How long is the shelf life of Astragalus?

In our daily life, we actually often use some Chinese medicine. These Chinese medicines are added to food to achieve therapeutic effects. However, different Chinese medicines actually have a shelf life. So, do you know how long the shelf life of Astragalus is? Generally speaking, astragalus is dried in the sun and can be preserved for a long time. Even so, we must pay attention to the shelf life!

Generally, it is more difficult to preserve Astragalus without adding sulfur, because most of the effective ingredients of Astragalus are polysaccharides or glycosides, which are very easy to get moldy or infested with insects at room temperature. Therefore, it is generally recommended that people buy as much as they need to avoid wasting Astragalus resources. In fact, the shelf life of most Chinese medicinal materials is about two years, but the specific shelf life still depends on the specific storage environment. If it is well preserved, astragalus root can be eaten after more than ten years; if it is improperly preserved, astragalus root is not suitable for use after one or two months. Therefore, whether Astragalus can be used has no necessary connection with the length of time it has been stored, but is directly related to the storage method and conditions.

Efficacy of Chinese medicine

1. Spontaneous sweating due to deficiency of exterior: mostly used for spontaneous sweating caused by deficiency of exterior. If the exterior Qi is not solid and sweating occurs, use Astragalus combined with Atractylodes macrocephala and Saposhnikovia divaricata to treat it. It will be effective if taken for a long time. Fang Ru Yupingfeng Powder; it can also be combined with floating wheat, ephedra root, etc.

2. Night sweats due to Yin deficiency: It can be used together with Yin-nourishing medicines such as Rehmannia glutinosa and Ophiopogon japonicus.

3. Edema caused by acute nephritis: It is used for asthenic edema caused by insufficient Yang Qi, and is often used together with Fangji, Poria, Atractylodes, etc., such as Fangji Huangqi Decoction.

4. Edema in chronic nephritis, spleen and kidney deficiency: often used together with Codonopsis pilosula, Atractylodes macrocephala, and Poria cocos.

5. Weak Yang Qi: It is used for sores that have not ulcerated for a long time and have sunk inwards, which can promote ulceration and limit localization. If carbuncle does not break out for a long time, it is often used together with pangolin, soapberry thorn, angelica and Chuanxiong.

6. Ulcers and sores: If the sores do not heal for a long time, it can promote tissue regeneration and heal the sores. It is often used with honeysuckle, soapberry, and plantain. For cleaning pus, use together with Codonopsis pilosula, cinnamon bark, etc.

7. Lung Qi Deficiency Syndrome: Chronic coughing and asthma, shortness of breath, fatigue, and phlegm in the lungs that cannot be coughed out. It is often used in combination with Aster tataricus, Coltsfoot, etc. to warm the lungs, relieve asthma, and strengthen lung qi. The spleen produces phlegm and the lungs store phlegm, so we need to strengthen Taiyin to eliminate phlegm. Astragalus replenishes Qi so it is especially good at treating Qi deficiency.

8. Qi deficiency and weakness: fatigue, or sinking of Qi in the middle, rectal prolapse, or uterine prolapse. It can replenish qi and strengthen the spleen, and is often used in combination with Codonopsis pilosula, Atractylodes macrocephala, etc.; it can be used to invigorate qi, raise yang and lift the sunken, and is often used in combination with Codonopsis pilosula, Cimicifuga heracleifolia, Bupleurum chinense, and roasted liquorice, etc.