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Astragalus

Posting Date: 01/01/2000

Astragalan has antiviral activity and inhibits viral replication in mice infected with coxsackie virus, which attacks heart tissue.

The herb is most frequently used as a treatment for colds and the flu. In China, a piece of astragalus root may be added to chicken soup when a person is suffering from such an infection, although the usual way to give it is in a tea.

Most important, the herb is believed to stimulate the immune system. It induces interferon and potentiates the activity of this important immune biochemical.

In test tube studies, recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) was tested against cancer cells alone at a high dose and at one-tenth that dose in combination with an astragalus extract. Both preparations had approximately equal activity on the cancer cell lines, indicating that astragalus increased the power of rIL-2 approximately tenfold.

Animals with experimentally induced cancer survived longer when treated with astragalan. When the herb was administered to mice in combination with two other herbs, the combination stimulated their macrophages to make cancer-fighting compounds.

In Chinese cancer patients, a formula containing astragalus and other herbs made anticancer agents more potent but helped protect patients against their toxic effects.

In mice, astragalus helps to protect against poisoning due to E. coli endotoxin. Astragalus also fights Shigella, Streptococcus, Diplococcus, and Staphylococcus infections.

Astragalus shows promise in treating autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus or myasthenia gravis.

Preliminary research in Tanzania suggests that astragalus may be helpful for patients infected with HIV. Further research is needed to confirm both these possibilities.

Astragalus may also have cardiovascular benefits. Patients with congestive heart failure and some with angina have experienced relief of symptoms when treated with this herbal medicine.