How to Make Astragalus Broth

Astragalus is a Chinese herb that has been used for thousands of years to improve the immune system and prevent sickness. You can easily make astragalus broth from the root at home, anytime you feel a cold coming on. It works well as a preventative measure, or to speed healing time when you're already sick. This simple broth, which is similar to a vegetable broth, is soothing to the throat and stomach.

Things You'll Need

• Distilled water or vegetable broth
• Large stock pot
• Can of vegetable soup (optional)
• Garlic powder or fresh garlic

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Instructions

• 1

  Place 3 cups of distilled water or vegetable broth into a large stock pot. Vegetable broth will make the end result heartier, while water will make a thinner astragalus broth.

• 2

  Add ½ cup of vegetable soup stock to the liquid, if desired. Strain the solid material out of a can of soup to get the stock. The stock adds a little extra flavor to the astragalus broth.

• 3

  Add six ½-inch slices of astragalus root and 3 tbsp. garlic powder, or 10 cloves of fresh-peeled garlic, to the liquid in the pot.

• 4

  Cover the pot and place it on a stove set to medium-low heat. Simmer the broth for two to three hours without removing the lid. Remove the pot from the heat and serve immediately. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to three days.

• 5

  Consume the entire pot of broth if you are sick, or feel you are getting sick. To use the astragalus broth as a preventative, take 1 cup per day. If you used fresh garlic, eat the cloves in the broth; eat approximately one clove per cup of broth, or as many as you can handle--if consuming the whole pot.