Huáng Qí or Astragalus is one of the most widely known TCM herbs as it is often prescribed in Western Herbalism to enhance immunity.
It is also one of the most overused and improperly prescribed herbs in the whole Materia Medica.
Whilst it is certainly viewed as being able to enhance immunity through the raising of qi to the exterior, and firming and stabilising the exterior, this is only true when the body is in deficiency of qi.
This includes symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, spontaneous daytime sweating with a weak cough, diarrhea, or poor appetite depending on the organ in which the qi is deficient.
Huáng Qí is very useful where there is organ prolapse due to Spleen Qi Sinking, or Spleen Qi deficiency (as opposed to Shan disorder which is due to disordered Liver Qi) particularly when combined with Sheng Ma (Black Cohosh) and small doses of Chai Hu (Thorowax) to raise the Spleen Qi back up.
When Huáng Qí is given during an exterior excess pattern (ie all colds, flus and respiratory conditions fall into this category), it raises the pathogen up into the head and can strongly amplify it, prolonging the infection.
It is one of the most commonly seen concerns with improper herbal administration in clinical practice and often takes its own herbal and acupuncture approach to repair the damage.
If you have had a cold/flu and recommended to take Astragalus as a single herb or in a medicine, and feel you are not getting better, make an appointment to discuss!
