Chinese Herbalism
Codonopsis
Codonopsis pilosula
Also known as Dang Shen, Poor man's ginseng.
Gentle substitute for ginseng (Panax ginseng) in qi deficiency used in chronic conditions, not acute infections source from reputable suppliers for quality (thick roots, sweet taste) medicine-food homology in TCM
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Indications what the tradition reached for it in
- Lung qi deficiency
- Stress exhaustion
- Thirst
- Loss of appetite
- Shortness of breath
- Chronic fatigue
- Weakness
- COPD
- Qi deficiency
- Chronic bronchitis
- Palpitations
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Spleen Qi deficiency
- Low motivation
- Cough
- Abdominal distension
- Blood deficiency
- Loose stools
- Convalescence after illness
- Pale complexion
- Anemia
- Low energy
- Indigestion
- Burnout
- Bloating
- Bronchitis
- Colic
- Debility
- Digestive discomfort
Safety
Pregnancy: Limited safety data in pregnancy
The record lists 8 contraindications; open the plate in the library to read them in full.
Dosing as the sources wrote it
| Preparation | As written | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Decoction | Decoction 6-30 g dried root/day | 6000-30000 mg |
| Powder | Powder 6-9 g/day (max 30 g) | 6000-9000 mg |
| Tincture | Tincture (1:3 in 25% alcohol) 2-4 ml up to 3-4 times/day | 2-4 mL |
Doses are reproduced from the sources for practitioners and are not a recommendation for any person.
From the sources
Clinical Notes. Gentle substitute for ginseng (Panax ginseng) in qi deficiency used in chronic conditions, not acute infections source from reputable suppliers for quality (thick roots, sweet taste) medicine-food homology in TCM
primary-actions. Codonopsis acts primarily as: Tonic, Spleen tonic, Lung tonic, Blood tonic, Adaptogen, Immunomodulator. Secondary actions include Demulcent, Carminative, Antioxidant, Nutritive, Cardioprotective.
indications. Codonopsis is traditionally indicated for: Lung qi deficiency, Stress exhaustion, Thirst, Loss of appetite, Shortness of breath, Chronic fatigue, Weakness, COPD, Qi deficiency, Chronic bronchitis, Palpitations, Fatigue, Dizziness, Spleen Qi deficiency, Low motivation, and 27 further conditions.
constituents. Notable constituents of Codonopsis include: Polysaccharides, polyacetylenes (lobetyolin), flavonoids, triterpenoids, steroids, inulin-type fructans, phenylpropanoids.
In formulas
Codonopsis stands in 95 documented formulas in the library, among them Deep Immune Tonic Formula, Post-Illness Recovery Tonic, rén shên bài dú sǎn, xiao chái hú tãng, chái hú jia long gũ mù li tàng, shu gǎn lí pí tāng.
Often paired with
Licorice rootGlycyrrhiza glabra
GinsengPanax ginseng
Bai ZhuAtractylodes macrocephala
PoriaWolfiporia extensa
GingerZingiber officinale
Dong QuaiAngelica sinensisNearby on the shelf
Cnidium SeedCnidium monnieri
CocaErythroxylon coca
Cocklebur FruitXanthium sibiricum
CoconutCocos nucifera
CoffeeCoffea arabica
Coffee sennaSenna occidentalis
CogongrassImperata cylindrica
ColeusColeus forskohliiThe whole plate is in the library. The compass, Compare, the Sky of eleven hundred plants and the formulary open with an email address and a password, free, with the formula builder and its safety engine. Herbert without limit, his formulating, clients, the handouts and the labels are the paid room.
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