Sha Yuan Zi

Astragalus complanatus is a low-growing perennial herb in the Fabaceae family, native to northern and central China and parts of Mongolia, where it grows on dry, sandy slopes and grasslands. The plant has prostrate or ascending stems, 20-100 cm long, branching from a woody base, and is covered with fine appressed hairs. The alternate, pinnately compound leaves bear 9-21 small elliptic to oblong leaflets, each 5-15 mm long, with entire margins. Small pale yellow pea-like flowers are borne in short axillary racemes in summer, followed by inflated, curved, papery legumes 2-3 cm long containing several seeds. The mature seeds (Sha Yuan Zi) are reniform, slightly flattened, 2-3 mm long, smooth, and greenish-brown to brownish-black. In TCM, they are used as a sweet, warm herb that tonifies the kidneys, secures essence, and improves vision.