December 2024

ROOTS

• Roots For Stoking The Digestive Fire
• Nourishing Roots
• Roots That Boost The Immune System
• Roots For Unwinding

Fall is challenging for the immune system because the atmosphere changes dramatically. One day, it might be sunny with mild breezes and a clear blue sky, but the next, it might be cloudy with gales and freezing temperatures. 

Dramatic environmental changes require constant adaptation in the inner ecology, posing stress on the body, specifically the immune system. Roots can help ground the body when dramatic fluctuations in weather make us more susceptible to illness.

Roots That Boosts The Immune System

 In addition, Adaptogen increases the production of adaptive immune cells (T helper cells and B cells) that coordinate the immune response. 

Astragalus is an herb that can support you in the fall because it is indicated for strengthening the body’s resistance to external environmental influences and systemic weakness.

Astragalus

Astragalus has been used by TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) for centuries and has become a staple in Western herbalism. In China, it was used as a Qi tonic, a concept similar to the idea of vitalism, or life force, in the Western tradition.

Nourishing the vital force

Astragalus is a sweet, moistening herb with a slight bitter aftertaste. Its sweet taste and moistening quality are due to the polysaccharides it contains, which indicate its nutritive rejuvenating power.

Since it contains sugars and starches, Astragalus can increase carbohydrate digestion and metabolism. Being a demulcent herb that moistens tissue means that Astragalus improves nourishment flow into tissue and removes toxins. Therefore, it helps nourish the cells and tissues, replenishing weakness and emaciation.

Protecting the “Wei Qi”

I like to think of Astragalus as an herb that protects the “Wei Qi.” The “Wei Qi is a protective layer around the body, and  every cell of the body,  

making us less permeable to outside influences.

Astragalus’s role as a guardian of the boundaries means it also prevents leakage from the body. As an astringent herb, Astragalus tightens tissue and prevents dryness in damp, relaxed tissue due to fluid loss.

Because Astragalus fortifies the protective layer around the body, it is not used in acute conditions where it might trap the pathogenic invader  

in the body. For example, Astragalus is known to close the skin’s pores, interfering with the body’s attempt to sweat out heat and toxins in acute conditions with fever.

The protective quality of Astragalus extends beyond the physical realm to the psycho-spiritual level, too. Astragalus benefits people with weak “Wei Qi” who are not grounded in their bodies, are hypersensitive, nervous, or constantly worried about getting sick.

Disease & Stress

We tend to think of stress as a condition that develops out of our everyday lives. “I am stressed about work or money,” you say to yourself. But diseases are stressful for the body, depleting its resources. That is why you feel weakened following an acute disease.

Trophorestorative herbs are herbs that:

• Deeply nourish specific tissues or organs.
• Work to restore normal function following an illness.
• Build resilience in target systems.
• Often need consistent, long-term use.

Astragalus is a trophorestorative herb that has an affinity for the immune and respiratory systems. It is indicated after an acute disease that depletes the body’s immune system. When the body is emaciated, it can help build vitality and immunity.

For people who develop chronic disease following acute viral conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome following an Epstein-Barr infection or with Long COVID, Astragalus can protect the nervous system, reduce fatigue, and boost the immune system.

For windy weather, physically and mentally

While fall is challenging for the immune system, it is also the time of year when plants collect all their vital forces and send them to the roots to ensure their survival through winter. That makes fall an optimal time for digging out fresh roots and making root medicine.

As a sweet root, Astragalus is connected to the Earth element. It is profoundly nutritive and replenishing to the body. Astragalus can build the foundation for health or the Earth element, so health is solid.

As a slightly dainty yet lush and beautiful growing plant, with a slight pink coloration in the flowers that then opens into a nice pure white color, Astragalus is ruled by Venus, who rules all things sweet; the taste of  Astragalus is a good correlation here, as well as the energetics, both of which are warm and wet.

Astragalus will benefit individuals who are psychically hypersensitive, nervous, or paranoid about getting sick all the time. Their lack of physical, vital strength can translate into a lack of connection with their essential self and thus leave room for invasion of pernicious external forces, whether bacterial, viral, or perhaps spiritual. 

Yesterday, when I stepped outside, the atmosphere was 🥶🥶🥶. I was on my way to the gym wearing pants over my tights, three layers of tops, a wool hat, a scarf, and mittens, but I was still freezing.

Today, when I left for the gym, I was all bundled up again, but midway, I was sweating under all these layers.

This is the nature of fall (yes, we still have one more week of fall before we can call it winter) and why the body is more susceptible to “catching” a cold during the fall.

Herbal roots can help the body increase its resilience to colds and help the body recover following an acute disease.

The dramatic weather changes can make you susceptible to colds and flu. Meet roots that support the immune system.

How to use Astragalus

Astragalus contains immune-boosting polysaccharides, which are best extracted in water. A long decoction is required to extract all the beneficial compounds from the roots. I simmer the roots for a minimum of twelve hours and then reduce the tea by half to make it concentrated.

You can tincture the tea by adding 20% alcohol by volume to the concentrated tea.

Safety

Astragalus should be avoided in chronic conditions, especially if fever is present.

If you struggle with an autoimmune disease, use Astragalus with caution.