A natural product commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine herbal mixtures may help to improve quality of life, manage side effects, and treat certain cancers.
Safety and precautions
Astragalus is generally well tolerated and considered safe.
Evidence to date is scant but has not shown a link to a higher risk of postmenopausal breast cancer.1Chen J, Zhang X, Wang Y, Ye Y, Huang Z. Differential ability of formononetin to stimulate proliferation of endothelial cells and breast cancer cells via a feedback loop involving MicroRNA-375, RASD1, and ERα. Molecular Carcinogenesis. 2018 Jul;57(7):817-830.
Interactions with other therapies
Preliminary evidence has found interactions with anticoagulants, diuretics, and antihypertensive drugs.
Due to its antioxidant and estrogenic activity, astragalus may interfere with some chemotherapy drugs and/or affect hormone-sensitive cancers, though this is still under investigation.2Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. About Herbs: Astragalus. March 13, 2020. Viewed January 31, 2021.
Side effects or adverse events
One study reported fatigue, malaise, headache and lowered blood pressure in people after administration, but all symptoms cleared within 24 hours.3Denzler K, Moore et al. Characterization of the physiological response following in vivo administration of astragalus membranaceus. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2016;2016:6861078.
Formononetin (an astragalus extract) and its metabolites can enhance inflammation and induce an allergic immune response.4Ong SKL, Shanmugam MK et al. Focus on formononetin: anticancer potential and molecular targets. Cancers (Basel). 2019;11(5):611.
Do not use (contraindications)
- Pregnant or nursing women should not use astragalus root.
- If you have an immune system disease such as multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or another autoimmune disease, you should not use astragalus root.
- Very high doses may suppress the immune system, so avoid use if you are taking immune-suppressing drugs.
Helpful links
References