Many long-term survivors have relied on healthy lifestyles and therapies to support the healing system, such as Chinese herbal remedies. If the latent period of HIV infection could be extended to twenty-five or thirty years, people with the virus might live out relatively normal lives. Once you establish the right relationship with the conventional system, your next task is to make wise choices from among the great variety of alternative therapies now available. If you are Chinese you will recognize this tonic herb at once. Under the name huangqi it is widely sold both singly and in many combination formulas for the treatment of colds and flus.
Astragalus is a large genus in the pea family, some species of which are toxic to live stock.
But the toxins are only in the above-ground parts, never in the roots, and it is the root of a nontoxic Chinese species, Astragalus membranaceous, that provides the herbal medicine. The plant is a perennial herb with long, fibrous roots, native to northern China and Inner Mongolia. Both wild and cultivated plants are sources of commercial astragalus, which is sold in bundles of thin slices that resemble wooden tongue depressors and have a sweet taste. Chinese herbalists recommend adding these slices to soups and removing them before serving because they are too tough to chew. You can buy dried astragalus in Chinese herb stores, or you can buy astragalus tinctures and capsules in health food stores.