huang qi

黄芪·Radix Astragali

Astragalus Root

About huang qi

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.

Names

Pinyinhuang qi
Chinese黄芪
Latin NameRadix Astragali
English NameAstragalus Root·Astragulus Root
Japaneseogi
Koreanhwanggi

Classification

Category
Anti-inflammatory, Alteratives, Tonify Qi, Antioxidant, Adaptogens
Channels
Lung, Spleen
Flavour
Sweet
Temperature
Slightly Warm
Part used
Root
Family
Fabaceae
Species
Astragalus membranaceus
Tags
Chinese Herbs, Common

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

Dosage

AgeRawGranuleTinctureConcentrateFrequency
Any 9-30g; Exceptional cases: 30-60g; Tincture: 2-4ml9-30 g—2-4 ml——

Cautions

Interactions

Drug interactions

Prepared forms (2)

huang qi

黄芪·Radix Astragali

Huang Qi (Mi) (黄芪) is the honey-processed root of astragalus, recorded as Radix Astragali. The catalogue files no category, channels or actions against it.

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

huang qi Mi Zhi

黄芪·Radix Astragali

Huang qi zhi (黄芪) is the honey-processed form of huang qi, the root of astragalus, or milk-vetch, a Fabaceae species supplied as Radix Astragali. The catalogue files it among the substances that tonify Qi, on the Lung and Spleen channels.

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