Astragalus is a flowering plant whose root has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine, often with other herbs. It is promoted as an adaptogen and as a supplement for colds, hay fever, asthma, chronic fatigue, kidney disease, diabetes and immune support.
Also known as: Astragalus membranaceus, huang qi, milk vetch.
There is no intake value. NCCIH says taking up to 60 grams a day for up to 4 months does not seem to cause side effects, but no thorough safety evaluation has been done. These are study protocols, not a recommendation.
It is sold in the US as a dietary supplement. Under the 1994 dietary supplement law (DSHEA), FDA does not approve dietary supplements before they are marketed, and the maker, not FDA, is responsible for safety and labeling. NCCIH says there is not enough reliable evidence to know whether astragalus is useful for any health condition.
What studies show, per NCCIH: a 2024 review of 20 studies (953 adults with type 2 diabetes) found that astragalus added to metformin lowered fasting blood sugar and HbA1c more than metformin alone, but most studies were low quality (Hong 2024); a 2023 review of 19 small, varied studies found stronger immune responses and lower inflammatory proteins; and a 2023 review of 50 low-quality studies found improvements in some kidney measures when astragalus was added to treatment for membranous nephropathy, a kidney disease.
Safety, per NCCIH: astragalus may be safe by mouth, but a thorough safety evaluation has not been done. It might worsen autoimmune diseases, so people with them should avoid it, and it may interact with medicines that suppress the immune system. Little is known about pregnancy or breastfeeding; animal research suggests it can harm a fetus.
We could not find a single published half-life or time to peak for astragalus that applies to a supplement dose, so we do not list one. Plant and bee products are mixtures of many compounds, so no single figure would describe them.
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