It's an amazing herb. It's even graced the pages of "Poulty Science". That's right in 2009 Poultry Science published an article (full text) describing the synergistic actions of astragalus polysaccharides and probiotics. There were 4 (chicken) treatment groups: chicks given probiotics, chicks given just Astragalus polysacchardes, chicks given both, and those given neither. The chicks were vaccinated against Newcastle Disease prior to the Astragalus and Probiotic regime, the aim of the study being to gain improvement in vaccination through herbal medicine. It was found that all measures of immune function was improved in the probiotic group and in the Astragalus group, but was improved more in the combined group. The immune function was measured by evaluating antibody titers to Newcastle Disease, T-cell counts, and weighing the immune organs (thymus, spleen, and bursa of fabricius (an avian organ involved in maturation of B cells)). They found as you'd expect that both astragalus and probiotics improved all measurements of immune function, but both together demonstrated a synergistic effect on the immune function of these chicks. I should note that while the measurement of serum antibody titers against Newcastle Disease was also improved most in the combined group, this improvement lacked statistical significance. The researchers also removed the cecum and illeum from the chicks and assayed the concentration of bacteria present there. This measure also demonstrated synergistic gains in the combined treatment group over those in the probiotic group and the Astragalus group (although astragalus alone did show ability to improve intestinal bacteria counts). The combined group not only had increased lactobacillus and bifidobacteria, but also had decreased e. coli numbers, indicating not only an increased bacteria presence but also a healthy modulation of relative bacteria levels. Huang Qi modulates intestinal bacteria! I thought that was pretty exciting, but I am kinda a dork.
Another study looked at Bai Zhu in a similar application. (sorry no full text). This study looked at Bai Zhu as an adjuvant with Foot and Mouth Disease vaccination in mice. They found increased antibody titers in the group that received Bai Zhu prior to vaccination. The ramped up immune function ala Bai Zhu meant that the immune system could mount a more robust defense against Foot and Mouth Disease antigens leading to greater protective effects. Bai Zhu boosted immune system equals better functioning vaccines. (of course the argument being begged is: start raising them naturally and you won't need vaccines at all. I'm with you, but let's get what info we can out of their efforts.) The authors noted that administration of Bai Zhu stimulated immunoglobulins associated with both the Th1 and Th2 divisions of the immune function. Th1 immune function is aimed at protection against intracellular pathogens such as viruses and certain bacteria. Th2 immune function protects against extra cellular pathogens including most bacteria and parasites. The authors concluded, "when the purpose of a vaccination is to activate both Th1 and Th2 immune response, the oral administration of RAM (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae) before immunization is indicated." (bold are my words)
Another study looked at Bai Zhu in a similar application. (sorry no full text). This study looked at Bai Zhu as an adjuvant with Foot and Mouth Disease vaccination in mice. They found increased antibody titers in the group that received Bai Zhu prior to vaccination. The ramped up immune function ala Bai Zhu meant that the immune system could mount a more robust defense against Foot and Mouth Disease antigens leading to greater protective effects. Bai Zhu boosted immune system equals better functioning vaccines. (of course the argument being begged is: start raising them naturally and you won't need vaccines at all. I'm with you, but let's get what info we can out of their efforts.) The authors noted that administration of Bai Zhu stimulated immunoglobulins associated with both the Th1 and Th2 divisions of the immune function. Th1 immune function is aimed at protection against intracellular pathogens such as viruses and certain bacteria. Th2 immune function protects against extra cellular pathogens including most bacteria and parasites. The authors concluded, "when the purpose of a vaccination is to activate both Th1 and Th2 immune response, the oral administration of RAM (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae) before immunization is indicated." (bold are my words)
We think of Bai Zhu mainly in terms of its ability to tonify the spleen qi. But Bai Zhu also treats spontaneous sweating, demonstrating its effect on the wei qi. From Bensky, "Most materia medica texts agree that the spontaneous sweating referred to here is the result of dampness obstructing the flesh and preventing the harmonious interaction of the nutritive and protective qi; the interstices and pores then become disordered, and sweating occurs randomly." Is this earth dampness that's interfering with ying/wei function a result of dampness accumulating in the intestines (dysbiosis?) and therefore reduced through Bai Zhu's actions on supporting intestinal health-spleen qi? To much western science in your TCM? I'm with you, hard not to try to connect the dots though.
I'm not a huge fan of a lot of vaccines. I think they are wildly overused and often not the best treatment option. I basically abhor the flu shots peddled out of walgreens and rite aid. I think that their use is more financially motivated, than motivated by good science. Having said that, I think the eradication of Polio should go down as one of the major achievements of man. Vaccines have their time and place. Knowing about these studies gives us a way to make best use of them and incorporate them into a holistic healing approach for our patients.
There are three take aways for me:
1. Utilize those herbs in all of my patients, that we know to boost wei qi, through mechanisms that adhere to an attentive pattern differentiation.
2. Provide supportive care for those resorting to vaccines so that they may work more effectively with fewer side effects. Preliminary wei qi support, followed by astragalus and other qi tonics, and prebiotics.
3. Incorporate astragalus into the treatment approach for dysbiosis. I would love to see astragalus polysaccharides compared to inulin and other prebiotics in this regard. I suspect that astragalus is superior at least in regard to the immune activities, but it would probably depend on the patient's Zheng.
Thanks for reading...
