Codonopsis Root
Also known as- Codonopsis pilosula, Bastard Ginseng, Bellflower, Bonnet Bellflower, Codonopsis tangshen, Codonopsis tubulosa, Dangshen, Radix Codonopsis.
Introduction
Codonopsis is a twining perennial. It reaches a length of five feet, and has oval leaves and purple-veined green flowers. The long, sweet taproot is used in herbal medicine.
Codonopsis holds an important in Traditional Chinese and Japanese Medicine as a remedy for what is called "false fire syndrome" Usually caused by inappropriate acupuncture or excessive use of ginseng, this syndrome is expressed in a symptom pattern of uncharacteristic aggressiveness combined with cloudiness in the urine, headaches, high blood pressure, and/or tight muscles. As a cooling herb, codonopsis is useful in any illness in which "spleen qi deficiency" a deficiency of digestive energies, is the underlying cause.
Constituents
Friedelin, taraxerol, alpha-spinasterol, alpha-spinasterol-beta-D-glucopyranoside, n-butyl-alpha-D-fructofuranoside and n-butyl-beta-D-fructopyranoside.
Parts Used
Root.
Typical Preparations
Teas, tablets, and tinctures.
Summary
Codonopsis has been used for centuries to treat appetite loss, diarrhea, and vomiting. Laboratory studies suggest that codonopsis extracts act by reducing the secretion of pepsin in the stomach, and by slowing the rate at which the stomach passes food to the intestines.
In animal studies, codonopsis can prevent the formation of peptic ulcers induces by stress.
Codonopsis also eases asthma attacks by reducing the production of hormones that cause constriction of the bronchia passages. With the healing properties, this herb is especially useful for asthma or peptic ulcers that are compounded by loss of appetite, diarrhea, or vomiting.
Codonopsis may also be used to assist recovery of cancer patients treated with radiation therapy. A clinical study in China involved 76 cancer patients treated with radiation found that codonopsis teas could delay destruction of healthy cells. Treatment with the herb increased the ability of interleukin-2, an immune-system chemical, to fight colorectal cancer, lymphoma, melanoma, and kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma). Codonopsis also restrain the immune system in lupus, a condition in which the immune system attacks the DNA found in the body's own skin cells.
Precautions
No restrictions for use. Be aware that codonopsis is a relatively inexpensive herb that is often substituted for Panax ginseng in herbal tonics labeled as "ginseng."
