History First mentioned in an ancient Chinese book, Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceous) is used throughout the Orient as a tonic food and healthful plant. Astragalus is a member of the legume family. It is an upright, yellow-flowered perennial herb that grows about two feet tall. The genus Astragalus encompasses more than 2000 species worldwide and is beleived by botanists to be the largest genus of flowering plants. Astragakus is a key herb in traditional Chinese "FuZhen" therapy. Traditional FuZhen theory concentrates on the body's own ability to rejuvinate and maintain food health. Astragalus is often taken with Ginseng and Reishi Mushroom.