Astragalus Root Extract
• Reduces immune suppression after intense workouts
• Maintains natural killer cells, vital for warding off viruses and cancer cells
• Supports T cells in the skin and gut need as a first line of defense
• Reduces post-COVID chronic fatigue syndrome
• In an herbal formula relieves fatigue severity
• Improves sleep quality and depression symptoms
Astragalus is one of the best immune support herbs, though it is often underrated or unknown for just how well it works when compared to the ever-popular mushrooms. This vital energy herb can be a great choice for both the cold/ flu and COVID season, and even year-round for stresses such as countering the immune suppression of intense workouts as the following clinical studies will show.
In the first intense exercise study, professional rowers given 500 mg a day of Astragalus root extract following maximal physical exertion had a strengthening of their immune system. In the double-blind study, the Polish rowing team performed a 2000-meter test and at the end of the six-week of intensive training various immune parameters were tested, including interleukin 2 (IL2), interferon, T regulatory lymphocytes, and natural killer cells.
The natural killer cells, vital for warding off viruses and cancer cells, and a T lymphocyte (Treg) known for keeping the immune system balanced and active showed no decline compared to the placebo group. While another type of T cell (Tδγ) counts increased relative to the levels in the placebo group. These specific T cells represent a unique and crucial subset of T cells that function as a bridge between the two main arms of the immune system: the innate and adaptive branches. These cells are particularly abundant in epithelial and mucosal tissues like the skin and gut, acting as a first line of defense against pathogens and abnormal cells (Latour, 2021).
In another study of nurses suffering from post-COVID-19 chronic fatigue syndrome, 32 of the subjects given Astragalus root extract at a dose of 500 mg two times per day and an equal number received a placebo. Changes in chronic fatigue syndrome scores were measured before and at the end of and 1 month after the intervention. In comparison to before, chronic fatigue prevalence decreased in the Astragalus group after 1 month by 17.2% of subjects compared to the placebo group (Banihashemi, 2025). Post-COVID syndrome is often related to viral persistence, a continuing pro-inflammatory state, or both and is often treated with immune and inflammation support modalities.
A study combined Astragalus root with Angelicae gigantis root and Jujube fruit to relieve a fatigue severity index. Other parameters tested were sleep quality, depression symptoms, and quality of life. Of the 35 subjects tested, fatigue severity was significantly lower in the herbal group compared to the control after 4 weeks, and sleep quality, depression scores also significantly improved after 8 weeks (Baek, 2018).
Astragalus shows potent inflammation reducing effects on skin
Astragalus contains two flavonoids, astraflavonoid and astraside C that can reduce free radicals and the tissue damaging enzyme, matrix metalloproteinase-1 which breaks down collagen in human dermal fibroblasts upon stimulation with pro-inflammatory TNF-α (a factor easily triggered by UV exposure). Astraside C inhibited the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 and interleukin-8. These bioactive flavonol glycosides found in Astragalus have promising anti-skin-aging properties.