Radix Astragali seu Hedysari

Source
Root of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge var. mongholicus (Bunge) Hsiao, and A. membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge, and the other species of the same genus and Hedysarum polybotrys Hand.-Mazz., family Legumiosae.

Characteristics
1. Astragali: Root long-terete, occasionally branching, 3~90 cm long, l.~3.5 cm in diameter. Cork grey-yellow, with lenticels and fibrous root scar, old root base bearing stem base, its pith often withered and dark-brown. Fracture surface fibrous and farinaceous; cortex slightly loose, fibrous and reticular. Prepared as cross or obliquely cutting pieces, section light yellow, the cortex usually separated from the xylem, vascular bundles in the xylem fine, dense and radially arranged, with cracks sometimes. Slightly sweet when chewed, with a smell of beans.

2. Hedysari: Cork red-brown, usually peeling off to reveal a yellow cortex. Cross section dense, cortex wifh sparse fibers. Both are sweet in taste slightly warm in nature, and attributive to spleen and lung channels.

Indication
1. Invigorate vital energy and spleen: For spleen-deficiency with poor appetite, loose stools, fatigue and bleeding, usually used together with Radix Codonbpsis Ptlosulae and Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae; for deficiency of both vital energy and blood, used together with Radix Angelicae Sinensis (Decoction of Angelicae Sinensis for Enriching Blood).

2. Invigorate vital energy to activate yang: For collapse of middle-jiao energy manifested as prolapse of rectum, hysteroptosis or gastroptosis usually used together with Codonopsis Pilosulae, Rhizoma Cimicifugae and Radix Bupleuri.

3. Invigorate vital energy to strengthen the body: For common cold debilitated patient, superficies-asthenia with profuse sweating, usally used together with Atractyiodis Macrocephalae.

4. Relieve skin infection and promote tissue regeneration: For unraptured abscess, unhealed carbuncle, skin erosion, unhealed wound, eruptive diseases and skin infection of yin type. Recently, used for peptic ulcer and atrophic gastritis.

5. Promote diuresis and relieve edema: For edema of spleen-deficiency ~ type. In addition, it can invigorate vital energy to promote the production of body fluid and quench thirst and is indicated for diabetes; hemiplegia due to deficiency of vital energy and blood stasis. Also used for asthma and leukocytopenia.

Phamacological Action
1. Increasing the amount of leukocytes and polymorphocytes in peripheral blood and promoting lymphocyte-blastogenesis.

2. Its polysaccharide promotes the healing of skin ulcer.

3. Cardiotonic.

4. Dilating coronary artery and capillaries.

Administration
Decoction: 9-I5g, up to 30~60g.

Injection: 100% Astragali ampoule 2 ml IM bid or for point injection.