HEALTH REPORT
Your body’s protective shield The outer surfaces of the body (the skin, nasal passages and mucous membranes) are our first line of immune defence, acting as barriers that help to prevent mild illnesses taking hold. A similar concept exists in TCM, where it’s traditionally understood that a specific form of Qi called defensive Qi (or Wei Qi) circulates near the exterior surface of the body. Defensive Qi’s role is to act as a kind of security force, reducing the likelihood that factors like cold and wind can penetrate the body’s exterior surfaces and cause illnesses like common colds. Astragalus is traditionally used to stabilise the exterior surface of the body, support defensive Qi and reduce the frequency of common colds.
which is traditionally used in TCM to improve immunity, relieve tiredness and reduce feelings of being run down. Other herbs that astragalus is often taken with in TCM include Chinese licorice, codonopsis, white atractylodes and fang feng. TCM theory teaches that, while astragalus is traditionally considered beneficial for improving immunity and helping decrease your likelihood of experiencing recurrent common colds, it is not the best herb to use during the active stages of an infection. So, if you do catch an infection like a cold, stop
taking astragalus for a while, and start again when the cold has passed. (In the meantime, herbs like honeysuckle and forsythia are traditionally used to relieve common cold symptoms in TCM.) In TCM, astragalus root is traditionally used in a similar way for children as it is for adults: to improve their immune defences, reduce the frequency of common colds and boost vitality. When given to kids, astragalus is often combined with other herbs, such as fang feng and white atractylodes. Erika Bass is Technical Support team leader at Fusion ® Health. She has over a decade of experience in the natural health industry, and a particular passion for helping women look and feel their best.
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ISSUE 61 • 2021
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