- Region
- Asia
- Origin
- China and Korea
Asia · Herb · № 639
Codonopsis pilosula
Herb · Asia
Codonopsis (dang shen)
Codonopsis pilosula
Traditionally attributed effects: reduces fatigue, supports the production of blood cells and strengthens spleen, stomach and lungs.
Safety notes
According to tradition not during an acute cold. Traditional use is no proof of effectiveness; if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have a medical condition, consult a doctor or pharmacist.
Cautions by tradition (2)
- Chinese food therapy: According to tradition eat the soup only once the illness has completely gone.
- Chinese materia medica: Caution with acute illness.
Preparation
Dried root in soups and decoctions.
Use in traditions
A widely used, milder substitute for ginseng in Chinese medicine.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Chinese food therapy
Attributed effects
Together the herbs strengthen the body and speed recovery after internal injury and after cough and colds from built-up heat.
Caution: According to tradition eat the soup only once the illness has completely gone.
Chinese materia medica
- Nature and taste
- sweet, neutral
- Meridians
- spleen, lung
Attributed effects
Strengthens the qi of spleen and lungs in poor appetite, fatigue, diarrhoea, weak limbs, prolapse, shortness of breath and chronic cough, and promotes body fluids. A milder substitute for ginseng, also with mild heat.
Preparation and amount
Traditional dosage: 9–30 g a day, usually in a decoction. About three times as much is needed as ginseng.
Combinations
- With huang qi for qi deficiency
- With prepared rehmannia and dang gui for qi and blood deficiency
- With bai zhu for poor appetite
Caution: Caution with acute illness.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- DecoctionPowder and kitchen