【食疗方】

1、黄芪茶

• 材料：生黄芪60~90克，大枣30克。
• 做法：加水煎煮30分钟后饮用，可反复使用。
• 功效：此方可抗压补气，利水退肿。

2、黄芪汤

• 做法：黄芪100克，人参、白术、肉桂各50克，捣成粗末，每次服用10克，加姜、枣，水煎后，去渣温服。
• 功效：此方以黄芪、人参补气，白术健脾，肉桂温阳；适用于中老年人脾属虚寒、中气不足、食少无味、大便溏泻者。

3、黄芪养生汤

• 做法：黄芪12克、枸杞9克、红枣9克，煎汤，每日服用。
• 功效：可调解免疫、防癌抗老；另可补气健脾、降压降脂。

4.补虚正气粥

• 做法：黄芪30克，人参10克，大米90克，糖适量。将黄芪、人参切片，用冷水浸泡半小时，入砂锅煎沸，煎出浓汁后将汁取出，再在参、芪锅中加入冷水如上法再煎，并取汁。 将上述药汁合并后分成两份，早晚各用一份，同大米加水煮粥，粥煮熟后加白糖食用。
• 服法：早、晚餐空腹食用，5 天为一疗程。
• 功效：补元气，健脾胃。适用于五脏虚衰、久病赢瘦、心慌气短、体虚自汗、慢性泄泻、脾虚久痢、食欲不振、气虚浮肿等一切气衰血虚之症。

如何鉴别黄芪品质

在选择黄芪时，首先看外表，优质黄芪色泽均匀，而加工过的劣质黄芪外表颜色偏白。尤其是黄芪在还未成熟便被采摘下来用硫熏过的，格外白净、好看，但这种黄芪不仅功效全无，而且还对人体有害。

其次，由于黄芪含有糖分，存放时间过长会略微变质，如果长期贮存仍旧不变质的黄芪，则很大可能是经过硫熏过的。

鉴别优劣黄芪还可以通过手抓的方式，好的黄芪抓在手上会团在一起，并且不会碎，松手之后又能够自然松散，这说明黄芪本身质量上佳、不干也不湿，且保存的也比较理想。

通过这三点可以快速鉴别优劣黄芪。当然，一分钱一分货，在购买黄芪时，一定不要贪图小便宜，只有选好黄芪，才能发挥出它的功效。

Radix Astragali/ Huang Qi  (8 oz/Box)

“Astragalus, a milk vetch, is used as a natural diet supplement. The most popular health benefit of Astragalus is in boosting the immune-system and energy levels. It has a variety of health benefits and is also known to help with ailments such common cold, diabetes, upper respiratory problems, arthritis, asthma and blood pressure. (food ndtv.com)

“Astragalus is considered safe for many adults. The most commonly reported side effects are diarrhea and other mild gastrointestinal effects. However, it may affect blood sugar levels and blood pressure and be risky for people with certain health problems, such as blood disorders, diabetes, or hypertension. (nccih.nih,gov) [Check with your physician if you are taking medications]

“Pregnant or nursing women should not use astragalus root. If you have an immune system disease such as multiple sclerosis, lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis, or another condition known as an ‘autoimmune disease,’ you should not use astragalus root.” (webMD.com)

From the manufacturer:

This product is the root of Astragalus mongolicum, a leguminous plant. Nature and flavor return to menstruation Sweet taste, slightly warm in nature; return to the spleen and lung meridians. Function Indication Invigorate qi and solidify the surface, support toxin and discharge pus, diuresis, and build muscle. It is used for qi deficiency, fatigue, chronic diarrhea, prolapse of the anus, spontaneous sweating, edema, uterine prolapse, chronic nephritis, proteinuria, diabetes, and long-lasting sores.

Diet therapy

1. Astragalus tea
Ingredients:
60~90 grams of raw astragalus, 30 grams of jujube.
Add water to decoct for 30 minutes and drink it, can be used repeatedly.

Efficacy: This can lower hypertention and replenish qi, promote hydration and reduce swelling.

2. Huangqi soup
Ingredients:
100 grams of astragalus, 50 grams each of ginseng, atractylodes, and cinnamon,
Pound the dried herbs into a coarse powder, add sliced ginger and jujube date. Cook in water as a dedoction at least 45 minutes.
Drink it warm 10 grams each time.

Efficacy: This recipe uses astragalus and ginseng to invigorate qi, Atractylodes macrocephala invigorates the spleen, and cinnamon warms the yang; It is suitable for middle-aged and elderly people with deficiency of the spleen, insufficient qi, poor appetite, and loose stools.

3. Huangqi health soup
Ingredients:
12 grams of Astragalus, 9 grams of Chinese wolfberry [aka goji berry], 9 grams of jujube red dates
Cook as a decoction for daily consumption.

Efficacy: It can mediate immunity, prevent cancer and anti-aging; in addition, it can invigorate qi, invigorate the spleen, lower blood pressure and lower fat.

4. Tonic porridge
Ingredients:
30 grams of astragalus, 10 grams of ginseng, 90 grams of rice, adequate sugar.
Rinse and soak sliced astragalus and ginseng in cold water for half an hour. Drink half the liquid in morning and half in evening. Combine all the ingredients and simmer them in a casserole until done. . . After the porridge is cooked, add sugar to eat.
Dosage: eat the porridge for breakfast and dinner on an empty stomach, for 5 days as a course of treatment.

Efficacy: Replenishes vitality, invigorates the spleen and stomach. It is suitable for all symptoms of qi failure and blood deficiency, such as weakness of the five internal organs, chronic illness and thinness, palpitation, shortness of breath, physical weakness, spontaneous sweating, chronic diarrhea, chronic spleen deficiency, dysentery, loss of appetite, qi deficiency and edema.