Astragalus: A Superior Class Herb for Radiant Skin
The toughest part about choosing which herb to highlight as a skin elixir is singling out one or two of the many powerful herbs in the plant kingdom. I chose an Herbal All Star that is sure to add sheen to your skin but I did leave many worthy epidermal enlightening candidates on the side line.
Before I highlight this Herbal All Star, let me note that our bodies largest organ, aka the skin, beams even brighter with an overall righteous nutrition plan. After all, our external skin is a reflection of our internal terrain. So lets stoke our inner systems with a diet rich in whole, unrefined, unpasteurized, health-consciously processed, phyto and glyco-nutrient, alkaline forming, sprouted, pro/pre-biotic, and EFA rich foods…whew!
Astragalus for Skin Health
This herbal All Star is one of the most revered herbs in the Orient and beyond. Of the thousands of herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Astragalus ranks as one of the most potent tonics in the world and it has special connections with the skin.
Master Herbalist Ron Teeguarden writes the following on Astragalus in his book Radiant Health
In China, Astragalus is sometimes considered superior to Ginseng as an energizer. Astragalus is said to have an effect on the surface of the body while stimulating circulation in the subcutaneous tissues, providing suppleness to the flesh and adaptive energy to the skin. Astragalus aids the skin in eliminating toxins and is commonly used topically to expedite the healing of skin…as above, so below.
Research on Astragalus
Studies at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Research Center at University of Houston demonstrated that Astragalus improves the immune response in humans undergoing radiation and chemotherapy. The FDA has not approved Astragalus for this purpose although it is approved for this in many other countries. The active constituents of Astragalus, ‘the total Astragaloside’, has potent antioxidant activity, that is stronger than vitamin E, Grape Seed extract and Ginkgo biloba.
Superior Class Herbs
Astragalus is at the top of the short list of superior class herbs. For an herb to be recognized as a superior herb, it must have been found over many centuries to meet six specific qualifications:
- It must provide an abundance of jing- (essence), qi- (vitality), shen- (spirit)
- It must aid in attainment of long life
- It must have broad and profound health promoting actions resulting in a radiantly healthy life
- It must have no negative side effects
- It must help improve one’s state of spiritual and emotional well-being and happiness
- It must taste good enough and be easily digestible.
Astragalus certainly passes the test with flying colours!
How to Get Some Astragalus into Your Daily Diet
Astragalus is most often found in capsule form although it is available in powder form. I recently purchased an 8:1 extract of Astragalus powder and it happens to be a pleasant tasting herb, with a slightly sweet taste. Its the blimey Reishi and Cordyceps that make my herbal cappuccino’s bitter.
Matthew’s Chinese Herbal Cappuccino Recipe
- Gynostemma tea liquid base heated to 170 degrees Farenheit
- Add 1/2 teaspoon of Astragalus (and other herbs that you fancy)
- Sweeten with righteous sweetener: yacon root, coconut sugar, agave, raw honey
- Add a blend of raw nut milk and fresh coconut water
Blend all ingredients together for a creamy herbal delight.
Have you used Astragalus in your weekly herbal regime? Drop us a line below and let us know what benefits you’ve experienced.
For more of the insider information on how you can build herbs into your beauty regime, “Herbs for Beauty” as part of our herbal talks series with Jonathan Raymond (herbalist and specialist in Ayurvedic medicine) is available for purchase at our store.
You’ll learn:
- The role of the nervous system in skin health
- How the acid/basic balance in your body affects your skin
- How the body eliminates acidity and why this makes you look old
- The simplest trick to improving your acidity levels
- The best oil to use to nourish and tone the skin
- The best natural mask recipe EVER
- Why toning your liver is going to make your skin glow!
It’s easy to purchase and you’ll receive it right away: herbal talks