Astragalus Root – China’s Premier Qi Tonic

Astragalus root ranks as one of the most potent health tonics in the world. Astragalus membranaceus is used in traditional tonic herbalism to strengthen the primary energy of the body and to strengthen all metabolic, respiratory and eliminative functions. As an energizer, astragalus is famed for its strengthening effects on the outside of the body, in particular to the musculature and skin. Astragalus has long been considered a major tonic for athletes and those who work hard physically. It helps relieve fatigue and is used by athletes around the world for strength.

Most importantly, however, Astragalus is rated as one of the world’s premier immune tonifying (regulating) substances, and is considered in the Orient as a quintessential protective super tonic herb. Astragalus, like many of the major tonic herbs, has a very complex constituent profile. Primarily, the active constituents of astragalus consist of triterpene glycosides, polysaccharides and flavonoids. Astragalus also contains numerous amino acids, trace elements and various other components.

Hundreds of studies seem to support the potent immune modulating activities of astragalus root. It is routinely used in Asia to promote a strong immune system. Astragalus also has significant anti-inflammatory action. Astragalus has also been show to improve male fertility by improving sperm motility.

The primary active constituents of astragalus, the triterpene glycosides, are saponins similar to the saponins in ginseng, though all of the astragalus saponins (triterpene glycosides) have their own chemical identities. One particular astragaloside found naturally in astragalus is known as Astragaloside IV. This saponin has been determined to be the most active health-positive constituent in astragalus. It is believed that Astragaloside IV may be able to help protect telomeres and to prevent their deterioration over time due to stress and toxicity. Telomeres are chemical bindings at the end of our chromosomes that hold our DNA in place. Aging has been associated with the degeneration and loss of telomeres. Astragaloside IV has also been found to be neuroprotective to brain cells.

Astragalus has long been considered a major tonic for athletes and those who work hard physically. It helps relieve fatigue and is used by athletes around the world for strength.

The polysaccharides found in Astragalus are also extremely potent immune enhancers. These polysaccharides are similar to those found in Maitake, Reishi mushroom and other immune enhancing herbs.


Most botanicals are woody and fibrous. The woody fiber (cell walls) generally makes most botanicals difficult to digest. Thousands of years ago, humans discovered that cooking, making teas, decoctions and soups with water and/or alcohol improved the potency and efficacy of the foods, beverages, tonics and medicines they consumed.

When a botanical is boiled in water or extracted in alcohol or other solvent, the constituents of the botanical are released from the fiber that contains them and are dissolved into the liquid medium. The resulting “tea,” or paste is highly assimilable. Also, it is much easier to consume because the material has been “reduced” to a much smaller volume and yet the potency is higher. Without the extraction, the body would have to do a digestive “extraction” of the materials bound to the fiber, adding much stress to our GI tract. Since we do not have the digestive tract of a ruminate, this “extraction” method is not very effective, nor is it efficient.

Of course, the technology back then was primitive, relying on simple stove boiling to break down cell walls. Amazingly, extraction technology has not changed much even during the industrial-scientific era - it is just performed on a much larger scale. We still rely on the application of heat to a tank of solvents such as water or alcohol for several hours until the constituents of the raw herbs have been released into the hot solvents.

However, the traditional heated extraction has its downsides besides its benefits.

• It is not suitable for extracting heat sensitive substances such as protein, amino acids, essential oils and enzymes.
• Starch and saccharides of low molecular weight can gelatinize and become cohesive under heat, preventing the effective release and extraction of active ingredients.
• Substances with no or few pharmacological effects can be released simultaneously.
• The heated process accelerates the oxidation process.
• It can result in polymerization and decomposition of active constituents.

Because FITT™ technology is effective, easy, ecological and economical, we fondly named these instant granules eeTee™.

FITT, the technology of the next generation

Now for the first time, a cutting edge extraction technology is available for commercial extraction of botanicals. Dragon Herbs’ new Fingerprint Identical Transfer Technology™ (FITT™) is a patented green extraction technology of the 21st century. It is the most advanced commercial extraction technology in the world.

How does the FITT™ process work?

FITT™ is a proprietary process that utilizes mechanical forces to break the raw materials down to micron level. The materials are “shaken” loose at tremendous speed, resulting in instantaneous extraction of both water-soluble and alcohol-soluble components from the raw material into the solvent. The entire process is performed at a low to moderate temperature that never exceeds 40°C (104° F), thus eliminating the drawbacks of a heated extraction.