Dangshen Radix Codonopsis
The medicinal material is from the root of Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf., and other several species of the same catalogue, family Campanulaceae. It is classified into the wild and cultivated one according to sources, and mostly produced in Shanxi, Shaanxi and Gansu, and harvested in autumn, dried and cut into segments. It is used crudely.
Medicinal Properties Sweet in flavor, warm in nature, and attributive to the spleen and lung meridians.
Actions Invigorate the stomach and spleen, and benefit qi, promote the production of the body fluids and nourish the blood.
Application
1. It is suitable for deficiency of the spleen with fatigue, loss of appetite, loose stool and syndrome with deficiency of qi and weakness due to various causes. It is usually used together with Baizhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae), Fuling (Poria) and Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae ) .
2. It is suitable for insufficiency of lung-qi with shortness of breath, cough, or low voice. It is usually used together with Huangqi (Radix Astragali), Wuweizi (Fructus Schisandrae ), such as Bufei Tang (Decoction).
3. It is used for febrile diseases resulting in consumption of both qi and the body fluids with shortness of breath and thirst. It is usually used together with Maimendong ( Radix Ophiopogonis ), Wuweizi ( Fructus Schisandrae ) , etc..
4. It is suitable for dizziness due to deficiency of blood or sallow complexion or edema of face. It is usually used with Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis ), Shudihuang ( Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata ), Baishaoyao ( Radix Paeoniae Alba) and Jixueteng ( Caulis Spatholobi).
In addition, it can be combined with diaphoretics and purgatives and used in the case with weakness and exogenous affection or constipation due to deficiency of healthy qi.
Usage and Dosage 10 -30 g is used in decoction, or in pill.
Notes Contraindicated for heat-syndrome, syndrome of deficiency of yin and hyperactivity of yang. It is incompatible with Lilu (Rhizoma et Radix Veratri).
Explanation As its action is similar to Renshen (Radix Ginseng), it can be used as substitute for Renshen (Radix Ginseng), but it is unsuitable for collapse syndrome due to deficiency of qi because of its weaker action of qi tonifying.
