Astragalus Benefits, Uses, Side Effects According to Ayurveda

Metabolic Nature of Astragalus

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

METABOLIC NATURE

Metabolic Nature

Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick. Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.
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DRY

ABOUT DRY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Dry is identified by lack of moisture, lack of fat, or anything that causes diuresis.

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HOT

ABOUT HOT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot is identified by increased body temperature, metabolism, or inflammation.

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TASTES

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?
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SWEET

ABOUT SWEET BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Sweet refers to anything builds tissue, including macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

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DOSHAS

The Three Doshas / Body Types

Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.
Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.
Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.
Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.
The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).
Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.
Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.
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PACIFIES

AGGRAVATES

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.
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PACIFIES

MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.

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PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Wet & cold. When out of balance becomes congested, stagnant, and overweight. Loving, trusting, and patient.

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AGGRAVATES

CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

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SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot and oily with a moderate metabolism and a well nourished body. Vigorous, vivacious, outgoing and generous, and prone to impulsivity and self indulgence. Bullish and intense when out of balance.

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Other

Family:

Fabaceae

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Astragalus
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

(see all)

Mind, Stress & Sleep:

Nervine

NERVINE

Balances the nervous system. They can help with stress, memory, early alzheimer's, and even chronic pain. Often they are aromatic in nature.

SEE ALL 'NERVINE' FOODS / HERBS

Energy Vitality:

Adrenal Tonic

ADRENAL-TONIC

Strengthens, supports, or increases output of adrenals.

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Skin Care & Beauty:

Antifibrotic

ANTIFIBROTIC

Fibrosis of an organ is often a progressive leading to organ failure (i.e lungs, liver, kidney). While vulneraries usually help restore collagen, antifibrotic herbs often clear collagen. Aka fibrinolytic.

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Vulnerary

VULNERARY

An herb used for the treatment of wounds (antiulcer, connective tissue tonic).

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Respiratory-Health:

Lung Tonic

LUNG-TONIC

Strengthens the lungs. Lung tonics include antifibrotic, vessel tonic, or nourishing herbs with an affinity for the lungs. They aid recovery in acute or chronic lung conditions.

SEE ALL 'LUNG-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Immune System:

Adaptogen

ADAPTOGEN

Herbs that promote stabilization of physiological processes and homeostasis. Adaptogens increase the body's ability to resist the damaging effects of stress and promote or restore normal physiological functioning.

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Anti Inflammatory

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.

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Antiviral

ANTIVIRAL

Herbs that inhibit the development of viral infections. Antivirals also can be found in essential oils of some herbs, such as eucalyptus oil.

SEE ALL 'ANTIVIRAL' FOODS / HERBS

Immune Calming

IMMUNE-CALMING

Herbs that interrupt an allergic reaction or calm the immune system, useful in allergies and autoimmune conditions.

SEE ALL 'IMMUNE-CALMING' FOODS / HERBS

, Immune Modulator,

Immune Stimulant

IMMUNE-STIMULANT

Stimulates and strengthens the immune system. Helpful when fighting off a cold or flu.

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Heart & Circulation:

Antiplatelet

STRONG ANTIPLATELET

An herb that inhibits clotting, dissolves clots, thins the blood, or destroys platelets, therefore reducing the tendency of blood to form clots. They are useful in cardiovascular disease, clots, and stroke. Aka anticoagulant.

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Blood Tonic

BLOOD-TONIC

An herb that produces more blood cells in the body, or otherwise improves blood cell quality or hemoglobin content. Helpful for anemia and other types of deficiency.

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Kidney & Urinary:

Diuretic

DIURETIC

Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure.

SEE ALL 'DIURETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Liver & Gallbladder:

Hepatoprotective

HEPATOPROTECTIVE

An herb that is capable of preventing liver damage. Many hepatoprotectives work via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

SEE ALL 'HEPATOPROTECTIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Livotonic

LIVOTONIC

An herb that strengthens the liver. It is helpful for people with a history of substance abuse, chronic liver issues from hepatitis and hemolytic anemias. Generally, liver tonics are oily, cool, sweet, mildly sour, or contain beta-carotene.

SEE ALL 'LIVOTONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Weight Loss:

Hypolipidemic

HYPOLIPIDEMIC

Scrapes fats / cleanses blood vessels by 1) purging bile, 2) strengthening the liver's ability to metabolize fats, 3) by increasing uptake of cholesterol in the liver, and 4) by inhibiting fat cells.

SEE ALL 'HYPOLIPIDEMIC' FOODS / HERBS

Bone & Joint:

Bone Tonic

BONE-TONIC

An herb that strengthens the bones and joints.

SEE ALL 'BONE-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Constituents:

Inositol

INOSITOL

Inositol is an alcohol sugar made naturally in the human body from glucose. It is lipotropic (aiding fat metabilism in the liver). It affects a variety of hormones, neurotransmitters, steroid, growth factors and water.

SEE ALL 'INOSITOL' FOODS / HERBS

, Polysaccharides

Foods with a Similar Nature to Astragalus

Turmeric Root (Fresh)

Turmeric Root (Fresh) has these Actions in Common
Anti-inflammatory, Blood-tonic, Hypolipidemic, Vulnerary, Antifibrotic, Bone-tonic, Immune-calming, Adrenal-tonic, Antiplatelet, Hepatoprotective, Immune-modulator
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Turmeric

Turmeric has these Actions in Common
Antiplatelet, Hepatoprotective, Immune-modulator, Anti-inflammatory, Blood-tonic, Hypolipidemic, Vulnerary, Antifibrotic, Bone-tonic, Immune-calming
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Ginger (Fresh)

Ginger (Fresh) has these Actions in Common
Antifibrotic, Hypolipidemic, Adrenal-tonic, Antiplatelet, Lung-tonic, Anti-inflammatory, Hepatoprotective, Nervine
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Grape

Grape has these Actions in Common
Antiplatelet, Immune-calming, Blood-tonic, Livotonic, Anti-inflammatory, Diuretic, Nervine
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Stinging Nettles

Stinging Nettles has these Actions in Common
Anti-inflammatory, Diuretic, Vulnerary, Blood-tonic, Immune-calming, Bone-tonic, Lung-tonic
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Garlic (raw)

Garlic (raw) has these Actions in Common
Antifibrotic, Diuretic, Vulnerary, Antiplatelet, Hypolipidemic, Antiviral, Lung-tonic
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Chickweed

Chickweed has these Actions in Common
Vulnerary, Anti-inflammatory, Hepatoprotective, Blood-tonic, Hypolipidemic, Diuretic
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Dandelion Leaves

Dandelion Leaves has these Actions in Common
Anti-inflammatory, Hypolipidemic, Diuretic, Immune-calming, Hepatoprotective, Livotonic
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Basil

Basil has these Actions in Common
Immune-calming, Nervine, Anti-inflammatory, Immune-stimulant, Diuretic, Lung-tonic
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Burdock Root (Gobo)

Burdock Root (Gobo) has these Actions in Common
Diuretic, Vulnerary, Hypolipidemic, Anti-inflammatory, Livotonic
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Cranberry

Cranberry has these Actions in Common
Anti-inflammatory, Immune-calming, Blood-tonic, Livotonic, Diuretic
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Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Astragalus

Licorice Root (Yastimadhu)

Licorice Root (Yastimadhu) has these Actions in Common
Antiviral, Vulnerary, Hepatoprotective, Immune-calming, Immune-modulator, Adaptogen, Immune-stimulant, Adrenal-tonic, Livotonic, Anti-inflammatory, Lung-tonic, Antifibrotic, Nervine
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Licorice Ghee (9oz)

Licorice Ghee (9oz) has these Actions in Common
Anti-inflammatory, Lung-tonic, Antifibrotic, Nervine, Antiviral, Vulnerary, Hepatoprotective, Immune-calming, Immune-modulator, Adaptogen, Immune-stimulant, Adrenal-tonic, Livotonic
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Bhringaraj

Bhringaraj has these Actions in Common
Hypolipidemic, Immune-calming, Adrenal-tonic, Livotonic, Anti-inflammatory, Nervine, Blood-tonic, Vulnerary, Bone-tonic, Diuretic, Hepatoprotective
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Dong Quai

Dong Quai has these Actions in Common
Anti-inflammatory, Antifibrotic, Antiplatelet, Blood-tonic, Hepatoprotective, Hypolipidemic, Immune-calming, Adaptogen, Nervine
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Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha has these Actions in Common
Adrenal-tonic, Anti-inflammatory, Blood-tonic, Bone-tonic, Diuretic, Immune-calming, Nervine, Adaptogen, Vulnerary
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Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common
Anti-inflammatory, Blood-tonic, Diuretic, Hypolipidemic, Immune-calming, Lung-tonic, Adaptogen, Nervine, Adrenal-tonic
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Eleuthero Ginseng

Eleuthero Ginseng has these Actions in Common
Hypolipidemic, Immune-stimulant, Nervine, Adaptogen, Adrenal-tonic, Anti-inflammatory, Blood-tonic, Hepatoprotective
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Ginkgo

Ginkgo has these Actions in Common
Diuretic, Hepatoprotective, Hypolipidemic, Immune-calming, Nervine, Anti-inflammatory, Antifibrotic, Antiplatelet
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Milk Thistle

Milk Thistle has these Actions in Common
Antifibrotic, Diuretic, Hepatoprotective, Hypolipidemic, Immune-calming, Livotonic, Nervine
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Amritarishta (Amrutharishtam)

Amritarishta (Amrutharishtam) has these Actions in Common
Immune-modulator, Nervine, Anti-inflammatory, Antiviral, Diuretic, Hepatoprotective, Immune-calming
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Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

AYURVEDIC HERB SUPPLEMENTS

Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus)

Table of Contents

How Does This Ayurvedic Herb Supplement Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Metabolic Nature of Astragalus

Metabolic Nature

ABOUT DRY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

ABOUT HOT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

The 6 Tastes

ABOUT SWEET BIOCHARACTERISTIC

The Three Doshas / Body Types

The Four Temperaments / Humors

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Other

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Astragalus Experiences are Personal Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

NERVINE

ADRENAL-TONIC

ANTIFIBROTIC

VULNERARY

LUNG-TONIC

ADAPTOGEN

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

ANTIVIRAL

IMMUNE-CALMING

IMMUNE-STIMULANT

STRONG ANTIPLATELET

BLOOD-TONIC

DIURETIC

HEPATOPROTECTIVE

LIVOTONIC

HYPOLIPIDEMIC

BONE-TONIC

INOSITOL

Foods with a Similar Nature to Astragalus

Turmeric Root (Fresh) has these Actions in Common

Turmeric has these Actions in Common

Ginger (Fresh) has these Actions in Common

Grape has these Actions in Common

Stinging Nettles has these Actions in Common

Garlic (raw) has these Actions in Common

Chickweed has these Actions in Common

Dandelion Leaves has these Actions in Common

Basil has these Actions in Common

Burdock Root (Gobo) has these Actions in Common

Cranberry has these Actions in Common

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Astragalus

Licorice Root (Yastimadhu) has these Actions in Common

Licorice Ghee (9oz) has these Actions in Common

Bhringaraj has these Actions in Common

Dong Quai has these Actions in Common

Ashwagandha has these Actions in Common

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

Eleuthero Ginseng has these Actions in Common

Ginkgo has these Actions in Common

Milk Thistle has these Actions in Common

Amritarishta (Amrutharishtam) has these Actions in Common

Guidelines - Preparation & Dose

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR THESE SYMPTOMS

Heart, Blood & Circulation

Respiratory, Lung, Throat & Sinus

Skin Care

Digestion

Reproductive-Health

Kidney, Bladder & Urinary

Lifestyle

Diet

Weight Loss

Mind, Stress & Sleep

CONTRAINDICATED FOR THESE SYMPTOMS

Herb Drug Interaction Risk

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Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Astragalus
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

CONTRAINDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS