Membranaceous Milk Vetch

This large genus of about 2,000 species of annuals, perennials, and shrubs is distributed throughout northern temperate zones. Several species are used for food and fodder crops and as a source of gel-forming substances. Some accumulate minerals, and are used as indicators in prospecting. Those toxic to livestock are known as "locoweeds". About 100 species are cultivated for their colorful spikes of flowers. Milk vetches are used both medicinally and a food and fodder crops in many parts of the world. Gum tragacanth is collected from at least 20 species, mainly A. gummifer, which has been the principal source since ancient Greek times. The roots of A. membranaceus provide traditional Chinese medicine with a tonic on par with ginseng. Astralagus membranaceus var. mongholicus is used interchangeably. It is similar in appearance but prefers damper habitats. Also important in Chinese medicine is A. complanatus (sha yuan), which has been used in China as liver and kidney tonic since the 12th century.

One of the premier herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine, astralagus was used as far back as the first century BCE. Some studies have shown that astralagus helps boost the immune system and may also keep malignant cancer cells from spreading to healthy tissue. For these reasons astralagus is used by some cancer patients, especially when undergoing radiation and chemotherapy.

Low evergreen or semi-evergreen, umbrella-shaped shrub, with spiny-stalked, pinnate leaves, divided into 4-7 pairs of elliptic leaflets, to 1cm (½in) long. Small, downy, white pea flowers are produced in the axils in summer.

Common Name:

Other Names:

Tragacanth, Beg Kei, Huang Qi, Gum tragacanth

Botanical Name:

Astralagus gummifer

Genus:

Astralagus

Family:

Papilionaceae

Native Location:

Middle East (Kurdistan)

Cultivation:

Well-drained soil in sun. Astralagus membranaceus prefers sandy, slightly alkaline soil.

Propagation:

By seed in spring or autumn

Harvest:

Gum is collected from second-year plants of A. gummifer by incising the stem base; it is dried for use as a powder. Roots of A. membranaceus are lifted in autumn and dried for decoctions, powders, and tinctures.

Height:

30cm (12in)

Width:

30cm (12in)

Hardiness:

Z8-10

Parts Used:

Gum, Root

Properties:

A mucilaginous herb that stimulates the immune system and suppresses tumors.

Medicinal Uses:

To treat depression of the immune system, heart failure, viral infections, respiratory infections, liver disease, and kidney disease.

Typical Dose:

A typical daily dose of astralagus may range from 2 to 6gm of dried root or 4 to 12ml of fluid extract.

Possible Side Effects:

Astralagus's more common side effects, as suggested by animal studies, include respiratory depression and allergic reactions.

Drug Interactions:

Taking astralagus with these drugs may increase the risk of bleeding or bruising:
Abciximab (ReoPro)	Alteplase (Activase, Cathflo Activase)	Antithrombin III (Thrombate III)	Argatropan
Aspirin (Bufferin, Ecotrin)	Aspirin and Dipyridamole (Aggrenox)	Bivalirudin (Angiomax)	Clopidogrel (Plavix)
Dateparin (Fragmin)	Danaparoid (Orgaran)	Dipyridimole (Novo-Dipiradol, Persantine)	Enoxaparin (Lovenox)
Eptifibatide (Integrillin)	Fondaparinux (Arixtra)	Heparin (Hepalean, Hep-Lock)	Indobufen (Ibustrin)
Lepirudin (Refludan)	Nadroparin (Fraxiparine)	Reteplase (Retavase)	Streptokinase (Streptase)
Tenecteplase (TNKase)	Ticlopidine (Alti-Ticlopidine, Ticlid)	Tinzaparin (Innohep)	Tirofiban (Aggrastat)
Urokinase (Abbokinase)		Warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)

Taking Astralagus with these drugs may reduce the drug's immunosuppressive effects:
Antithymocyte Globulin, Equine (Atgam)	Antithymocyte Globulin, Rabbit (Thymoglobulin)	Azathioprine (Imuran)	Basiliximab (Simulect)
Beclomethasone (Beconase, Vanceril)	Betamethasone (Betatrex, Maxivate)	Budesonide (Entocort, Rhinocort)	Budesonide and Formoterol (Symbicort)
Cortisone (Cortone)	Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Neosar)	Cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune)	Daclizumab (Zenapax)
Deflazacort (Calcort, Dezacor)	Dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexasone)	Efalizumab (Raptiva)	Flunisolide (AeroBid, Nasarel)
Fluoromethalone (Eflone, Flarex)	Fluticason (Cutivate, Flonase)	Hydrocortisone (Cetacort, Locoid)	Loteprednol (Alrex, Lotemax)
Medrysone (HMS Liquifilm)	Methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall)	Methylprednisolone (Depo-Medrol, Medrol)	Muromonab-CD3 (Orthoclone OKT3)
Mycophenolate (CellCept)	Pimecrolimus (Elidel)	Prednisolone (Inflamase Forte, Pred Forte)	Prednisone (Apo-Prednisone, Deltasone)
Rimexolone (Vexol)	Spirolimus (Rapamune)	Tacrolimus (Prograf, Protopic)	Thalidomide (Thalomid)
Triamcinolone (Aristocort, Trinasal)

Taking astralagus with this drug may increase the drug's tumor cell-killing ability and decrease the drug's side effects:

Aldesleukin (Proleukin)

Lab Test Alterations:

May increase sperm mobility in vitro and alter results of semen specimen analysis.

Disease Interactions:

May worsen autoimmune diseases by increasing the activity of the immune system.
May interfere with the body's ability to accept transplanted tissues by hampering immunosuppressive medicines.

Economic Uses:

Used as a stabalizing and thickening agent in the food and pharmaceutical industries, in products such as salad dressings, ice creams, desserts, sauces, processed cheese, candy and toothpaste.

Bibliography:

Encyclopedia of Herbs by Deni Brown Copyright © 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited Pp 136-137
The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide by George T. Grossberg, M.D., and Barry Fox, Ph.D. Copyright © 2007 by Barry Fox, Ph.D. pp. 53-55