WH Acupuncture & Herbs Centre

This medicinal is the dried root of Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch)Bge var.mongholicus (Bge)Hsiao or A.membranaeus(Fish)Bge. It is exavated and collected in spring and autumn. After removal of its rootlets and root-heads, it is dreid by natural sunlight and sliced. The raw or stir-baked with honey forms can be used as medicine.

[ Medicinal Properties ]: Sweet and slightly warm; relate to spleen and lung meridians.

[ Medicinal Efficacies ]: Tonify qi and raise yang; strengthen the defensive and superficial; induce diuresis to alleviate edema; expel toxin and promote tissue regenergation.

[ Clinical Applications ]: 1. Spleen qi deficiency syndrome, syndrome of sinking of middle qi     It is an essential medicinal for invigorating the middle and replenishing qi. For lassitude, lack of strength, anorexia and loose stool, due to spleen qi deficiency, it is often used in combination with Dangshen and Baizhu. In cases of proctoptosis due to prolonged diarrhea, prolapse of internal organs, which result from the sinking of middle qi, it is used with Renshen and Shengma, as in the Buzhong yiqi Decoction. Furthermore, it functions to tonify qi and produce blood and treats blood deficiency syndrome in combination with Danggui as in the Danggui Buxue Decoction. For loss of blood, which is due to the failure of spleen to control blood, it is combined with Renshen and Baizhu, as in the Guipi Decoction. To treat Xiaoke( similar to deabetes), which is due to the spleen failing to distribute fluid, it is combined with Tianhuafen and Gegen.

2.Lung qi deficiency syndrome, spontaneous sweating due to qi deficiency      For chronic cough and dyspnea, shortness of breath, listlessness, which is due to lung qi deficiency, it is used in combinaiton with Ziyuan, Kuandonghua. To treat spontaneous sweating due to exterior deficiency, it is used with Muli and Mahuanggen. For those with exterior deficiency syndrome presenting as spontaneous sweating and vulnerability to pathogenic wind, it is combined with Baizhu and Fangfeng, as in the Yupingfeng Powder.

3. Edema due to qi deficiency     It is an essential medicinal to treat edema due to qi deficiency. In this case, it is combined with Baizhu and Fuling.

4. Deficiencyt syndrome of qi and blood, unruptured ulcers or unhealed ulcers after rupture     When the healthy qi is deficient and fails to expel interior toxins outwardly, there may appear even-shaped, wide-rooted ulcers which fail to heal for a long period after rupturing. In this case, it is prescribed with Danggui and Shengma as in the Tounong Powder. For that due to deficiency of qi and blood, it is combined with Danggui and Rougui, as in the Shiquan Dabu Decoction.

Furthermore, with the function of tonifying qi to promote blood circulation, it treats arthralgia and sequealae of wind-stroke.

[ Usage and Dosage ]: 9-30g. Honey-roasted, it is more effective for invigorating the middle and replenishing qi.

[ Medicinal Comparison ]: Similarities:Renshen, Dangshen and Huangqi, all have the functions of tonifying qi, promoting the production of fluid and blood and are usaully used in combination to creat mutual reinforcement.

Differences: Renshen, of the three, is the most powderful in terms of its action, is considered as the most significant medicinal to tonify qi. Renshen also has the functions of replenishing qi to saving collapse, inducing traqnquilization and improving intelligence, tonifying qi and invigorating yang. Dangshen, mild in tonifying qi, focuses on tonifying spleen qi and lung qi and has the additional funcitn of nourishing blood. Huangqi is weaker than Renshen in tonifying primordial qi, but more effective for tonifying qi and raising yang, strengthening the defensive and superficial, promoting tissue regeneration, inducing diuresis to alleviate edema and used to treart spleen insufficiency syndrome with qi sinking and exterior deficiency syndrome with spontaneous sweating.

黄芪为豆科植物蒙古黄芪Astragalus memeranaceus (Fisch.)Bge.var.mongholicus (Bge.)Hsiao或膜荚黄芪A.membranaceus(Fisch.)Bge. 的根。主产于内蒙古、山西、黑龙江等地。春秋二季采挖，除去须根及根头，晒干，切片，生用或蜜炙用。