Codonopsis Root – 1 lb (454 g)

Codonopsis Root, known in Chinese as 党参 (Dǎngshēn) and scientifically as Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae, is a valued herb in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This TCM herb has been traditionally used to support natural wellness, maintain vitality, and encourage holistic balance. At TCMforyou.com, we provide premium-quality Codonopsis Root carefully sourced to preserve its therapeutic properties.

As a herbal supplement, Codonopsis Root helps promote overall well-being and supports natural energy, immunity, and balance. Integrating this herb into your wellness routine offers a gentle, time-tested approach to enhancing daily health. Whether brewed as tea, added to herbal remedies, or taken as part of a TCM formula, Codonopsis Root provides a safe, natural way to experience the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine.

Trusted for centuries, Codonopsis Root has been used in TCM to harmonize the body and encourage optimal functioning of key systems. At TCMforyou, we prioritize authenticity and quality. Each batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure purity and potency, delivering an herbal product aligned with traditional practices.

Experience the natural support of Codonopsis Root, promoting immune health, vitality, and holistic well-being. Embrace the wisdom of TCM and incorporate this gentle, effective herbal remedy into your daily wellness journey.

[Overview] This herb is also known as Shangdang Ginseng, Fangfeng Codonopsis, Yellow Codonopsis, and Shangdang Codonopsis. It is the root of plants from the Campanulaceae family, including Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.), Codonopsis pilosula Nannf. var. modesta (Nannf.) L.T. Shen, Codonopsis tangshen Oliv., and others. Codonopsis is divided by origin into Eastern Codonopsis and Lu Codonopsis. Eastern Codonopsis is wild and mainly produced in Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning provinces; Lu Codonopsis is cultivated and mainly produced in Shanxi, Henan, and Inner Mongolia. Codonopsis pilosula var. modesta is mainly produced in Gansu, Shaanxi, and northwest Sichuan, called Western Codonopsis or Patterned Codonopsis. Codonopsis tangshen is mainly produced in Sichuan, Hubei, and Shaanxi, called Strip Codonopsis, Single Branch Codonopsis, or Board Codonopsis. Harvested in autumn by digging out the roots, washing, drying in the sun, kneading to make the roots full, bundling into small bunches, and drying in a cool, dry place.

[Properties] Sweet in taste, neutral in nature. Enters the Spleen and Lung meridians.

[Actions] Strengthens the spleen and tonifies the lungs, benefits qi and generates fluids.

[Applications]
1. Used for spleen and stomach deficiency with poor appetite, loose stools or diarrhea, fatigue and lack of strength. Commonly combined with Atractylodes macrocephala (Bai Zhu), Poria (Fu Ling), and Licorice (Gan Cao), as in the formula Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction). For spleen qi deficiency with sinking middle qi, chronic diarrhea with prolapse of the anus, or prolapse of stomach and uterus, often combined with Astragalus (Huang Qi) and Cimicifuga (Sheng Ma), as in Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction). Codonopsis has similar effects to Ginseng but is milder and is often used as a substitute for Ginseng in traditional formulas.
2. Used for lung qi deficiency with shortness of breath, coughing, weak voice, and weak speech. Often combined with Astragalus and Schisandra (Wu Wei Zi), as in Bu Fei Tang (Tonify the Lungs Decoction).
3. Used for qi and fluid damage with shortness of breath, thirst, spontaneous sweating, and weak pulse. Often combined with Ophiopogon (Mai Men Dong) and Schisandra, as in Sheng Mai San (Generate the Pulse Powder).
4. Used for qi and blood deficiency with dizziness, palpitations, sallow complexion, pale lips, and fatigue. Often combined with Atractylodes, Angelica (Dang Gui), and Rehmannia (Shu Di), as in Ba Zhen Tang (Eight Treasure Decoction) and Shi Quan Da Bu Tang (All Inclusive Great Tonifying Decoction). For insomnia with excessive dreaming, palpitations, and anxiety caused by qi and blood deficiency, often combined with Ziziphus seed (Suan Zao Ren) and Longan fruit (Long Yan Rou), as in Gui Xu Pi Tang.
Additionally, this herb is often used for external wind-cold with qi deficiency, chills and fever, shortness of breath, and weakness, combined with Perilla (Zi Su) and fresh ginger (Sheng Jiang), as in Shen Su Yin. For qi and blood deficiency with heat accumulation and interior excess, it can be combined with Angelica, Rhubarb (Da Huang), and Mirabilite (Mang Xiao), as in Huang Long Tang.

[Dosage and Administration] Internal use: decocted in water, 9–30 g, or used in pills, powders, or as a syrup. To generate fluids and nourish blood, raw form is mostly used; to tonify spleen and stomach, stir-fried with rice, soil, or bran; to tonify lung qi, honey-fried form is used.

[Cautions] Contraindicated in cases of excess or heat syndromes. Antagonistic to Veratrum (Li Lu).

[Modern Research]
1. Chemical constituents include sugars such as fructose, inulin, polysaccharides, heteropolysaccharides; glycosides such as syringin and codonopsis glycosides; various alkaloids, sterols, and triterpenes. Also contains 17 amino acids and inorganic elements including iron, copper, cobalt, manganese, zinc, nickel, strontium, aluminum, vanadium, and fluorine.
2. Pharmacology: Codonopsis can enhance immune function and delay aging; it increases superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in human blood, enhancing free radical scavenging ability and improving memory; decoctions protect gastric mucosa from injury; crude extracts regulate various parts of the cardiovascular system; it has adjunctive anti-tumor effects by inhibiting tumor size and weight growth and reducing metastasis; it inhibits Neisseria meningitidis, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Escherichia coli, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
3. Clinical reports:
1) Functional uterine bleeding: Codonopsis 30–60 g decocted in water, one dose daily divided morning and evening, starting from menstruation or first day of menses, for 5 consecutive days. Among 37 cases treated, 5 cured, 14 markedly effective, 10 effective, 8 ineffective. [Zhejiang Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1986, 21(5):207]
2) Ventricular premature contractions: Using San Shen Tang (Three Ginseng Decoction): Codonopsis, Salvia (Dan Shen), and Sophora (Ku Shen) each 30 g, decocted, one dose daily. Among 55 cases, total effective rate was 78.0% (32/41) for NYHA class I and II heart function, 42.9% (6/14) for class III and IV; for ventricular premature contractions ≤ grade III, total effective rate was 75.9% (22/29), > grade III was 53.9% (14/26). [Fujian Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1999, 30(2):4]
3) Hyperviscosity syndrome: Oral administration of Lu Codonopsis paste, 10 ml three times daily. After 10 weeks, hemorheological indices improved in 21 cases: high shear rate decreased in 16 cases (76%, P<0.05), low shear rate decreased in 17 cases (80%, P<0.05), plasma viscosity decreased in 21 cases (66.66%, P<0.05). [Journal of Shanxi Medical College, 1998, 29(1):43] 4) Coronary heart disease: Codonopsis oral liquid, equivalent to 20 g raw herb daily in two doses for 2 weeks. Among 35 patients with angina pectoris, after 2 weeks treatment, early left ventricular diastolic acceleration time and total early diastolic time (including deceleration time) were significantly shortened; E wave peak velocity and pressure gradient significantly increased; stroke volume and cardiac output significantly improved. [Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1996, 19(3):49]