Astragalus contains multiple health-promoting components, including saponins, sucrose, polysaccharides, various amino acids, folic acid, and trace elements such as selenium, zinc, and copper.Raw astragalus fortifies the surface, promotes diuresis to reduce swelling, detoxifies, and promotes tissue regeneration. It addresses spontaneous sweating, night sweats, blood stasis, and edema. Honey-fried astragalus replenishes qi, nourishes blood, and strengthens the middle jiao. It treats internal injury from fatigue, spleen deficiency with diarrhea, qi deficiency, blood deficiency, and qi depletion.
2 Dissolving Blood Clots & Improving Cardio-Cerebral Health
Astragalus reduces blood viscosity, inhibits thrombus formation, lowers blood pressure, protects the heart, bidirectionally regulates blood sugar, combats free radical damage, resists aging, counters hypoxia, and enhances immunity.
3. Enhances Spleen and Lung Function, Boosts Immunity
Astragalus is the most fundamental Chinese herb for strengthening lung and respiratory immune function. It addresses night sweats caused by weakened immunity, while also tonifying qi and improving spleen function and metabolic capacity. Astragalus specifically replenishes qi—manifestations like weak speech, lack of energy when walking, and pale complexion indicate spleen-lung qi deficiency.
4. Nourishing Blood Vessels and Improving Blood Quality
Astragalus dilates blood vessels, enhancing skin circulation and nutrient delivery, making it effective for chronic ulcers that fail to heal. It also reduces proteinuria in nephritis patients, protects the liver, and prevents glycogen depletion.
Both Astragalus and Codonopsis are commonly used qi-tonifying herbs. Combining them enhances their qi-tonifying effects.
II. Effects of Codonopsis
Codonopsis tonifies the middle burner and boosts qi, strengthening the spleen and benefiting the lungs. It addresses spleen-lung deficiency, shortness of breath with palpitations, poor appetite with loose stools, weak coughing, and internal heat with thirst.
1. Tonifying Middle and Boosting Qi
Dangshen's primary function is to tonify the middle and boost qi. It fortifies the spleen and lungs with effects similar to ginseng but milder, suitable for various qi deficiency conditions. It is often combined with Huangqi, Baizhu, and Shanyao. For blood deficiency with pallor or chronic bleeding disorders causing dual deficiency of qi and blood, it is paired with blood-nourishing herbs like Shudihuang and Danggui.
2. Most Suitable for Chronic Fatigue and Weakness
It is ideal for those with lung qi deficiency who experience chronic fatigue, low energy, a hoarse voice, perceived shortness of breath, and breathlessness with minimal exertion. It is also suitable for those with spleen-stomach qi deficiency, characterized by limb weakness, poor appetite, and loose stools.Dangshen is commonly combined with Atractylodes macrocephala, Poria cocos, and Fried Licorice Root to form the renowned Four Gentlemen Decoction for tonifying qi and strengthening the spleen. For those with both lung and spleen qi deficiency, Dangshen is paired with Astragalus membranaceus, Atractylodes macrocephala, Poria cocos, Tangerine Peel, Angelica sinensis, Cimicifuga root, Bupleurum root, Fried Licorice Root, Ginger, and Jujube to create the well-known Decoction for Tonifying the Middle and Benefiting Qi.
3. Nourishing Blood
Another key characteristic of Codonopsis is its ability to nourish blood while tonifying qi. Therefore, it is also suitable for individuals with both qi and blood deficiency, presenting symptoms such as shortness of breath, palpitations, fatigue, pale complexion, dizziness, poor appetite, loose stools, and susceptibility to colds.Experiments demonstrate that Codonopsis increases red blood cell count and hemoglobin levels, making it highly beneficial for anemic patients. It also promotes white blood cell recovery in cases of chemotherapy- or radiotherapy-induced leukopenia. Recent studies further reveal that combining Codonopsis with Astragalus and Atractylodes can reduce urinary protein in chronic nephritis patients.
4. Debility
For debility caused by various factors, especially when accompanied by gastrointestinal weakness and impaired digestion/absorption, a decoction of 6 grams of Codonopsis pilosula combined with 2 grams each of Chinese yam, lotus seed, and Poria cocos yields favorable results.For iron-deficiency anemia or nutritional anemia, a decoction made with 6 grams of Codonopsis, 1 gram of Angelica sinensis, and 3 grams of Astragalus membranaceus taken as tea demonstrates significant blood-nourishing effects. For coughs caused by chronic bronchitis, a concentrated powder made from 5 grams of Codonopsis and 2 grams of Lilium bulbiferum can effectively relieve coughing and dissolve phlegm.
Benefits of Combining Astragalus and Codonopsis
Astragalus excels in anti-aging, stress resistance, and blood pressure reduction. Codonopsis also possesses potent medicinal properties, effectively tonifying qi, alleviating coughs, and strengthening the spleen and lungs.
The combination of Astragalus and Codonopsis, being sweet and warm, tonifies the middle burner, harmonizes the spleen and stomach, promotes healthy digestion, and benefits qi and blood production. Astragalus, sweet and warm in nature, enters the spleen and lung meridians. It supplements qi and elevates yang, warms the muscles, strengthens the pores, fortifies the defensive qi to solidify the exterior, expels toxins to promote tissue regeneration, and promotes diuresis to reduce swelling.Dangshen, sweet and neutral, enters the Spleen and Lung meridians to tonify central qi and excel at stopping diarrhea. Astragalus fortifies defensive qi and specializes in arresting sweating. Dangshen leans toward yin to tonify the interior, while Astragalus leans toward yang to solidify the exterior. Combined, one addresses the interior, the other the exterior; one yin, one yang—their synergistic action amplifies efficacy, achieving the effect of fortifying the body and replenishing qi.
Usage of Astragalus and Codonopsis
Astragalus and Codonopsis Stewed with Young Pigeon
Method:
Prepare fresh young pigeon, 10g Astragalus, 10g Codonopsis, goji berries, and red dates. Wash and soak in water.Remove the wing tips, tail end, and feet from the squabs.
Stuff the astragalus and codonopsis into the squabs' cavities. Place the squabs in a clay pot, add cold water, and bring to a boil over high heat.
Skim off any foam. Cover and simmer over low heat for 90 minutes.
Benefits: This soup primarily fortifies the middle energizer and boosts qi. It offers supportive relief for symptoms like feverishness, sweating, dry mouth, thirst, loss of appetite, limb weakness, or deficiency of central qi caused by spleen-stomach qi deficiency. It strengthens the spleen and stomach, replenishes qi and blood, enhances immunity, fortifies the body, and promotes longevity. Suitable for conditions such as internal injury from overwork, spleen deficiency with diarrhea, qi deficiency, blood deficiency, and qi decline.
Contraindications for Concurrent Use of Codonopsis and Astragalus
Both Astragalus and Codonopsis possess warming properties. Individuals with heat-dominant constitutions—such as yang hyperactivity, yang stagnation, phlegm-heat, or damp-heat—should avoid this combination.For instance, individuals prone to internal heat may experience exacerbated symptoms after consumption. Additionally, when purchasing Astragalus, distinguish between raw Astragalus and honey-processed Astragalus. Honey-processed Astragalus may elevate blood sugar levels in those with hyperglycemia or worsen skin itching in individuals prone to such conditions.
Both Codonopsis and Astragalus are warming tonics. They are suitable for individuals with a cold constitution, qi deficiency, and symptoms like spontaneous sweating, fatigue, and cold extremities.
For those without a cold constitution, if the pulse is not slow and cold extremities stem from peripheral vascular tension or poor circulation, brewing Astragalus with white茅根 (white茅根) as a tea substitute can be effective.