Can Astragalus, a nationally protected third-class plant, be drunk daily as an infusion, and what are the dosage contraindications?

Astragalus, also known as membranous milkvetch. In recent years, due to long-term extensive harvesting, the quantity of wild Astragalus has sharply decreased and there is a danger of gradual extinction. For this reason, the plant has been designated a vulnerable species and a nationally protected third-class plant. So can Astragalus be drunk daily as an infusion? How much should be used per infusion of Astragalus? What are the contraindications for drinking Astragalus infusion? What are the standardized cultivation techniques for Astragalus?

1. Can Astragalus be drunk daily as an infusion?

Although Astragalus is warm in nature, when used as an infusion the amount of Astragalus is relatively small, and drinking it daily will not cause internal heat, so Astragalus infusion can be made every day; you just need to pay attention to the amount used and your own constitution.

For one infusion of Astragalus, put in only 5 slices to 5 grams.

Astragalus has a very good qi-tonifying effect, so an infusion made with about 5 slices to 5 grams of Astragalus already has a good effect, and it will not cause internal heat or other discomfort from consuming too much Astragalus. It is enough to choose an appropriate amount of Astragalus under a doctor's guidance.

2. How much Astragalus should be used per infusion?

1. First put the Astragalus in a cup, then add freshly boiled water and rinse it twice.

2. Then add about 400 ml of boiling water, cover with a lid, and let it steep for about 5 to 10 minutes.

3. Once the water temperature is suitable, you can drink the Astragalus infusion.

4. The Astragalus that has been infused can be brewed repeatedly 2 to 3 times, until the flavor becomes weak.

3. What are the contraindications for drinking Astragalus infusion?

1. People whose constitution is unsuitable will experience dry mouth, throat discomfort and similar symptoms after drinking Astragalus water; at this point they need to stop drinking Astragalus water, so when drinking Astragalus water you should pay attention to your own physical condition.

2. If you insist on drinking Astragalus water every day, it is best to use it and its dosage under a doctor's guidance; you need to see a doctor first to determine the dosage of Astragalus before consuming it.

3. Astragalus can breed medicinal insects, so before use you should pay attention to the quality of the Astragalus; it is not recommended to drink Astragalus that has been infested by insects every day.

4. Standardized cultivation techniques for Astragalus

1. Selecting improved varieties: everyone knows the importance of “using improved varieties,” but for the Chinese medicinal herb Astragalus it is very difficult to buy improved varieties on the market. At present, for artificially cultivated Astragalus, whether by farmers or so-called bases (except for seeds bred by one's own base), most of the seeds used for sowing have not been bred, and planting year after year has caused serious degeneration, poor disease resistance, declining yields year by year, and a serious impact on quality. When medicinal farmers grow Astragalus, first, they harvest the roots and stems as medicinal material, and second, they harvest the seeds to sell, which also brings in quite a lot of income; therefore, most Astragalus seeds on the market are naturally harvested from Astragalus grown in open fields. In addition, people who buy seeds lack technology; they only focus on the price of the seeds and the germination rate, do not pay attention to the germination vigor of the seeds, and do not know what an improved variety is; therefore, even if there are bred seeds, they cannot sell for a high price. The Heze Run Kang Chinese Medicinal Materials Research Institute of Shandong suggests that when breeding excellent Astragalus seeds, medicinal farmers should, in a 2-3 year old Astragalus field, select individual plants with consistent seed characteristics, strong growth vigor, no disease, no degeneration, and short internodes, mark them, adopt the “family planning” measure of removing the top and thinning the flowers, manage them separately, and harvest and store them separately, so that they can be used as seed for “GAP” standardized cultivation of Astragalus.

2. Sowing techniques: sowing should seize the moisture; if the soil moisture is poor, water the soil thoroughly first.

(1) Sowing time: Astragalus can be sown in spring, summer and autumn. According to the planting experience of the Heze Run Kang Chinese Medicinal Materials Research Institute of Shandong, in the Huang-Huai region Astragalus should be sown in spring around “Qingming,” no later than “Guyu”; keep the soil moist, and seedlings will emerge in about 15 days; summer sowing is done in June—July, and seedlings emerge 7—8 days after sowing; autumn sowing is generally done around “Bailu.” Climate conditions differ from place to place, so sowing times differ and should be handled flexibly. Regardless of the region, spring sowing must wait until the soil temperature is stably above 12 degrees before sowing (with plastic film mulch). Summer sowing should be earlier rather than later, and work to protect the seedlings from sun exposure after they emerge must be done well. For autumn sowing, because the temperature in the Huang-Huai region is high, sowing can be done in September and seedlings emerge before winter; in the cold regions of Northeast and Northwest China, sowing should be done before the soil freezes, and seedlings emerge in spring.

(2) Sowing methods: generally hole sowing and drill sowing are used. For hole sowing, on the prepared beds of the planting site, open shallow holes at a row spacing and plant spacing of 30 cm×25 cm, sow 6—7 seeds per hole, cover with soil 2 cm thick, and use 1—1.5 kg of seed per mu. For drill sowing, open horizontal furrows on the bed surface at a row spacing of 40 cm, with a furrow depth of 3 cm; when sowing, mix the seeds evenly with plant ash and organic fertilizer, then spread them evenly into the furrows, cover with fine soil 1—2 cm after sowing, and press lightly; in recent years, when the Heze Run Kang Chinese Medicinal Materials Research Institute of Shandong has planted large-area bases, it has used a seeder to complete furrow opening, sowing, soil covering and pressing in one pass with treated improved Astragalus seed, which can effectively reduce labor and improve sowing quality, using 2 kg of seed per mu.