ASTRAGALUS 500mg - 100 CAPS by NOW FOODS (Item # N4605 | UPC: 733739046055)
Looking to give your immune defenses steady, everyday backup without stimulants or jittery highs? NOW Astragalus 500 mg provides 1,000 mg of pure, whole Astragalus membranaceus root powder per 2-capsule serving. Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 2,000 years under the name Huang Qi, astragalus acts as a nourishing botanical adaptogen that helps your body maintain steady physical resilience, balanced seasonal vitality, and cellular defense.
✓Pure Whole Root: 1,000 mg of authentic Astragalus membranaceus root powder per 2-capsule serving (500 mg per capsule).
✓Adaptogenic Vitality: Helps your body handle everyday physical and environmental stress while supporting clean, sustained energy.
✓Comprehensive Lab Verification: Screened in world-class analytical labs for heavy metals, pesticides, and microbial purity.
✓Clean Formula: Non-GMO, vegetarian/vegan-friendly, and completely free of gluten, soy, dairy, nuts, and artificial preservatives.
What Is Astragalus Root? How It Works in Plain Language
Astragalus root comes from a flowering perennial native to northern and eastern China, Mongolia, and Korea. In traditional herbal philosophy, astragalus is classified as a premier builder of Wei Qi—the defensive shield that protects the body from external seasonal threats. Modern clinical biology explains this traditional wisdom through three active plant compounds found inside the natural root:
1. Astragalus Polysaccharides (APS)
These natural plant sugars activate and balance your first line of internal defense. Peer-reviewed research indicates that astragalus polysaccharides help stimulate macrophages, balance T-lymphocytes, and encourage natural killer (NK) cell activity without over-exciting your immune system (Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2014; Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2020).
2. Astragalosides (Saponins)
These specialized phytochemicals, particularly Astragaloside IV, provide cellular antioxidant defense. Laboratory investigations show that astragalosides protect delicate cell membranes from oxidative breakdown, assist cardiovascular tissue, and help maintain youthful cellular replication (Aging Cell, 2011; Phytotherapy Research, 2017).
3. Plant Flavonoids & Polyphenols
Natural flavonoids like calycosin and formononetin scavenge free radicals throughout the cardiovascular system, supporting healthy blood vessel tone, normal microcirculation, and liver filtration pathways (Pharmacological Research, 2019).
Why Whole Root Matters: While isolated chemical extracts isolate a single molecule, whole root powder preserves the full botanical matrix. The trace minerals, amino acids, polysaccharides, and flavonoids work together in harmony—delivering the time-tested benefits that herbal traditions have trusted for millennia.
Analytical Purity & Safety Verification
NOW Foods Laboratory Testing: Strict Contaminant & Heavy Metal Standards
Because astragalus is a deep-growing root crop that pulls minerals directly from the surrounding soil, root botanicals carry a natural risk of absorbing soil-borne heavy metals and agricultural chemicals. This makes rigorous analytical testing vital. Many generic marketplace brands rely solely on unverified supplier paperwork. In contrast, NOW Foods operates two world-class analytical testing facilities (over 150 dedicated quality assurance specialists conducting over 19,000 comprehensive analytical tests every single month).
Advanced Analytical Testing Methods Used for Every Botanical Batch:
ICP-MS Heavy Metal Screening
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry detects heavy metals down to parts-per-billion (ppb) sensitivity. Raw root materials are verified to meet strict limits for lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury, complying with rigorous USP <2232> daily exposure thresholds and California Proposition 65 safety regulations.
HPLC / UPLC Identity & Potency
High-Performance Liquid Chromatography fingerprints botanical identity and confirms that active astragalosides and polyphenols are genuinely present, protecting you against species adulteration and synthetic fillers.
GC-MS Multi-Residue Pesticide Screen
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry scans for more than 400 distinct pesticide residues, herbicides, fungicides, and industrial chemical contaminants to ensure agricultural cleanliness.
Microbiological & Mycotoxin Safety
Every production lot undergoes rigorous microbial clearance testing to confirm the total absence of Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Listeria, yeast, mold, and aflatoxins.
NOW Foods manufacturing facilities are independently certified for current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) by UL Solutions and the Natural Products Association (NPA), and in-house testing procedures adhere to internationally recognized ISO/IEC 17025 laboratory standards. When you take NOW Astragalus, you receive authentic, pure botanicals verified by uncompromising scientific standards.
Complete Supplement Facts & Ingredient Listing
Transparency is central to our standards. Below is the verified nutritional breakdown and allergen profile for NOW Foods Astragalus 500 mg (100 Capsules):
Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 2 Capsules
Servings Per Container: 50
Amount Per Serving
% Daily Value
Total Carbohydrate
< 1 g (< 1%*)
Dietary Fiber
< 1 g (2%*)
Astragalus Root (Astragalus membranaceus)
1 g (1,000 mg)†
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
† Daily Value not established. (Provides 500 mg Astragalus Root per individual capsule).
Full Formulation & Allergen Statement
Other Ingredients: Hypromellose (cellulose capsule), Magnesium Stearate (vegetable source), and Stearic Acid (vegetable source). (Classic lots may contain pharmaceutical-grade Gelatin capsule; please check your bottle label for specific batch capsule material).
Allergen Free: Not manufactured with yeast, wheat, gluten, soy, corn, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nut, or sesame ingredients.
Produced in an audited GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens. Non-GMO, Halal, Kosher compliant, and vegetarian/vegan formulated.
Suggested Use, Dosing Protocols & Practical Tips
To achieve optimal benefits from Astragalus, consistency and timing play an essential role:
Recommended Dosing Schedule
Standard Adult Routine: Take 2 capsules 2 to 3 times daily, preferably with meals and an 8-ounce glass of water.
Morning: Take 2 capsules with breakfast to support physical endurance and daily metabolic vitality.
Midday: Take 2 capsules with lunch to maintain steady adaptogenic stress resistance during afternoon fatigue.
Evening (Optional): Take 2 capsules with dinner during seasonal transitions or challenging weather shifts when immune barriers need extra assistance.
Practical Herbalist Tip: Tonic vs. Acute Use
Unlike fast-acting herbs like Echinacea that are often taken intensely for 5–7 days, Astragalus is a classic nourishing tonic. It functions best when taken consistently over several weeks or months leading into winter or high-stress seasons to fortify your foundational defenses.
Contraindications, Safety Cautions & Drug Interactions
Honest wellness guidance means recognizing when a supplement is not suitable. Please review the following medical considerations prior to taking astragalus:
⚠Acute Feverish Conditions: In Traditional Chinese Medicine, astragalus is not recommended during acute, active infections with high fever. Because it strengthens external barriers, herbal principles state it may retain heat inside rather than expelling it. Reserve astragalus for wellness maintenance, convalescence, and prevention.
⚠Autoimmune Disorders: Because astragalus stimulates immune components (such as T-cells and macrophage activity), individuals diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis should consult their medical specialist before supplementing.
⚠Immunosuppressive Medications: Astragalus may counteract drugs designed to suppress the immune system, including cyclosporine, tacrolimus, azathioprine, and systemic corticosteroids.
⚠Lithium & Diuretic Interactions: Astragalus exerts mild natural diuretic actions, which can decrease the body’s ability to excrete lithium and potentially raise lithium concentrations in the blood.
⚠Pregnancy & Nursing: Safety during pregnancy and lactation has not been clinically established. Avoid use unless explicitly approved by your obstetrician.
Why Buy NOW Astragalus from VitaNet Health Store?
When purchasing dietary supplements online, source integrity is just as crucial as product testing. At VitaNet, LLC, we bring over 31 years of direct nutritional experience to our customers[cite: 1].
Independent Heritage Since 1995
Founded in Hartville, Ohio, VitaNet, LLC is an independent, family-owned discount retailer providing genuine, fresh health products online for over three decades[cite: 1]. We are an accredited BBB A+ business dedicated to dependable customer care[cite: 1].
100% Money-Back Guarantee
We provide an unconditional 100% money-back guarantee on all products, and we even pay the return shipping costs—whether your bottle is opened or unopened[cite: 1]. You can explore natural health solutions with total confidence.
Direct Telephone Support
Have questions regarding shipping or product details? Speak directly with our retail team in Hartville, Ohio by calling toll-free at 1-800-877-8702 or locally at (330) 877-8786[cite: 1].
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the difference between whole root Astragalus and standardized extract?
This NOW Astragalus 500 mg formula utilizes pure, whole Astragalus membranaceus root powder. Whole root preserves the complete naturally occurring spectrum of plant constituents—including polysaccharides, saponins, flavonoids, and trace minerals—mimicking traditional tea decoctions. Standardized extracts isolate specific percentages of single markers (such as 70% polysaccharides or 10% astragaloside IV). Whole root is preferred by traditional herbalists for steady, gentle, daily tonic use.
How long does it take to notice the benefits of Astragalus?
Because astragalus functions as an adaptogenic tonic rather than an acute stimulant, its cellular and immune-balancing effects build progressively. Most individuals experience sustained energy, seasonal resilience, and enhanced vitality after 3 to 6 weeks of continuous daily use.
Why does the label say California Proposition 65 warning?
California Proposition 65 requires warnings for products sold in California if lead levels exceed 0.5 micrograms per day—a threshold roughly 1,000 times lower than established federal limits. Because astragalus root absorbs naturally occurring earth minerals from the soil as it matures, trace levels may exist even in pristine botanical crops. NOW Foods tests every single batch using ICP-MS instrumentation to confirm the product adheres to federal safety guidelines and USP <2232> heavy metal purity standards.
Can I take Astragalus if I currently have a fever or cold?
In classical herbal tradition, astragalus is contraindicated during acute fevers and sudden respiratory flare-ups. Traditional principles explain that astragalus holds the defense perimeter and may inadvertently trap an acute illness inside the body. If you experience an active fever, discontinue astragalus until the acute infection clears, then resume to restore long-term vitality.
Is NOW Astragalus 500 mg suitable for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes, current NOW Foods Astragalus 500 mg capsules are manufactured using Hypromellose (vegetable cellulose capsules) and plant-derived stearates, making them 100% vegetarian and vegan friendly. They contain no animal derivatives or artificial colorings.
FDA Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always speak with your qualified healthcare practitioner before starting any herbal supplementation program, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, taking prescription medicines, or have an existing medical condition.
