Huang Qi (黄芪) is the root of astragalus, a legume, recorded as Radix Astragali. It is sweet in flavour and slightly warm, entering the Lung and Spleen channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that tonify Qi, and records seven distinct actions for it.

Pinyin

huang qi

Chinese

黄芪

Latin Name

Radix Astragali

English Name

Astragalus Root·Astragulus Root

Japanese

ogi

Korean

hwanggi

Actions and indications

Tonifies Qi and Blood

Qi and Blood deficiency with tiredness, a sallow face, dizziness, reluctance to speak, palpitations and low-grade fever
Fever after childbirth from depleted Qi and Blood
Convalescence after heavy blood loss

Strengthens the Spleen and raises Yang Qi

Weak Spleen Qi with poor appetite, fatigue and loose stools
Sinking Middle Qi with prolapse of the rectum or uterus
Spleen Qi unable to hold Blood in the vessels, with easy bruising or bleeding
Deficient Qi of both the Lungs and the Spleen
Fever from Qi deficiency

Tonifies Wei Qi, secures the Exterior and strengthens the Lungs

Spontaneous sweating from weak Wei Qi
Catching colds easily and shortness of breath from deficient Lung Qi
Excessive sweating in Qi, Yang or Yin deficiency
Cough or wheezing with thin white phlegm from Lung and Spleen deficiency
Damp accumulating in the head

Promotes urination and reduces edema

Edema from Spleen deficiency, or puffiness of the face and limbs with scanty urine; may be used alone for this

Expels pus and generates flesh

Chronic sores and ulcers that are slow to form pus, slow to drain or slow to heal

Generates Fluids and treats wasting and thirsting disorder

Xiao Ke (wasting and thirsting disorder) with thirst and fatigue

Relieves numbness and pain

Numbness, pain or paralysis of the limbs when Qi and Blood fail to nourish them
Bi syndrome with numb limbs

Combinations

ren shen + dang shen

Qi Deficiency with general weakness, poor appetite, fatigue, tired limbs and spontaneous sweating

zhi fu zi

Spontaneous sweating from Yang Deficiency

bai zhu

Spleen Qi Deficiency with loose stools, weakness and lassitude

long yan rou + dang gui + suan zao ren

Qi and Blood Deficiency with insomnia and related signs

dang gui

Blood Deficiency after hemorrhage: fatigue, a low-grade fever, thirst, irritability and a weak pulse reflecting Qi and Blood Deficiency. Deficient Qi and Blood with numbness, paresthesia, painful obstruction and chronic sores that stay open

san qi + e jiao

Qi Deficiency with bleeding

sheng ma + chai hu + bai zhu

Sinking Spleen Qi with rectal or uterine prolapse or heavy uterine bleeding

dang shen + zi wan + chen pi + fu ling

Qi Deficiency of the Spleen and Lung

fang feng + bai zhu

Deficient Wei Qi with spontaneous sweating

mu li + fu xiao mai

Daytime sweating that becomes worse at night

mai men dong + wu wei zi

Night sweats.

sheng di huang + huang bai

Night sweats from Yin Deficiency

han fang ji + bai zhu + gan cao + sheng jiang

Wind edema with a heavy feeling in the body, sweating and aversion to Wind

han fang ji + bai zhu + shan yao + shi wei

Chronic nephritis with edema and proteinuria

han fang ji + fu ling + gui zhi

Superficial, floating edema with swollen limbs

chuan shan jia + zao jiao ci

Yin-type suppurative sores that fail to open or discharge only thin clear fluid

dang gui + rou gui

Flat sores that fail to form pus, or ulcers that will not heal

han fang ji

Wind edema with swelling of the face and limbs, numbness, pain, sweating, sensitivity to Wind and scanty urination

shan yao + sheng di huang + shan zhu yu

Wasting and Thirsting Disorder.

gui zhi

Deficiency of Qi and Blood and of Ying and Wei, with numbness and painful obstruction in the muscles

qiang huo + jiang huang

Wind-Damp painful obstruction affecting the shoulder

dang gui + hong hua + tao ren

Qi Deficiency with Blood Stasis following Windstroke

dang shen + nu zhen zi + shan zhu yu

Adverse effects of radiation or chemotherapy in cancer patients

di gu pi

Reduces the adverse effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy

ling zhi + dang shen

Increases phagocytosis.

sheng ma

Lifts Spleen Yang Qi so that turbid Yin can sink and be expelled, for long-standing diarrhea, abdominal dragging, fatigue, breathlessness, uterine bleeding and prolapse

fu xiao mai

Spontaneous sweating from Qi Deficiency and night sweats from Yin Deficiency

fu ling + shan yao + bai bian dou + yi yi ren

Spleen Deficiency with loose stools or diarrhea

yang tonics

Spleen Yang Deficiency.

ren shen + bai zhu + dang gui + suan zao ren

Qi and Blood Deficiency with a pale face and shortness of breath

jing jie + guang zhong + san qi + hai piao xiao + e jiao + gui pi tang

Spleen failing to govern Blood, so Blood leaks out as vomiting of blood, blood in the stool or heavy menstrual bleeding

ling zhi + nu zhen zi + dang shen + ren shen + dong chong xia cao + shan zhu yu

Chemotherapy and radiation leaving the Qi Deficient

dang gui + ren shen + zhi fu zi + mai men dong + wu wei zi

Qi and Blood collapse

mu li + ma huang (gen) + fu xiao mai

Spontaneous sweating from Exterior Deficiency

zhi fu zi + sheng jiang

Yang Deficiency with heavy sweating and severe fatigue

sheng di huang + mai men dong + wu wei zi + fu xiao mai + di gu pi

Night sweats from Deficient Qi and Yin

chuan shan jia + zao jiao ci + dang gui + chuan xiong

Chronic sores with pus that do not ulcerate

ren shen + dang gui + chuan xiong + bai zhi + fang feng

Long-standing sores on a basis of Deficiency

dang gui + shu di huang + ren shen + bai zhu + rou gui

Flat, chronic sores and ulcers that will not heal

ren shen + rou gui + zhi gan cao

Qi Deficiency sores in children

gui zhi + bai shao + sheng jiang + da zao

Qi and Blood Deficiency with numb, painful skin and muscles

qiang huo + fang feng + jiang huang + dang gui

Wind-Damp invasion with Ying and Wei out of harmony, causing numbness and pain in the limbs

dang gui wei + chuan xiong + hong hua + tao ren + di long

Post-stroke complications.

shan yao + zhi mu + ge gen + tian hua fen

Interior Heat in wasting and thirsting disorder

Age

Raw

Granule

Tincture

Concentrate

Frequency

Any 9-30g; Exceptional cases: 30-60g; Tincture: 2-4ml

9-30 g

—

2-4 ml

—

Cautions

contraindication Sores in their early stage, or skin lesions with Heat toxin in the Blood

contraindication Exterior Excess patterns, where securing the Exterior can trap an unresolved pathogen

contraindication Qi stagnation

contraindication Yin deficiency with Heat signs, or Excess Yang with deficient Yin

contraindication Excess Heat

contraindication Damp obstruction

contraindication Food stagnation

contraindication Lower Jiao patterns of Heat, Excess Fire or Deficiency Cold, and a split pattern with Heat in the upper body and Cold in the lower

pregnancy Use with caution in the third trimester; its safety in pregnancy is not well studied

caution Stop if an allergic reaction occurs

Interactions

Drug interactions

Aminoglycoside antibiotics (gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin): may help protect against their toxicity to the ears and kidneys
Tacrolimus and other immunosuppressants: in one case report tacrolimus blood levels fell by nearly half, and the herb's immune-stimulating action may work against these drugs; monitor levels
Antidiabetic medicines: may add to their lowering of blood sugar (theoretical, based on laboratory studies)
Anticoagulant and antiplatelet medicines: a possible mild added effect on bleeding (weak evidence)

Prepared forms (1)

zhì huáng qí Mi Zhi

炙黄芪·Radix Astragali Praeparata cum Melle

Zhì huáng qí (炙黄芪) is the honey-fried root of astragalus, recorded as Radix Astragali Praeparata cum Melle. The catalogue holds no category, channels or actions for it.

The catalogue records no separate actions, dose or cautions for this preparation. Unless noted above it follows huang qi.

Used in 5 formulas: ba wei di huang wan, gu zhen tang, juan bi tang, liu shen san, shi wei xiang ru yin

huang qi

About huang qi

Names

Classification