Has anyone tried this chinese herb before?
The reason I am asking is that I think I've got a bladder infection coming on.... :angry: and since I can't take the dreaded "A's" I was talking to a friend who uses alot of natural chinese medicines. He said that this one is good for infection and especially for bladder kidney type things. If this persists I might look into it....
Just wanted to know if anyone has tried it or heard of anyone trying it.
Thanks,

(grh)

I remember seeing it in the herbal shop, but haven't used it I don't think...I keep cranberry capsules on hand and have been taking them more lately as I am fighting a yeast infection and don't want a bladder one as well. Also , lots of probiotics.

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/astragalus/#top

Interesting reading...

That's a good article, Marti...I remember now, I looked at it (can't remember if I took it) several years ago when I was in such bad shape from Zocor...I believe my liver was inflamed from the drug so I was looking for things to protect or restore the liver.

Cranberries

Only problem with cranberries for you, Shelley is they have salicylic acid in them!

Thanks Marti...that was better than any of the stuff I found. Your search engine must be better than mine :P

Well what I thought was a bladder infection actually turned out to be a cold. The achey feeling in my back and lower abdomen must have been the precursor to this cold. So now I have a snotty nose and no bladder infection. hee hee. But in reading about that stuff it says it's good for respritory infections so I think I'll try it and see if I can keep this from getting into my lungs....which is what usually happens.

Jo,
One thing about the guai protocol is that you can eat things with moderate amounts of salcylates because the stomache acid breaks it down. There are some things you need to avoid that have too much salcylates so I'd have to check on the cranberry stuff. I've taken cranberry pills before and they do better for a maintenance type thing rather than get rid of a full blown infection.

If you don't hear from me later today it just means my house and my gr-co and me ^A^ have been blown away by the wind... :wacko: It is sooooooo windy here today. The sky is bright blue and the wind is gale force.

I think I'll just go into the basement and sew. I'm almost done with another quilt! (0) This one's for me.

(grh)

Let us know how the astragalus works...I hate to take antiobiotics and am always seeming to fight yeast...so, I avoid antoibiotics when possible. I wonder if the astragalus would help the yeast?

Hi Shelley,

I've taken Astragalus before. It was in SEVERAL of my formulas from my Acupuncturist, who was also a Licensed Chinese Practitioner.

Astragalus in an herb with Antiseptic/Antibiotic properties. Good for the Immune System in general, and often prescribed along with other AntiViral type herbs.

I do not know however, if used ALONE - not in a formula with other such herbs, if it would be strong enough to heal an infection.

Most of the time, when an infection has gotten to the point where we are having "Symptoms" it is already TOO late. Herbs take longer than Western Antibiotics, so usually will give the infection a chance to really "Grab a hold of you" before it can begin to clear it up.

Cranberries are definately best when dealing with a Bladder infection. I give my dog Azo Cranberry pills, 1 per day in AM as he is VERY prone to Bladder infections. KNOCK ON WOOD, since we bagan the AZO Cranberry a day, he's not had ONE!!

I would comine the Astragalus w/ Goldenseal if trying to WARD off an infection. Goldenseal has Antibiotic/AntiViral/Antiseptic properties. I use it regularly.

PS: Goldenseal caps (550n mg ea) 3 caps, 2 or 3 X daily REALLY Dries up a SERIOUS Post NAsal Drip!! I have used it (faithfully) for several years.

You can get pet food with cranberries and blueberries and other antioxidants in it now! Who's have thought it?

Well I thought I'd give you all an update on my experiment with astragalus. I almost always get bronchitis or pnumonia when I get a sinus or cold thing... I very rarely have just a "cold". Well I really think this stuff helped! I got a heavy, tight, yucky feeling in my chest on the day I started taking this stuff. I thought for sure it was heading into my lungs. Well by the second day I was just coughing up alot of clear (not green) stuff and by today my lungs are clear and fine!! I still have some slight nasal congestion but really not bad at all. So over all I'm very impressed with this stuff so far. For a person who can't take the dreaded "A's" this could be revolutionary. I will have to try it out a few more times to be truly convinced but so far the evidence is pleasing.

And I'm a happy camper ^db^ today because the sun is shining and it is warming up!! I really hope my garden survived the freak snow storm we had for two days.

(grh)

Thanks for letting us know your opinion...good to know. :)

Glad to hear it's warming up out there in Idaho...maybe the snow protected the plants from the cold...