Astragalus

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Dec 10, 2021.

What are other common names?

• Astragalus membranaceus
• Astragalus mongholicus
• Astragale
• Astragalo
• Astragalus
• Beg Kei
• Bei Qi
• Buck Qi
• Chinese Astragalus
• Huang Chi
• Huang Qi
• Huang Se
• Hwanggi
• Jin Fu Kang
• Membranous Milk Vetch
• Membranous Milk-Vetch
• Meng Gu Huang Qi
• Milk Vetch
• Mongolian Milk
• Ogi
• Ougi
• Radix Astragali
• Radix Astragalus

What is this product used for?

Astragalus may help some people to improve their immune system.

What are the precautions when taking this product?

• Always check with your doctor before you use a natural product. Some products may not mix well with other drugs or natural products.

• Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan on getting pregnant, or are breastfeeding. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks of using this natural product.

• Take extra care if you are at a high risk for infection. This includes people who have had a transplant, are on chemo, or have an autoimmune disease.

• Take extra care if you are taking drugs to help with swelling or inflammation. These can also decrease your immune system. These are drugs like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, dexamethasone, or hydrocortisone.

• If you have problems with blood sugar, keep hard candies, glucose tablets, liquid glucose, or juice on hand for low blood sugar.

• Take extra care and check with your doctor if you have:

  • Cancer

  • Diabetes

  • Blood pressure problems

  • Immune problems

  • Liver or kidney problems

What should I watch for?

• Upset stomach

• Rash

When do I need to call the doctor?

• Signs of a very bad reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat. Go to the ER right away.

• Signs of low blood sugar. These include anger, shaking, a fast heartbeat, confusion, or sweating.

• Signs of liver or kidney problems. These include bloated stomach, upper stomach pain, shoulder pain, back pain, difficulty breathing, or heartburn.

• Very bad throwing up

• Very bad loose stools

Where can I learn more?

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine

https://nccih.nih.gov/health/astragalus

Last Reviewed Date

Consumer information use

This generalized information is a limited summary of diagnosis, treatment, and/or medication information. It is not meant to be comprehensive and should be used as a tool to help the user understand and/or assess potential diagnostic and treatment options. It does NOT include all information about conditions, treatments, medications, side effects, or risks that may apply to a specific...