Cured. In China, the root is sometimes cured with honey. Conventional wisdom says that the cured root has more energizing properties.116
Dosage: How much do you use?
No safe dose has been determined by Western herbalists or regulatory agencies. The probable effective daily dose of the root is 2–6 g.117 In China, however, typical doses can be quite large, as much as 8–15 g, or higher, per day.118
If you are using the standardized extract, take 200–500 mg standardized extract four times a day for an acute condition, at the onset of a cold, for example.119 For ongoing use, take 200–500 mg once a day.120 Of course, if you get a preparation that’s standardized to a different level of glucosides and polysaccharides than the one mentioned above, read and follow label directions.
What should you be aware of before using it?
One of the few dangers in using astragalus is that we Westerners aren’t really sure what it is and what it does. Western studies are sparse. Commission E has no recommendations or guidelines. The FDA says little about it. The tradition of use in the West is short. It has been used in China and Japan for centuries with little ill effect and possible benefit, but those uses are different from a Western style of using herbs. What we do know is that as astragalus makes its way into the mainstream of Western society, it hasn’t been accompanied by any reports of toxicity, indicating that it is a relatively safe herb.121
Based on theoretical considerations, the following dangers are possible:122
Immunosuppressant (in high doses).123
Neurological dysfunction due to selenium content.124 Pigs fed high doses of a selenium-rich species (A. bisulcatus) developed weight loss and severe neurologic toxicity, including paralysis within five days.125 We have no studies on the effects of Astragalus membranaceus’ lower selenium content. Nonetheless, it is wise to avoid taking more than recommended doses.
It may increase the effects of antithrombotic drugs.126 It may also increase the risk of bleeding and/or bruising. If you plan to have surgery, tell your surgeon you have been taking astragalus and discontinue use. Be cautious when using it in conjunction with other herbs known or suspected of increasing the risk of bleeding. (See Chapter 5 for a list.)
It may increase or decrease the affects of immunosuppressants.127
Be cautious if you are taking drugs that act as a diuretic, as astragalus can compound that effect. Be cautious when taking it in conjunction with other herbs with diuretic properties.128 (See Chapter 5 for a list.)
We don’t know enough about astragalus to know whether it’s safe for children.129
Related species are harmful to pregnancies, but we don’t know if this species of astragalus is.130
Astragalus may lower blood pressure, especially at high doses. Be cautious when using it in conjunction with other herbs known to have blood pressure lowering properties.131 (See Chapter 5 for a list.)
People with diabetes or hypoglycemia, and those taking drugs that affect blood sugar, should talk to their doctor before using astragalus.132 Be cautious when using it in conjunction with herbs known or suspected to affect blood sugar levels. (See Chapter 5 for a list.)
Also be aware that not all species of astragalus can be used medicinally. Some are inactive, and some are toxic.133 For example, the American astragalus, typically known as locoweed (Astragalus mollissimus of the American Southwest and Rocky Mountain states) is toxic. Be sure to check that you are getting the correct species.
Bilberry Fruit
Scientific name: Vaccinium myrtillus
Also known as huckleberry, blackberry, blaeberry, bog berry, whortleberry, dwarf bilberry, whinberry, myrtill, burren myrtle, dyeberry, false huckleberry, hurtleberry, whinberry, and wineberry
Vaccinium myrtillus
Bilberry is native to North America. It grows on low bushes in acidic soils, in forests and moors in the Rockies of the United States, as well as Europe and Western Asia. The bilberry is very similar to the cranberry and the cowberry (V. vitisidaea), both of which are close relatives and both which have many of the same properties. Though typically harvested wild, some bilberries are cultivated commercially. The ripe fruit is used, both fresh and dried.
Bilberries are one of the few medicinal botanicals that are delicious. They taste like a cross between a blueberry and a cranberry and are used in jams, jellies, and juices in Europe. In the U.S., several Native American tribes used the berry as food, especially for celebrations, in addition to using it medicinally. In the Middle Ages, bilberries were an effective treatment for scurvy because of their high vitamin C content. They also contain higher levels of antioxidants than commercial North American blueberries.134 The deep blue color has been used as a dye and an ink.135
What is it good for?
Improvement of night vision. RAF pilots during World War II used bilberry to help improve night vision. At least four subsequent studies showed improvement in night vision and the ability of the eyes to adapt to darkness after exposure to bright light.136 However, recent studies done by the U.S. Air Force failed to find the effect.137
Protection against eye diseases. Preliminary research suggests that bilberry may reduce or reverse effects of degenerative eye disorders such as macular degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma.138
Bruising. In one Italian study, bilberry’s anthocyanosides relaxed and dilated arteries, fostering blood circulation.139 In another human study, 47 adults with circulatory problems (atherosclerosis, a tendency to bruise easily, hemorrhoids and varicose veins) were given bilberry extracts. A statistically significant number reported reduced symptoms.140 These studies, however, are very preliminary and more useful as a direction for future research than as a guide to treatment of any particular condition.
Adaptogen. An adaptogen is an herb that helps the body successfully deal with the physical consequences of stress. Because stress is such a complex phenomenon, it’s hard to measure just how an herb might benefit a body under stress, but preliminary research into the effects of bilberry look promising. In rats, extracts of bilberry, specifically the chemical that makes the berry blue, helped protect the body against the effects of toxins.141 The berry is also a good source of quercetin, an anti-inflammatory.142 Moreover, the flavonoids have an antioxidant effect that might help prevent hardening of the arteries.143 Though none of this research is conclusive, it does suggest that bilberry might indeed have adaptogenic properties.
Sore throat and diarrhea. We have significantly less evidence that bilberry helps treat sore throat and diarrhea. Folk wisdom says that dried bilberries are good for these conditions. Bilberry does contain a pigment that is thought to inhibit the growth of bacteria. A small-scale study showed that it may help the body ward off bacterial infections.144 Moreover, it does contain tannins, which have had some traditional use as an astringent to treat diarrhea and sore throat. We have no direct scientific evidence, however, to support its effectiveness against either sore throat or diarrhea.
How do you use it?
Fresh