Side effects of eating Astragalus regularly

Astragalus is a relatively common Chinese herbal medicine. Its most obvious effect is to replenish qi. It can play a good role in improving the body's immunity. Eating some Astragalus properly can regulate and protect the body, but be careful not to eat too much Astragalus. After all, it is a medicinal material. If you eat too much, it will cause certain side effects. In addition, when eating Astragalus, you must also understand the people who are suitable and contraindicated.

Side effects of eating Astragalus regularly

1. First of all, according to the seasons of the year, most ordinary people cannot eat astragalus in spring. Because everything grows in spring, it is the season of growth and development, and the human body needs to be promoted. Eating astragalus is not very suitable.

Secondly, from the perspective of physical health, it is usually not advisable to eat Astragalus during a cold or menstruation. Again, in terms of physical constitution, Astragalus is suitable for people with weak qi and damp spleen. People with this kind of physical constitution are often bloated, and their abdominal and whole body muscles are relatively soft. So, it is not suitable for some people with thin bodies to eat it.

2. For patients with kidney disease caused by yin deficiency, dampness, heat, and heat toxicity, the use of Astragalus will generally cause toxic side effects and should be prohibited. Because Astragalus is sweet and slightly warm in nature, taking it will cause heat in patients with Yin deficiency, which can easily damage Yin and cause bleeding; while taking it will easily cause evil to stagnate in patients with damp heat and excessive heat toxicity, making their condition worse.

3. Symptoms of Yin deficiency: hot palms and soles, dry mouth and throat, back pain, hot flashes and night sweats, insomnia and nightmares, red tongue without coating, and thin and rapid pulse.

4. Symptoms of damp-heat: bitter taste in the mouth, dry mouth, yellow and greasy tongue coating, etc. Symptoms of severe heat toxicity: various purulent infections, such as acne infection, pharyngeal infection, peritonitis, etc., manifested as flushed face, red throat, dry throat, sore throat, bitter and dry mouth, red lips and tongue, yellow and dry tongue coating, slippery and rapid pulse, etc.

5. When patients with Yin deficiency use Astragalus, it must be used in combination with Yin-nourishing medicines, such as Raw Rehmannia, Cooked Rehmannia, Scrophularia, Ophiopogon, Asparagus, Polygonatum, etc. Patients with damp-heat must be treated with drugs that clear damp-heat, such as Coptis chinensis, Artemisia capillaris, Scutellaria baicalensis, etc. Patients with severe heat and toxicity must be treated with heat-clearing and detoxifying drugs, such as Coptis chinensis, Gardenia jasminoides, Rhubarb, and Patrinia salsa.

The application of taking Astragalus

1. When patients with yin deficiency use Astragalus, they must take it in combination with yin-nourishing Chinese medicines, such as raw rehmannia, cooked rehmannia, Scrophularia, Ophiopogon japonicus, Asparagus cochinchinensis, Polygonatum odoratum, etc. The combination of the two will prevent harm to the body.

2. Patients with damp-heat must be treated with drugs that clear damp-heat, such as Coptis chinensis, Artemisia capillaris, Scutellaria baicalensis, etc.

3. Patients with severe heat and toxicity must be treated with heat-clearing and detoxifying drugs, such as Coptis chinensis, Gardenia jasminoides, Rhubarb, and Patrinia salsa.

In addition to the above, it should be noted that when taking Astragalus, it is best not to take cyclophosphamide at the same time. This is an immunosuppressive and anti-tumor drug, which will counteract Astragalus and produce side effects. Moreover, some varieties are potentially toxic and should not be taken casually. The dosage must be strictly followed according to the doctor's instructions.