Origin & tradition
Huang Qi (黄芪) is one of the most-used tonic herbs in Chinese medicine, traditionally taken to support Qi, immune defense, and stamina.
Eastern tradition · Tonic Herbs · Practitioner
Astragalus (Huang Qi) 黄芪
A foundational Qi tonic whose cycloastragenol fraction (TA-65) is studied for telomerase activation — with honestly mixed human evidence.
85ClinicalTrials.gov matched
83PubMed RCT records
66Meta-analysis records
2+PubMed records
Cycloastragenol / astragaloside IVKey active compound
Data definition. Matched records include all indexed medical endpoints for this intervention — not only longevity. Longevity-relevant records are screened separately and cited in the evidence summary below. Counts are matched-record volumes, not de-duplicated trials and not efficacy claims.
Why longevity buyers care
Key active: Cycloastragenol / astragaloside IV (telomerase-linked).
Astragalus-derived cycloastragenol (the TA-65 molecule) can activate telomerase in cell models. Human and animal evidence is genuinely mixed — some studies show no telomere lengthening — which is exactly why it needs evidence discipline rather than hype.
Effect summary
Studied health outcomes
Editorial summary — This table is curated by hand from published research consensus, not automatically calculated from our trial database. Grades reflect our interpretation of the literature. Treat as a starting point, not a definitive verdict. See the Evidence panel below for the underlying trial and paper counts sourced directly from ClinicalTrials.gov and PubMed.
| Health outcome | Effect | Magnitude | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Immune function | Increases | Moderate | B |
| Telomere length — Based on TA-65 studies; effect modest and contested | Increases | Minor | C |
| Fatigue (cancer-related) | Decreases | Minor | C |
| Kidney function (CKD) | Increases | Moderate | B |
| Blood glucose | Decreases | Minor | C |
Grade: A = robust RCTs · B = several RCTs / meta-analysis · C = limited or mixed RCTs · D = observational or early data
Dosage guidance
How Astragalus (Huang Qi) is typically used
- Typical dose
- 500–3,000 mg/day root extract
- Form
- capsule (standardized to cycloastragenol or astragalosides)
- Timing
- any time, with or without food
Cycloastragenol (TA-65) is the isolated telomerase activator — expensive but more studied for longevity. Whole root extract is traditional. Long-term use (months to years) appears safe.
Informational only — not a prescription or personalised medical advice. Consult a qualified clinician before starting any supplement or medication.
Evidence summary
What the research actually says
68Evidence confidence
Extensive human-trial evidence83 randomized controlled trials · 66 meta-analyses / systematic reviews
Mixed: cell-model telomerase activation; human/animal results inconsistent
Astragalus-derived cycloastragenol (the TA-65 molecule) can activate telomerase in cell models. Human and animal evidence is genuinely mixed — some studies show no telomere lengthening — which is exactly why it needs evidence discipline rather than hype.
85registered clinical trials reference this intervention
2selected from 2+ PubMed papers (longevity / aging angle)
Key active: Cycloastragenol / astragaloside IV (telomerase-linked) — a multi-compound botanical extract, so activity is not reducible to a single molecule.
According to PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov: trial counts from ClinicalTrials.gov, peer-reviewed literature from PubMed. Counts auto-refresh weekly; last checked 2026-07-19. They include trials across many endpoints, not only longevity.
Informational only — not medical advice, a treatment claim, or a substitute for a qualified clinician. Evidence strength varies; we show mixed and null results on purpose.
Evidence collections
Astragalus (Huang Qi) appears in
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