Astragalus, Astragalus membranaceus, has been used for thousands of years in Oriental medicine as a strength building and longevity herb.

It is also viewed as an adaptogen by some herbalists.

Herbalist Lise Wolff says astragalus acts like a gate keeper, it keeps the "bad guys" out. So it is best to take it as a preventative measure. If you are already sick, don't take it because now it will lock the "bad guys" in, and you don't want that.

Astragalus helps with:

• stress
• preventing getting the flu
• fatigue
• radiation treatments
• diabetes
• supports the liver

I use the folk method for making all my tinctures, which uses no measurements except sizing things up with your eyes. So I put the plant material in a jar and then fill with alcohol.

Dosages -

Dosages for children are not provided in most herbals. To determine the correct dose you need to consider the size of the child, the ailment, the power of the herb you intend to use, and the adult dosage.

Young's Rule for determining dosage uses the child's age divided by twelve plus the age. The dosage for a 4 year old: 4/12+4 = 4/16 = 1/4 of the adult dose.