Health Benefits of Milkvetch Root (Astragalus mongholicus root) (“Huangqi”)

  Astragalus mongholicus root, the most commonly used Astragalus species in Chinese medicine. The dried root of Astragalus mongholicus is called “Huangqi” in Chinese.  Polysaccharides, saponins, isoflavonoids, and flavonoids are the main constituents of milk vetch

Benefits:

Astragalus is believed to have a “Qi tonifying” effect (Qi is thought to be a vital energy, a concept closely linked to immunity). According to Compendium of Materia Medica written by the uncrowned king of Chinese naturalists, published in 1593. milk vetch is used to treat symptoms allegedly caused by affections of the spleen, which are claimed to be diarrhoea, fatigue, spontaneous sweating, and lack of appetite. it could also be used to treat colds and shortness of breath because it tonifies the lungs.

TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) practitioners often administer it as a tea infusion or shredded in soup.

In addition to the benefits follows:

1.      Besides cancer, other possible indications are wasting disorders, night sweats, chronic ulcerations and sores, numbness and paralysis of the limbs, and oedema

2.      Therapeutic effect on problems such as sweating, spleen function and metabolic function caused by low immunity.

3.      Rejuvenate strength, symptoms such as the lack of energy, tongue weakness and fatigue, pale face, spleen deficiency and weakness of lung.

4.      Reduce the probability of thrombosis, lower blood pressure, protect the heart, resist free radical damage, and enhance the body's immunity.

5.      Expand blood vessels, improve blood circulation, and strength muscle.

6.      Detoxification, diuresis, swelling.

7.      Regulate blood sugar, effective on high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease.

8.      Protecting the liver, eliminating proteinuria, and preventing the reduction of liver glycogen.

9.      Healing effect on poor sleep, nightmares, and night sweats

Caution:

if the used improperly, it will also have certain side effects.

·         Symptoms such as flushing and dry mouth appear.

·         people with kidney disease can not use “Huangqi”

·         “Huangqi” Milk vetch is generally administered in combination with other Chinese herbs. The combination depends on the diagnosis. So it is very important to see a Chinese doctor or herbalist before you consume.

Health Benefits of Licorice

Liquorice or Licorice is the root of Glycyrrhiza glabra from which a sweet flavour can be extracted.

It grows to 1 metre (39 in) in heigh, flowers are purple to pale whitish blue, the fruit is an oblong pod, containing several seeds.  The roots are stoloniferous, and much of the sweetness in liquorice comes from glycyrrhizin, which has a sweet taste that 30 to 50 times the sweetness of sugar, but has a very different taste than sugar.

Benefits:

Liquorice extracts have been used in herbalism and traditional medicine for thousands of years. According to Compendium of Materia Medica written by the uncrowned king of Chinese naturalists LeeShiZhen, published in 1593.

Clean your internal organ, strengthen your bone and muscles, disinfection and detoxification.  shortness of breath, bruises and coughs, thirst quenching, Cold pain in the main abdomen, cure epilepsy, relief abdominal fullness, tonic five internal organs, nourishing kidney gas, back pain, forgetfulness, diarrhea, to sore throat, vomiting child's fetal poisoning epilepsy, relieve pain.

Cautions:

Foods containing liquorice and its derivatives (including glycyrrhizin) are safe if not consumed excessively. Licorice should not be used during pregnancy.

An increase in intake of licorice can cause many toxic effects. Like increase blood pressure, weight gain, heart problems and weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, renal failure and paralysis, so it is important to monitor the amount of licorice consumed in order to prevent toxicity.