However, what is on earth the difference between ginseng benefits and astragalus benefits since both of them claim Qi benefits?

Is it possible to replace each other in therapy since both of them are of Qi benefits?

No way. Although ginseng benefits Qi and astragalus benefits Qi as well, they have other important properties besides Qi benefits. If we don’t distinguish them during Chinese medicine therapy, they are unable to play their role fully.

Furthermore, it will not only increase the suffering of the patients, but also result in a waste of drugs.

Difference between Ginseng benefits and Astragalus benefits

1. Nature and flavour:
Ginseng is natured of slight warm (or slight cold), tastes sweet and slight bitter.
Astragalus is natured of slight warm, tastes sweet.
Although both of them are of Qi benefits, ginseng benefits much more than astragalus does.

2. Ginseng benefits also in promoting fluid production, quenching thirst and tranquilization, which are not available by astragalus.

Although astragalus benefits less than ginseng does on Qi benefits, astragalus can be served to raise Yang energy, consolidate superficies, expel pathogens and pus from interior, and induce diuresis for removing edema, which are not available by ginseng.

Given that the effectiveness varies between ginseng and astragalus, they should be distinguished in clinical therapies of Chinese medicine.

Ginseng Benefits

1. Ginseng benefits primordial Qi dramatically and invigorate Qi for relieving depletion, clinically which is usually used to cure serious diseases, chronic diseases, or syndrome caused by blood exhaustion inducing Qi exhaustion, such as shortness of breath, fatigue, cold limbs, plenty of sweat, and hardly felt faint pulse. Ginseng can be used alone, or combined with astragalus or aconite.
2. Ginseng benefits primordial Qi dramatically reflects also from the respects of benefiting lung-kidney, and relieving asthma. For instance, ginseng combined along with walnut, or with gecko treats the asthma caused by lung deficiency, or deficiency both of lung-kidney.
3. Ginseng, combined along with Bai Zhu (Atractylodis macrocephalae Rhizoma), Fu Ling (Poria), Sha Ren (Amomi Fructus), and Shan Yao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma) etc., treats syndrome caused by deficient Qi of spleen-stomach, such as lack of energy, fatigue, loss of appetite, loose stools, or chromic diarrhea. So ginseng benefits primordial Qi dramatically reflects also from the respects of strengthening spleen and relieving diarrhea.

Astragalus Benefits

Astragalus Benefits are as follows:

1. Astragalus benefits Qi and raises Yang energy, which is used in symptoms caused by Qi deficiency such as rectal prolapse, uterine prolapse, uterine bleeding, dizziness, fatigue, etc. And astragalus is used very often along with Sheng Ma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma) and Chai Hu (Bupleurum).
2. Astragalus benefits in consolidating superficies for arresting sweating, which is used in spontaneous perspiration for superficies deficiency. For instance, symptoms of lowered superficial resistance, exogenous cold and sweating can be treated with astragalus along with Bai Zhu (Atractylodis macrocephalae Rhizoma) and Fang Feng (Saposhnikoviae Radix).
3. Astragalus benefits in expelling pathogens by strengthening vital Qi and expelling pus, which is used in non-healing of boils even involving interior. Astragalus promotes ulceration and limits the ulcer development. And astragalus benefits in promoting granulation and wound healing after ulcer burst, along with Yin Hua (Lonicerae Flos), Zao Ci (Gleditsia sinensis lamarck), and Di Ding (Herba corydalis ungeanae) etc.
4. Astragalus benefits in inducing diuresis for removing edema, which is used in deficient edema caused by Yang Qi deficiency. Astragalus is used very often along with Fang Ji (Sinomenium acutum), Fu Ling (Poria), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis macrocephalae Rhizoma) etc.

To sum up, though ginseng benefits Qi and astragalus benefits Qi as well, they vary significantly. It is wrong to mix them when dealing with the syndrome of Qi deficiency in Chinese medicine therapy, which they both can handle. Otherwise, it would delay the time, or even worsen the patient’s condition.

Astragalus according to Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica

Astragalus was first documented in Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica, in which astragalus was regarded as the top grade medicinal herbs. It is also known as ‘Huang Qi’ in Chinese, in which Qi here refers to senior people. An overview about astragalus in Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica as follows:

Astragalus tastes sweet, and is of slightly warm of nature;
Astragalus is mainly used for ulcer, non-healing of boils, removing the abscess and stopping the pain;
Astragalus expels heavy pathogenic wind;
Astragalus treats a variety of scabies, hemorrhoids and fistula;
Astragalus tonifies deficiency;
Astragalus treats all pediatric diseases.

The story about astragalus

Long long ago, there lived a nice old man named Dai San, who was very good at acupuncture therapy. He was a kind-hearted and modest person and always ready to help. Given that this old man was thin and with pale yellow complexion, people there respected him and called him Huang Qi. Later he died for rescuing a child falling off a cliff accidently.

In memory of this respected old man, people gave his name of “Huang Qi” to the medicinal herb growing next to his tomb, which was used to invigorate spleen-stomach and replenish Qi, stop perspiration, induce diuresis for removing edema, remove toxicity for detumescence. And this medicinal herb known as astragalus was used widely later and save a lot of people’s lives.

Astragalus

From the perspective of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), astragalus can supplement the Qi of the whole body, along with other functions such as:

• Raising Yang energy;
• Consolidating superficies for arresting sweating;
• Inducing diuresis for removing edema;
• Removing toxicity for detumescence;
• Miscarriage prevention and benefiting blood.

And astragalus also has been proved efficacy on following symptoms:

• Anemia;
• Edema;
• Excessive sweating due to deficiency,
• Threatened abortion;
• Uterine prolapse;
• Deficiency of both Qi and blood;
• Deficiency of Yin.

And astragalus tea solely can cure drowsiness, weakness and shortness of breath.

Medicinal food with astragalus

Astragalus is used not only for treatment of diseases, but also in the medicinal food therapy for tonification. Astragalus is cost-effective tonic and spices, which is widely used in stewing with meat, soaking with wine, cooking, seasoning and removing fishy odor.

In regular family in China, people stew astragalus very often along with jujube, while astragalus stewing with hens and astragalus cooking with black beans are very renowned delicious food for tonification, which are nutrient-rich and with unique flavors. Medicinal food with astragalus benefits a lot to pregnant women, the aged and those physically weak after just recovering from illness.

Side effects of astragalus

It need to clarify that astragalus is one of very good medicinal herbs for tonification, and generally without obvious adverse reactions. But astragalus has its side effects as follows:

1. Astragalus is natured of warm and tonifying, which is easy to help the fire while arresting sweating. So it is inappropriate to use astragalus in patients with symptoms of cold fever, choking sensation in chest and distension of abdomen.
2. It is inappropriate to use astragalus solely in person suffering from tuberculosis with fever, dry mouth and lips, hemoptysis and other symptoms;
3. It is inappropriate to use astragalus when the ulcer just begins or excessive heat-toxicity still remains even after ulcer burst;
4. In addition, the studies have shown that astragalus might increase significantly the ratio of chromosome aberration and cell micronucleus, so pregnant women should not take large dosage of astragalus for a long term.

Astragalus has been proved clinically that not only works in prevention and treatment of chronic nephritis, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, but also patients with recurrent oral ulcer. In China, one popular saying about astragalus goes like “drinking astragalus tea for long enough time will prevent people from diseases and keep people for long healthy living”.