Introduction
These days a person experiences a variety of psychosomatic pathologies because of anthropo- ecological effects of stress. A great number of so-called diseases of civilization such as cardiovascular, neuropsychiatric, allergic, cancer and others are often complicated by the formation of secondary immunodeficiency. In this regard, there is the need to find means that are non-specifically able to stimulate the immune system in order to increase resistance to any pathogenic factors. The immunomodulators of vegetable origin can have a stimulating effect on the immune system. Astragalus is considered as one of these herbal remedies widely used in medicine.
Key words: astragalus, therapeutic effects, medicinal preparations, herbal remedies, immunomodulators Discussion
The rich experience in the use of plants in folk and traditional medicine is a reliable guide for selecting new promising species of medicinal raw materials. The study of Tibetan medicine resources is of great interest as this kind of medicine has extensive experience in the use of herbal preparations in medical practice. One of the widely used medicinal plants in Tibetan medicine is Astragalus that is recommended for general strengthening of the body, removing toxins, healing of a damaged tissue. Astragalus is popular in traditional medicine in Mongolia, China, Korea and Japan. It is also used in medicine as a stimulant of the immune system. Many kinds of Astragalus are often uses in the treatment for hypertension and kidney diseases, chronic heart failure, atherosclerosis, blood circulation, nervous disorders, colds, and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Astragalus is also quite effective as diuretics and styptics.
Worldwide, there are about 1,600 species of Astragalus, but there are only few species of this herb, which have some healing properties especially used in folk and scientific medicine. Astragalus has a positive effect of on the normalization of functioning various organs and body systems, and improves general health. Today it is known many ways of preparation of medicinal infusions and decoctions in pharmacology. Astragalus infusions and decoctions widen blood vessels, reduce blood pressure, are tonify age-related and children’s constitutional weakness and loss of body strength, strengthen the nervous system, as well as they are use for all liver diseases, congestive heart failure, and inflammations of the kidneys. Today, specific contraindications to the use of Astragalus have not been identified. It is undesirable to use it to treat children under the age of two, as its effect on the child's body has not been fully studied.
Conclusion
Thus, the search for sources of raw materials that create real prerequisites for herbal remedies is an urgent problem. One of the possible approaches to this problem solution is the pharmacognostic study of new medicinal plants in order to expand the range of immunomodulatory medicinal preparations.