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.
Affordability and access
Astragalus is widely available as an oral supplement or in various formulations. 1Conte E, CAM Cancer Consortium. Astragalus spp. June 22, 2020. Viewed February 17, 2021. Use in cancer care is typically orally, externally applied to skin, as an injection, or intravenously.
Prescription required?
- Not for oral formulations, but we recommend you consult your oncology team before using this therapy
- Intravenous (IV) treatments and injections require administration by a healthcare professional
How to access
You may find astragalus under these alternate names:
- Radix astragali or Radix astragalus
- Astragalus membranaceus
- Astragalus mongholicus
- Astragali radix or Astragalus radix (“radix” refers to the plant roots)
- Huang chi or huang qi (its Chinese names)
Where to access
- Drug stores
- Supplement stores
- Online supplement distributors
- For injections or intravenous treatments, through a traditional Chinese medicine or other health professional
Affordability
- Low to moderate cost (from less than $500 US/year up to $2000 US/year)
- Intravenous (IV) treatments and injections are more expensive
Helpful links
References