Suggested Dosing
Powder
1-30 g/d PO
Doses > 28 g/day not recommended, no additional benefit and might cause immune suppression
Decoction
0.5-1 L per day (maximum of 120 grams of whole root per liter of water)
Suggested Uses
URI, common cold, other infections, hepatitis
Breast, cervical, lung cancer (in combo with glossy privet [Ligustrum lucidum])
Efficacy
Insufficient reliable evidence to rate use in breast cancer, lung cancer, hepatitis and the common cold
Interactions
Interaction Checker
No Results

Contraindicated
Serious - Use Alternative
Significant - Monitor Closely
Minor

Contraindicated (0)
Serious - Use Alternative (0)
Monitor Closely (27)
- adalimumab
adalimumab increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- alefacept
alefacept increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- anakinra
anakinra increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- antithymocyte globulin equine
antithymocyte globulin equine increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- antithymocyte globulin rabbit
antithymocyte globulin rabbit increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- azathioprine
azathioprine increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- basiliximab
basiliximab increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- canakinumab
canakinumab increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- cyclosporine
cyclosporine increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- etanercept
etanercept increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- everolimus
everolimus increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- glatiramer
glatiramer increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- golimumab
golimumab increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- hydroxychloroquine sulfate
hydroxychloroquine sulfate increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- infliximab
infliximab increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- leflunomide
leflunomide increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- mercaptopurine
mercaptopurine increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- methotrexate
methotrexate increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- muromonab CD3
muromonab CD3 increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- mycophenolate
mycophenolate increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- rilonacept
rilonacept increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- sirolimus
sirolimus increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- tacrolimus
tacrolimus increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- temsirolimus
temsirolimus increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- tocilizumab
tocilizumab increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor. .
- tongkat ali
tongkat ali increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
- ustekinumab
ustekinumab increases and astragalus decreases immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Effect of interaction is not clear, use caution. Use Caution/Monitor.
Minor (3)
- acyclovir
astragalus increases effects of acyclovir by pharmacodynamic synergism. Minor/Significance Unknown.
- echinacea
astragalus and echinacea both decrease immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Minor/Significance Unknown.
- maitake
astragalus and maitake both decrease immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Minor/Significance Unknown.
Warnings
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity
Pregnancy & Lactation
Pregnancy Category: N/A
Lactation: N/A
Pregnancy Categories
A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.
B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk. C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done. D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk. X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist. NA: Information not available.Pharmacology
Mechanism of Action
Saponins (e.g. astragaloside), Flavonoids, Polysaccharides
Antioxidants, stimulates interferon, IgA, IgG