The Elixir of Youth: Discovering the Anti-Aging Powers of Astragalus

Have you ever heard of Astragalus or Astragalus membranaceus? It’s a medicinal herb that’s been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for over 2,000 years, and it’s been gaining a lot of attention recently for its potential as an anti-aging wonder herb. But before we dive into that, let’s first understand what exactly Astragalus is and where it comes from.

Astragalus is a perennial herb that’s native to China, Mongolia, and Korea. The root of the plant is the part that’s used medicinally. It’s been used in TCM to treat a wide variety of diseases and body disorders, and it’s been marketed as a life-prolonging extract for human use in China. But what makes it so special?

Well, the major components of Astragalus are polysaccharides, flavonoids, and saponins. These compounds have been shown to have a variety of pharmacological effects, such as increasing telomerase activity (an enzyme that’s important for cell division and longevity), and having antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, anticancer, hypolipidemic, antihyperglycemic, hepatoprotective, expectorant, and diuretic effects.

One specific extract of Astragalus, called TA-65, has been associated with a significant age-reversal effect in the immune system. Studies have shown that it can increase the number of immune cells and improve the function of these cells, which can help to reduce the risk of infections and illnesses as we age.