire, inducing blood pressure fluctuations, affecting digestive function, and triggering allergic reactions. Detailed analysis is as follows:
I. Effects
1. Reinforcing Qi and Consolidating the Exterior: As its core effect, Astragalus tonifies spleen and lung qi, improving symptoms caused by qi deficiency such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and susceptibility to colds. It is suitable for individuals with a qi-deficient constitution for regulation, commonly used in daily health maintenance and during recovery from illness.
2. Promoting Diuresis and Reducing Edema: By strengthening qi to promote fluid metabolism, it helps alleviate edema symptoms due to qi deficiency, such as eyelid swelling and lower limb edema. It effectively regulates edema caused by spleen deficiency with dampness excess and assists in resolving fluid retention.
3. Benefiting Qi and Generating Body Fluids: Possesses dual actions of reinforcing qi and promoting the production of body fluids, relieving symptoms like dry mouth, thirst, fatigue, and lassitude due to deficiency of both qi and body fluids. Particularly suitable for individuals with deficiency of both qi and yin, helping improve insufficient body fluid conditions.
4. Supporting Detoxification and Pus Discharge: Used for chronic ulcers that fail to heal due to qi deficiency, characterized by thin pus, Astragalus strengthens qi to support the expulsion of pathogens, promotes pus drainage, and accelerates wound healing. It is a commonly used herb in surgical treatment of sores and ulcers.
5. Enhancing Immunity: Contains multiple active components that regulate immune system function, boost the body's resistance, and reduce invasion by external pathogens. Suitable for long-term regulation in individuals with weak constitution or those frequently affected by external pathogenic factors.
II. Side Effects
1. Causing Heatiness Symptoms: Its nature tends to be warm; excessive or prolonged use may lead to heatiness, manifesting as dry mouth, sore throat, constipation, and acne. Individuals with a heat-prone constitution are more susceptible to these reactions.
2. Exacerbating Yin Deficiency with Fire Hyperactivity: Individuals with yin deficiency and internal heat often experience symptoms such as tidal fever, night sweats, and hot palms and soles. The warming nature of Astragalus can further deplete yin fluids and worsen internal heat symptoms; such individuals should avoid using it.
3. Inducing Blood Pressure Fluctuations: It has a bidirectional regulatory effect on blood pressure, but some individuals may experience changes in blood pressure after use. Hypertensive patients should be especially cautious to avoid self-medication that could pose risks.
4. Affecting Digestive Function: For individuals with weak spleen and stomach accompanied by food stagnation or damp-heat, taking Astragalus may increase the burden on the digestive system, leading to symptoms such as abdominal distension, poor appetite, and sticky stools.
5. Triggering allergic reactions: A small number of people may be allergic to its components, experiencing rashes, itching upon contact or ingestion, and in severe cases, even difficulty breathing or other serious allergic manifestations.
Before using Astragalus, one should clearly understand their own body constitution. Individuals with qi deficiency may use it moderately, while those with yin deficiency-fire hyperactivity or internal damp-heat should avoid it. First-time users should start with a small dose and monitor their response, avoiding long-term or excessive intake. When used for treating diseases, it should be done under professional guidance, and usage should be discontinued immediately and medical help sought if adverse reactions occur.
