Does Astragalus have a shelf life?

I believe that in life, everyone does not seriously understand some Chinese medicinal materials, because Chinese medicinal materials are dry, so there is no need to deliberately preserve them after buying them home. In fact, Chinese medicinal materials need to be preserved in the correct way, so as not to absorb moisture and cause mold and insects in the Chinese medicine. Although it is dry, it is easy to absorb moisture and cold air outside, which is not good for Chinese medicine.

Many Chinese medicines can maintain their efficacy as long as they are stored properly, and their shelf life is quite long. For example, the longer tangerine peel is stored, the better its therapeutic effect. However, some Chinese medicines, such as wolfberry and longan pulp, have been stored for a long time. Although their appearance has not become moldy or insect-eaten, their efficacy has been reduced and they have no effect on curing diseases. Chinese medicines containing volatile ingredients such as mint and perilla leaves will lose their aroma and affect their quality if stored for too long, which will also reduce the efficacy of the Chinese medicine. Some Chinese medicines may be infested with insects, but as long as they are not moldy, they can still be used, but their efficacy will be reduced. Below, the editor will introduce to you the shelf life of Astragalus, the shelf life of Chinese medicinal materials and other related content.

The shelf life of Astragalus membranaceus The shelf life of Chinese medicinal materials

Astragalus products should be stored in a cool and dry place, avoiding direct exposure to strong light. Generally speaking, the shelf life of processed Ganoderma products is between 18 and 24 months, while the shelf life of high-quality unprocessed Ganoderma raw materials can reach three years. After three years, the effective ingredients of Astragalus products will gradually be oxidized and lost, and thus will not be able to achieve the expected therapeutic effect. To ensure the most appropriate medicinal effect of Astragalus, it is best to take Astragalus within three years. The shelf life of Chinese medicinal materials is somewhat long, but it is generally best not to exceed three years. Astragalus is generally dried and preserved, and the main thing is to keep it dry. It is best not to put it in the refrigerator as it is easily affected by moisture and breeds bacteria.

Astragalus Benefits and Side Effects

1. Once herbal medicines are made into medicinal pieces, their efficacy will diminish over time and their shelf life should not exceed two years. If ginseng is stored for more than one year, 20% to 30% of its active ingredients will be lost; if rhubarb is stored for more than five years, all of its anthraquinone compounds with medicinal value will become ineffective. In addition, for medicinal materials such as Dendrobium and Ophiopogon japonicus, fresh grass is even used to improve the efficacy.

2. The shelf life of woody medicines can be as long as 4 years, but studies have found that some medicinal materials will have reduced efficacy after being stored for a long time, even if they do not appear to deteriorate in appearance. For example, angelica, wolfberry, etc. contain a lot of fatty oil and sticky sugar ingredients, which are very easy to "lose oil" over time; mint, patchouli, perilla and other medicinal materials containing volatile ingredients will release aroma after being stored for too long, affecting the quality and thus reducing the efficacy.

3. Mineral medicines Although the molecular formula of mineral medicines such as dragon bone, magnetite, and saltpeter is relatively stable, long-term storage will still affect the efficacy. Generally, the shelf life should not exceed 10 years.

If you are not sure whether you can continue to use Chinese medicine, you can ask a professional to identify it. Generally speaking, the shelf life of herbal plants does not exceed two years, woody plants does not exceed four years, and minerals does not exceed 10 years. Chinese patent medicines have a shelf life, and their production date and shelf life are printed on the outside of the packaging box. If the medicine is past its expiration date, do not take it to avoid drug poisoning.