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Astragalus Root is currently used as the dried root of the leguminous plant Mongolian Astragalus Root Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao or the membranous Astragalus Root Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. Red Astragalus is the dried root of the leguminous plant Hedysarum polybotrys Hand.-Mazz. Astragalus Root is sourced from both wild and cultivated plants. Wild varieties are mainly produced in Qiqihar and Ning'an in Heilongjiang, Hunyuan, Fanshi, Yingxian, Yuanping, and Guangling in Shanxi, as well as the northern Shanxi region, Minxian, Dangchang, and Wudu in Gansu, and Chifeng City and Ulanqab League in Inner Mongolia. Additionally, it is also produced in Jilin, Hebei, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Qinghai, and Xinjiang, but the quality is inferior to that from the aforementioned regions. Cultivated varieties are mainly produced in Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, and Shandong, with Shanxi having a large cultivation area, high yield, and good quality. Traditionally, the Astragalus Root from the area between Qinyuan and Qinxian in Shanxi is considered the best and is referred to as "authentic." Red Astragalus is mainly cultivated but also found in the wild, distributed in Gansu and Sichuan, with the best quality generally coming from Minxian in Gansu.

Materia medica research suggests that ancient use of Astragalus Root mainly came from various species of the Astragalus genus in the legume family. By the Song Dynasty, the medicinal varieties of Astragalus Root were already similar to those used today, with the membranous Astragalus Root Astragalus membranaceus and the Mongolian Astragalus Root Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus being the mainstream. The production area also shifted from the original Sichuan, Shaanxi, Gansu, and Ningxia to Qinyuan in Shanxi, where the authentic product was called "Mian Astragalus Root." During the Qing Dynasty, in addition to Shanxi, Inner Mongolia also became a production area. As for the Red Astragalus from the Hedysarum genus, it has always been considered one of the sources of Astragalus Root in ancient times but was generally not regarded as the genuine product. The Zhongguo Yaodian once included it under Astragalus Root, but starting from the 1985 edition, it was listed separately. The Pharmacopoeia specifies its source as Hedysarum polybotrys Hand.-Mazz.

bubble_chart Varietal Identification and Historical Evolution of Authentic Products

Astragalus Root was originally written as Astragalus Root. The Bencao Gangmu explains the name: "Qi means long, and Astragalus Root is yellow, being the chief among tonic herbs, hence the name. Nowadays, it is commonly written as Astragalus Root, or sometimes as '蓍,' which is incorrect. '蓍' refers to the divination plant, pronounced 'shi.'" The Wushi'er Bingfang writes Astragalus Root as "Huang Shi." According to the Bielu, Astragalus Root is also known as "Shu Zhi," and both "Shi" and "Zhi" share the same ancient phonetic rhyme, allowing for interchangeable use. Additionally, the Bielu mentions the name "Ji Cao," which is phonetically similar. Therefore, Li Shi-zhen's assertion that "蓍" is incorrect may not be entirely accurate. The Bencao Jing lists an alternative name for Astragalus Root as "Dai Shen," which is also mentioned in the Wushi'er Bingfang. Mori Risshi's commentary on the Bencao Jing explains: "Dai Shen refers to the small, light yellow flowers that cluster together, resembling grains of rice, hence the name." This provides an alternative explanation.

The identity of Bencao Jing Astragalus Root cannot be definitively determined, but the Astragalus Root recorded in early texts may not be entirely consistent with the varieties used today. Judging from the production areas, early Astragalus Root was mainly concentrated in Sichuan, Gansu, and Shaanxi regions. For example, Bencao Jing states that it "grows in the valleys of Shu Commandery," Bielu mentions it comes from "Baishui and Hanzhong," and Taiping Yulan, Volume 991, quotes Qinzhou Ji: "Longxi Xiangwu County produces Astragalus Root." Tao Hong-jing classified Astragalus Root into three categories based on its origin and medicinal form. In his Jizhu, he wrote: "The best comes from Longxi Taoyang, yellow-white in color, sweet and delicious, but now it is also hard to obtain. The next best is from Heishui and Dangchang, white in color with coarse texture, and the fresh ones are also sweet and warming and tonifying. There is also the kind from Canling and Baishui, which has better color and texture than those from Sichuan but is cooling and tonifying." From Tao Hong-jing's description, it is clear that the Astragalus Root from these three regions had significant quality differences. In the Sichuan-Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia region, there are several species of Astragalus plants. Besides Astragalus membranaceus, there are also Astragalus floridus Benth. ex Bunge, Astragalus ernestii Comb., Astragalus tongolensis Ulbr., and Astragalus chrysopterus Bge., indicating that during the Six Dynasties period, medicinal Astragalus Root mainly came from multiple species of the Astragalus genus. According to the Liangshu: Zhuyi Liezhuan, in the fifth year of Tianjian, the state of Dengzhi "sent an envoy to present 400 catties of Astragalus Root," and the same is recorded in the Nanshi. The so-called "Dengzhi state," according to the Liangshu, "resided within the boundaries of Xiliangzhou, a branch of the Qiang people." Its location is in the western part of present-day Gansu, and it is likely that the Astragalus Root produced there was also one of the aforementioned varieties.

The "Xinxiu Bencao" states: "This plant has leaves resembling sheep's teeth, or like Puncturevine Caltrop Fruit. It has a single stem, or grows in clusters. The best quality comes from Yuanzhou and Huayuan, and it is no longer used in Shuhan." Xiao Bing's "Four-Sound Materia Medica" says: "It is found in Yuanzhou and Huayuan's Guzi Mountain, with yellow flowers." The Yuanzhou mentioned in Tang Dynasty literature is today's Guyuan in Ningxia, and Huayuan is Yaoxian in Shaanxi. These regions also have wild resources of Astragalus membranaceus. According to the "Shu Bencao·Tujing": "The leaves resemble sheep's teeth grass, with a single stem, sparse branches, purple flowers, and roots like Liquorice Root, with yellow skin and white flesh, about two to three feet long. The best comes from Yuanzhou, and Yizhou and Ningzhou are also good." The flower crown of Astragalus membranaceus is yellow with a slight purplish-red tint, so Xiao Bing says the flowers are yellow, while Han Bao-sheng says they are purple, both likely referring to Astragalus membranaceus.

From the Song Dynasty, Astragalus membranaceus and Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus became the mainstream medicinal varieties. According to Su Song: "The roots are about two to three feet long, with a single stem, growing in clusters, and the branches are two to three inches above the ground. The leaves are sparse and resemble sheep's teeth or Puncturevine Caltrop Fruit seedlings, blooming yellow-purple flowers in July and August, with pods about an inch long. The roots are harvested in August. The skin is soft like cotton, hence called cotton Astragalus Root." He also describes the characteristics of high-quality Astragalus Root: "Astragalus Root is soft and tough, with slightly yellow-brown skin and white flesh." By this time, the production area of Astragalus Root had shifted from the original Sichuan, Shaanxi, Gansu, and Ningxia to Shanxi and surrounding areas. The "Zhenglei" depicts "Xianzhou Astragalus Root," with Xianzhou located in today's Xinzhou Jinglexian, Shanxi. Its medicinal illustration (Figure 1) is somewhat close to the current authentic product.

Su Song mentions the origin of the later renowned "cotton Astragalus Root": "Its skin is soft like cotton, hence called cotton Astragalus Root." Chen Cheng has a different view: "The 'Tujing' depicts the Xianshui as Mianshang, adjacent areas. If it is called cotton Astragalus Root because it is soft like cotton, then Astragalus Root is naturally soft and tough. Counterfeit ones are distinguished by being dry and brittle." Su and Chen have different opinions; Su believes it is named for its medicinal properties, while Chen says it is named for its origin. Later generations often reconcile the two, such as the "Tangye Bencao": "Mianshang is Qinzhen in Shanxi. Astragalus Root is sweet, soft like cotton, and can make people fat." The "Bencao Mengquan" says: "Cotton Astragalus Root comes from Mianshang in Qinzhen, Shanxi, and is of excellent quality," and also: "Choose single roots without branches, straight like arrow shafts, with brown moist skin, white flesh, and yellow core, soft like cotton when broken, sweet like honey when chewed. Such roots are effective like magic." The "Bencao Yuanshi" states: "Astragalus Root from Mianshang in Qinzhen, Shanxi is called cotton Astragalus Root, also said to be soft like cotton when broken, hence the name." As Mr. Xie Zongwan pointed out in "The Materia Medica Research of Chinese Medicinals Astragalus Root and Red Astragalus Root," "both explanations for cotton Astragalus Root are valid," and its original plants are undoubtedly Astragalus membranaceus and Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus.

In the Song Dynasty, Astragalus Root seems to have been cultivated. Chao Buzhi's "Jilei Collection" Volume 11, in a poem titled "Li Cheng's Official Yizhai," says: "This year's early spring is delayed, the space by the wall can be slightly cultivated, initially planting Saposhnikovia Root and Astragalus Root, Laizhou stone tripod and green glass." Jin Wang Teqi's poem about Qinyuan Mountain says: "The countryman does not know the magistrate of Wucheng, asks but gets no answer, only says this year's autumn rain is heavy, Astragalus Root fills the valley but no one picks it." This specifically mentions Astragalus Root in Qinyuan, Shanxi. The "Bencao Gangmu" states: "Its seeds are collected, sown in October, like planting vegetables." This should be a clear record of Astragalus Root cultivation.

During the Qing Dynasty, the production areas of Astragalus Root expanded beyond Shanxi to include Inner Mongolia. Zhiwu Mingshi Tukao states: "There are several types of Astragalus Root, with those from Shanxi and Mongolia being the best." "The Identification of Medicinal Production" mentions: "The main production areas of genuine Astragalus Root are divided into three regions: one in Guandong, two in Ningguta, and three in Bukui, all located in the three northeastern provinces."

Red Astragalus was first mentioned in "Ji Zhu" (Collected Commentaries), where Tao Hong-jing, under the entry for Astragalus Root, stated: "There is also a red variety, which can be used to make ointments for external application to reduce abscesses and swelling." It is generally believed that this refers to the Astragalus Root Hedysarum polybolrys, which has a reddish-brown root epidermis. The "Yaoxing Lun" (Treatise on Medicinal Properties) mentions: "The red-skinned variety from Shu Bai Shui is slightly cold and is used to treat guest heat." This is likely the same plant. However, it should be noted that it has always been one of the commercial sources of Astragalus Root without differentiation, and most literature does not consider the red-skinned variety to be superior. For example, the "Zengding Weiyao Tiaobian" (Revised Edition of Medicinal Regulations) states: "The variety from Sichuan, known as Chuan Qi, comes in small bundles, has a red-black skin, is hard in nature, with tough fibers like hemp, and has a grassy taste. It is considered the lowest grade." It is suspected to also belong to the Hedysarum genus. Therefore, the "Zhongguo Yaodian" (Chinese Pharmacopoeia) once classified Hedysarum polybolrys as a Grade I source of Astragalus Root, listing it under the Astragalus Root entry. However, starting from the 1985 edition, it was listed separately under the name "Red Astragalus" to avoid confusion with Astragalus Root.