Astragalus · 90 capsules

What is astragalus and what active ingredients does this plant contain?

Astragalus is one of the best-known medicinal plants in traditional Chinese medicine. It has been used there for thousands of years to treat a variety of illnesses and as a general tonic. Of the medicinal plant itself, it is primarily the root that is used. This is because it contains the highest content of biologically active ingredients (1). Astragalus belongs to the legume family and is mainly native to China, Korea, Mongolia and Siberia. The astragalus root contains two groups of polysaccharides known as astragalans and astraglucans as active ingredients. It also contains two groups of triterpene saponins known as astraglosides and isoastraglosides (2). The extract we use is standardized to a high content of 50 % polysaccharides in order to always guarantee a consistent effect.

What are the health benefits of astragalus?

Astragalus is said to have a wide range of positive effects on health. These are said to range from a stimulating effect on the immune system (3) to a positive influence on the health of the cardiovascular system (4) and protection of the body's detoxification organs and nervous system (5). In addition, astragalus is said to have pronounced antioxidant effects (6) and can lower blood sugar levels (7) and improve insulin sensitivity (8). All these effects have been investigated in numerous studies and have been demonstrated in the subjects of various studies. One of these studies showed that the polysaccharides contained in Astragalus activate the killer cells and T-cells of the immune system and stimulate the antibody response, thereby significantly improving immune function. Astragalus was thus able to strengthen the immune system of the test subjects and reduce their susceptibility to infectious diseases (9). However, the effects that astragalus has been shown to have on the immune system do not end there. According to researchers, astragalus has a so-called immunomodulating effect. In the test subjects in one study, this regulated an excessive immune reaction, which is often observed in allergies, down to a healthy level. As a result, the inflammatory reactions in the lungs and increased mucus formation in the airways that occur in asthma were reduced in these test subjects (10).

Astragalus also has a whole range of potentially positive effects on the cardiovascular system. This begins with the fact that the saponins contained in the root of this medicinal plant can improve the contractility of the heart muscle, which has been proven in 17 (!) different Chinese studies (11,12,13 etc.). The flavonoids contained in astragalus have been shown to lower high blood pressure and at the same time, by reducing cholesterol absorption in the digestive tract and increasing the breakdown of unhealthy LDL cholesterol by the liver, can significantly reduce levels of unhealthy LDL cholesterol and reduce triglyceride levels by over 45% in each case (14). Both can potentially contribute to a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular disease (15). In addition, according to researchers, astragalus has a pronounced antioxidant effect that can protect the body's cells and DNA from the damaging effects of free radicals. Excessive levels of free radicals have been linked to the development of numerous diseases, including cancer, as well as accelerated ageing of the body (16). The antioxidant effects of astragalus may also be responsible for the liver and kidney protective properties observed in a study on test subjects (17). Astragalus is also an effective adaptogen, which has been shown in studies to help people cope better with stress and also alleviate fatigue, tiredness and loss of appetite (18,19).

Looking at all these effects, which have been demonstrated in various test groups, it becomes more than clear why astragalus has proven to be an effective remedy in traditional medicine for years. As usual, GN Laboratories supplies the active ingredients of the medicinal plant in the highest quality so that their benefits can fully unfold. Astragalus from GN Laboratories - because in the end only results count.

Precautions and warnings:

The active ingredients contained in Astragalus exhibit blood pressure and blood sugar lowering effects. People who are taking diabetes medication or blood pressure medication should therefore discuss the supplementation of astragalus with their doctor in advance in order to rule out an undesirable excessive increase in the effect of their medication. In addition, due to the strong immune system-stimulating effect of astragalus, people taking medication to suppress the immune system after transplants, as part of the treatment of autoimmune diseases or as part of cancer therapy should consult their doctor.