For a long time, I kept astragalus at arm’s length.
A “traditional” plant, used for centuries in Chinese medicine, often lumped into the somewhat vague category of adaptogens. Interesting… but not enough, in my mind, to earn a place in a serious longevity protocol.
And then—like so often in biohacking—it was the data that changed my perspective… and the length of my telomeres, which went from 6.1 kb to 7.0 kb.
The Complete Guide to Telomeres My Journey from 6.1kb to 7.0kb - Reversing 25 Years of Cellular Aging
This article is a deep dive—yes, it’s long, because I share my lab results and the strategies I’m using at the end. But first, I walk you through what telomeres are and why they matter. Sure, there’s some scientific language in there, but I break it down and translate it into real-world terms—our body’s language—so it’s simple and easy to grasp. You definitely don’t need a PhD in anatomy or physiology to understand how your body works.
So yes, it seems astragalus is effective. But… there are astragalus products that are completely ineffective, others that can be problematic, and timing and dosage matter. Let’s break it down.