Astragalus & Astragalus Ligustrum Formula Review

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My name is Geoff D'Arcy and I am a Doctor of Oriental Medicine. I have been practicing (on humans) for over 24 years and started D'Arcy Naturals World Herb Formulas over ten years ago. We have been working with Veterinarians and developing our formulas ever since. My main focus has been working to make herbal formulas accessible to Vets.

Wishing you a healthy New Year from all of us at
D'Arcy Naturals, Veterinary Herbs-for-Pets. V
ery best wishes to you and your work,
Geoff D'Arcy, Lic. Ac., D.O.M. 508-650-1921

Astragalus General Health Benefits

Astragalus membranaceus(Huang Qi in Traditional Chinese Medicine) is one of the best-known tonic herbs in Chinese medicine and is only recently gaining popularity in the West. The astragalus family is a very large group of over two thousand species throughout the world that are more commonly known as milk vetches. For most of the symptoms shown, astragalus is used in formulation with other herbs to best target those symptoms. This sweet and slightly warming herb is a major stamina builder, tand also helps improve resistance to the cold. Classified in TCM as tonifying Spleen and Lungs, raises the yang. Modern studies have translated some of these actions as: not only an interferon inducer, but also an immuno-stimulating agent. It shows anti–influenza virus activity, and anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, and antibacterial activity as well. The pharmaceutical composition of astralagus has been shown to enhance immune function, (strengthening Qi ) and helping to prevent and fight colds and bacteria.

A recent study in Houston found it restored T-cell function in nine out of ten cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The Modern Chinese use astragalus in combination with other herbs in 'Fu Zheng' Immune building therapy for patients undergoing chemotherapy. Astragalus is often used with ginseng and codonopsis to strengthen the heart.

Formula of the month ASTRAGALUS LIGUSTRUM

Herbal nourishment for the immune system*

Cancer Support
Radiation/Chemo support
Autoimmune and viral hepatitis
Depleted / impaired immune system
Feline Immune Virus (FIV)
Fatigue, listlessness, chronic weakness
Postpartum weakness
Repeated illness
Recovery from surgery

In China, Ligustrum is often combined with Astragalus to not only augment chemotherapy and radiation, but to boost the immune system for chronic illness. Studies in cell cultures and laboratory animals have demonstrated these herbs combine synergistically to increase immunity. Using herbal adaptogens after chemotherapy can help the bone marrow in the production of white blood cells and optimize immune function. Astragalus’ polysaccharides, Eleuthero’s eleutherosides, and Schizandra’s ligans have demonstrated their immune and energy building qualities. Fu Zheng herbs of modern China (Fu means fortify, Zheng refers to constitution) has extensively explored herbs that rebuild the body’s resistance and innate strength. They are proven adaptogens, biological response modifiers, or immune-enhancing agents. Many similar tonic formulas use “heating” herbs like Ginseng that tend to be too warming for animals with chronic immune system weakness. This formula is designed to build immunity while avoiding overheating and is very safe for long-term use.

RESEARCH on Astragalus and Astragalus Ligustrum Formula.

* Viral myocarditis patients:
When given an oral Astragalus extract, showed enhanced T3, T4 and T4/T8 cell ratios8 suggesting improved immune response. In mice infected with coxsackie B-3 virus, Astragalus inhibited viral replication in the myocardial tissue while improving abnormal myocardial electric activity.(1,2,)

*Adjunct Cancer Therapy:
One hundred and sixteen Chinese herbal formulas were screened and evaluated for their ability to ameliorate the toxic side-effects of anticancer agents. A formula including Astragalus and Ligustrum, Shi-Quan-Da-Bu-Tang, was selected as the most effective in stimulating hemopoietic factors and interleukin production. It was also shown to potentiate the activity of chemotherapeutic agents, inhibit recurrences, prolong survival time, and reduce the adverse toxicities of antineoplastic agents.(3)

Two randomized groups of mice received renal cell carcinoma implants. One group was treated intraperitoneally with 500 mg of Astragalus and Ligustrum lucidum daily for ten days. The other group received saline as a control. The cure rate in the Astragalus/Ligusticum group was 57 percent when the tumor load was 2 x 105 and 100 percent when the tumor load was 1 x 105.(4)

In another study, 10 out of 12 small- cell lung cancer patients, including 4 with extensive disease, gained between 3 and 17 years of survival time when Chinese herbs such as Astragalus were included with chemotherapy and radiation.(9)

Cardiovascular Studies:
Astragaloside IV was isolated and injected into 19 patients with congestive heart failure daily for two weeks. After two weeks symptoms of chest distress and dyspnea were alleviated in 15 of the 19 patients. Heart rate slowed from 88.21 +/- 17.19 to 64.55 +/- 13.06 beats/min (P<0.05).(5)

Ninety-two patients with ischemic heart disease were treated with Astragalus. Not only did they get significant relief from angina, but also the effective rate of EKG improvement was 82.6 percent.16 In another study on angina pectoris, 20 patients were given Astragalus for two weeks and evaluated by echocardiogram. Cardiac output increased from 5.09 +/- 0.21 to 5.95 +/- 0.18 L/min (P<0.01). Adenosine triphosphatase activity was not inhibited with Astragalus, unlike that of digitalis.(6)

The saponins contained in Astragalus were found to have a positive effect on the function of the heart through the inhibition of the formation of lipid peroxides in the myocardium as well as by decreasing blood coagulation.(7)

Nephritis:
Astragalus proved effective against experimentally induced glomerulo-nephritis in rats, especially in treating proteinuria.2 Rats given high doses of Astragalus had less proteinuria and milder pathological tissue changes than the control group.(8)

References
1. Peng T, Riesemann H, Kandolf R. The inhibitory effect of Astragalus membranaceus on coxsackie B3 virus RNA replication. Chin Med Sci J 1995;10:146-150.

2. Guo Q, Peng TQ, Yang YZ. Effect of Astragalus membranaceus on Ca 2+ influx and coxsackie virus B3 replication in cultured neonatal rat heart cells. Chung Kuo Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih 1995;15:483-485.

3. Zee-Cheng RK. Shi-quan-da-bu-tang (ten significant tonic decoction), SQT. A potent Chinese biological response modifier in cancer immunotherapy, potentiation and detoxification of anticancer drugs. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol 1992;14:725-736.

4. Lau BH, Ruckle HC, Botolazzo T, Lui PD. Chinese medicinal herbs inhibit growth of murine renal cell carcinoma. Cancer Biother 1994;9:153-161.

5. Luo HM, Dai RH, Li Y. Nuclear cardiology study on effective ingredients of Astragalus membranaceus in treating heart failure. Chung Kuo Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih 1995;15:707-709.

6. Lei ZY, Qin H, Liao JZ. Action of Astragalus membranaceus on left ventricular function of angina pectoris. Chung Kuo Chung Hsi I Ho Chieh Ho Tsa Chih 1994;14:199-202.

7. Purmova J, Opletal L. Phytotherapeutic aspects of diseases of the cardiovascular system. 5. Saponins and possibilties of their use in prevention and therapy. Ceska Slov Farm 1995;44:246-251.

8. Bensky D, Gamble A. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, Revised Edition. Seattle, WA: Eastland Press; 1993.

9. Cha RJ, Zeng DW, Chang QS. Non-surgical treatment of small cell lung cancer with chemo-radio-immunotherapy and traditional Chinese medicine. Chung Hua Nei Ko Tsa Chih 1994;33:462-466.

Anti-Viral Astragalus Ligustrum

Currently these herbs are used in the treatment of patients who are HIV+ or have AIDS Related Complex (ARC), AIDS, Chronic Epstein-Barr Virus (CEBV), and patients with Hepatitis B & C.

One animal study showed that this formula 'AL' (Astragalus Ligustrum ) protected the liver against cancer.(1)

In another study a similar formula was associated with a significant reduction in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels over the 6 month study period (P < 0.03). No patient cleared the virus but four normalized their ALT on treatment. Appropriately prescribed Chinese herbal medicine may have a role in the management of chronic hepatitis C and further controlled studies are indicated.(2)

As reported by Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D., Another report of particular interest was published in the Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine for Liver Diseases (3), In the study, there were 128 hepatitis C patients treated, including 31 that also had hepatitis B. The treatment given was claimed to produce remission in 55.4% (alleviation of all symptoms, antibody test turning negative, liver enzymes-ALT and AST-normalized), with most other patients showing improvements following a 3 month treatment period. The original translation of the report had the term "cure," as a result of evidence of the antibody test, but with the new information about viral PCR, this term is now seen as inappropriate. Rather, the improvements noted can only be deemed remission.

In treating liver fibrosis of chronic hepatitis B, and in the inhibition of hepatic inflammation, Astragalus formula was shown to be effective preparation against liver fibrosis.(4)

References
(1) Effect of A-L tonic capsule on DNA content in rat experimental hepatocarcinogenesis.Guan Y, Zhou Z, Zhang C, Ruan Y, Wu Z.
Department of Ultrastructural Pathology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030.

(2) Preliminary report of a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial of a Chinese herbal medicine preparation CH-100 in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.Batey RG, Bensoussan A, Fan YY, Bollipo S, Hossain MA.
Department of Gastroenterology, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. RBatey@doh.health.nsw.gov.au

(3) Qingtui Fang applied in treating 128 cases of chronic hepatitis C, Li Hougen, et al., Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine for Liver Diseases (5) 1994; 4(2): 40.

(4) Comparison on efficacy in treating liver fibrosis of chronic hepatitis B between Astragalus Polygonum anti-fibrosis decoction and jinshuibao capsule.
Article in Chinese Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2000 Apr;20(4):255-7. Chen H, Weng L.

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