Can I eat Astragalus during confinement?

Astragalus is a relatively common traditional Chinese medicine. Generally speaking, Astragalus is used to make tea or stew soup. The nutritional value of Astragalus is relatively high, and it has many functions and effects such as invigorating Qi, promoting diuresis, and reducing swelling. So, can you eat Astragalus during the confinement period? In fact, you can eat Astragalus during the confinement period, but you must wait one week after giving birth before you can eat this food.

1. Can I eat Astragalus during confinement?

Astragalus is a warm tonic Chinese medicinal material that can replenish qi, strengthen the spleen, benefit the lungs and stop sweating. It is most suitable for postpartum women with weak bodies, especially those with cold bodies. Eating Astragalus to regulate the body after delivery is effective in improving symptoms such as weakness, night sweats, and sallow complexion. Generally, Astragalus is used as an auxiliary ingredient in making soups and porridge. However, it should be noted that Astragalus is a warm tonic herb that replenishes qi and nourishes blood. It should not be consumed within one week after delivery. The early postpartum period is the time for lochia to be discharged. At this time, consuming too many warm tonic ingredients will only increase the burden on the body and make it difficult to be replenished. It should be consumed one week after delivery.

2. Can I eat Astragalus during breastfeeding?

Many confinement meals have to take into account the lactation function of food, especially when the baby is three or four months old, the amount of milk intake increases greatly, and lactation meals are very important. So does Astragalus have the effect of increasing milk production? Can breastfeeding mothers eat it? After all, Astragalus is a traditional Chinese medicine that is related to the quality of breast milk during lactation and the healthy growth of the baby. In fact, you can still eat astragalus during the confinement period. It can improve the body's immunity and has no effect on the quality of breast milk. In addition to its nourishing effect, stewing astragalus with hen can also promote lactation. Generally speaking, it is not advisable to eat hens during lactation, because the warm nest of the hen contains a large amount of estrogen, which will inhibit the function of prolactin and may cause insufficient milk in the early stage of breast milk secretion. However, stewing Astragalus and hen together can replenish qi, produce blood and promote breast milk secretion.

However, you cannot consume excessive amounts of Astragalus during breastfeeding, because the medicinal properties will disrupt the body's balance. Excessive consumption will cause symptoms such as dizziness and decreased sleep quality. Generally, there will be symptoms of qi and blood deficiency after childbirth, so most mothers can consume it. However, the intake of Chinese medicinal materials varies according to individual constitution. People with damp-heat constitution and kidney yin deficiency are not suitable for consuming warm tonic Astragalus.

3. Astragalus efficacy and indications

The health-preserving effects of Astragalus mainly include invigorating Qi, strengthening the body, astringing sweat, promoting tissue regeneration, promoting diuresis, and eliminating edema.

It is used to treat fatigue due to qi deficiency, sinking of qi in the middle, prolapse of the anus due to long-term diarrhea, bloody stool and metrorrhagia, spontaneous sweating due to superficial deficiency, carbuncles that are difficult to heal, long-term ulcers that do not heal, blood deficiency and sallow complexion, internal heat and thirst, chronic nephritis, proteinuria, diabetes, etc. Roasted Astragalus membranaceus can replenish Qi and nourish the middle, while raw Astragalus membranaceus can strengthen the exterior and support sores.