Materia Medica Data
- Category
- Herbs that Tonify Qi
- Temperature
- Slightly Warm
- Nature & Flavour
- Sweet, Slightly Warm
- Channels Entered
- LU, SP
- Latin (pharmaceutical)
- Radix Astragali Membranacei
- Chinese
- 黄芪
- Tone Marks
- huáng qí
Chinese Herb Actions
- Tonify Qi and Blood Treats the symptoms of Spleen deficiency; pale face, fatigue, tired extremities, diarrhea, Spleen not containing blood, easily bruise or bleed, severe blood loss, hematemesis, hematochezia, uterine bleeding. Treats postpartum fever due to Qi and blood deficiency. Also for LU and SP Xu cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, profuse white and water sputum. Used to Tonify Qi and Blood deficiencies with signs of dizziness, sallow face, vertigo, low energy, no desire to speak, spontaneous sweating, palpitations, insomnia, low grade fever
- Raise Yang Organ prolapse, rectal and uterine prolapse
- Tonify Wei Qi and Stabilize Exterior Treats spontaneous sweating, frequent colds, shortness of breath. Qi, yin or Yang Deficiency type sweating
- Promotes Urination and Reduces Edema Superficial edema, facial edema, heaviness in body, decrease urination
- Expels Pus, Generates Flesh Chronic ulcers and sores that have trouble forming or pus or don’t drain well.
- Wasting and Thirsting (Xiao Ke) Thirst and fatigue
- Numbness, Pain, or Paralysis Numb muscles, pain or paralysis due to the insufficient nourishment and/or circulation of Qi and blood
Chinese Herb Dosage
- 9-15 grams in decoction, up to 30 Grams if required (Bensky)
- 9-15 Grams in decoction, up to 120 Grams (Chen)
Chinese Herb Contraindications & Cautions
- Do not use during third semester of pregnancy
- Not for excess exterior pathogens
- Not for excess Yang with Yin Deficiency
- Not for upper jiao heat and lower jiao cold
- Not for patients with excess qi
- Not for sores due to heat in the blood
- Not for patients with allergies
Chinese Herb Toxicity & Overdose
- Fairly non-toxic. Possible symptoms of overdose are headache, tight chest, insomnia, dizziness, flushing, and high blood pressure.
Herb-Drug Interactions
- May interfere with Anti-Diabetic drugs.
Chinese Herb Notes
- Huang Qi is an important ingredient to tonify in many formulas used for cancer patients after chemotherapy and radiation.
Sources & References
Compiled and edited by Thomas Dehli, Founder & Editor, Sacred Lotus
The information here is referenced from numerous sources — teachers, practitioners, class notes from Five Branches University, the books below, and the published research literature, with citations given as resolvable PubMed identifiers. Where sources disagree, I have flagged the discrepancies directly. If facts couldn't be verified, I have left them out. How we source our content.
Reference information for students and practitioners — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner. Terms of use.
Chinese Herbs Books & References
https://amzn.to/3WfB3DK
https://amzn.to/3DR1VUh
https://amzn.to/42aMz73
https://amzn.to/3PuD4bt