Astragalus Sliced / Beiqi Pian

马耳 黄芪/北芪片

药性论述

黄芪的药用历史迄今已有2000多年了，始见于汉墓马王堆出土的帛书“五十二病方”，《神农本草经》列为上品。明《本草纲目》载“耆长也，黄芪色黄，为补者之长故名…”。《本草汇言》载“黄芪，补肺健脾，卫实敛汗，驱风运毒之药也…”。 《本草逢原》载“黄芪能补五脏诸虚 ,治脉弦自汗，泻阴火，去肺热，无汗则发，有汗则止。”

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。

Astragalus/Beiqi Pian (Sliced)

A lot of research has been done on astragalus (huang qi) here are only a few of its health benefits: 

• Heart Health. Several studies suggest that Astragalus may be a heart-friendly herb as it is rich in antioxidants. ... 
• Relief from Seasonal Allergy. ... 
• Reduces Stress. ... 
• Reduces Sleep Issues. ... 
• Anti-ageing Properties. ... 
• Boosts the Immune System.

From the manufacturer: 

The medicinal history of Astragalus has been more than 2,000 years, and it was first seen in the silk book "Fifty-two Disease Prescriptions" unearthed in Mawangdui tomb of the Han Dynasty. In The "Shen Nong's Materia Medica" it was listed as top grade. "Compendium of Materia Medica" of the Ming Dynasty advised it for "Old age, Huang Qi is yellow, so it is named for the long-term use...". "Huiyan of Materia Medica" contains astragalus for invigorating the lungs and spleen, Wei Shi [regulating] sweat, and the medicine for expelling wind and poison...". "Materia Medica Fengyuan" contains: "Astragalus can replenish the five internal organs, treat spontaneous perspiration in the pulse string, relieve yin and fire, remove lung heat, if there is no sweat, it will produce, and if there is sweat, it will stop." 

This product is the root of the legume Astragalus mongolia. Its nature and flavor improve menstruation. It has a sweet taste, is slightly warm in nature; It enters the Spleen and Lung meridians.

Function Indication: It invigorates qi and solidifies the surface [regulates sweating], supports detoxification, and discharges pus, diuresis, and strengtens muscles. 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 and decoct for 30 minutes and drink it. It can be used repeatedly.

Efficacy: This can improve circulation and replenish qi, promote hydration and reduce swelling.  

2. Astragalus Soup      

Ingredients:

100 grams of astragalus, 50 grams each of ginseng, atractylodes, and cinnamon, pound into coarse powder, take 10 grams each time, add ginger and jujube, decoct in water, remove the residue and take it warmly.     

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

3. Astragalus Health Soup

Ingredients: 

12 grams of Astragalus, 9 grams of Chinese wolfberry, 9 grams of 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. 

Slice the astragalus and ginseng and soak in cold water for half an hour, simmer them in a casserole as a decoction, and take out the juice after cooking. Then add cold water to the ginseng and ginseng pot and cook again as above, and take the juice. Combine the above decoctions and divide them into two portions. Use one portion each morning and evening. 

Add the herb water to rice to cook the porridge. After the porridge is cooked, add sugar to eat.     

Dosage: Take breakfast and dinner on an empty stomach, 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 and spontaneous sweating, chronic diarrhea, chronic spleen deficiency, dysentery, loss of appetite, qi deficiency and edema.