Single Herb Glossary
Dǎng Shēn 黨參
| Pharmaceutical name | Codonopsis Radix Codonopsis root "group root" |
| Category | Tonify Qi |
| Key Properties | Tonifies the middle burner Augments the Spleen and Lung qi |
| Properties | Sweet Neutral |
| Tropism | LU, SP |
| Actions & Indications | 1) Tonifies Middle Burner & Augments Qi 2) Tonifies LU (Shortness of breath, chronic cough) 3) Used with Herbs that Release the Exterior or Drain Downward when presentation includes significant Qi Deficiency |
| Dosages | 6-9g. When a large dosage is called for, up to 30g can be used. |
| Contraindications (TCM) | Caution with Excess Pathogens, excess Heat or Fire |
| Contraindications (Western) | |
| Chemical Composition | Alkaloids (codonopsine, codonopsinine), glycosides (inulin, fructose, syringin, glucopyranoside, fructofuranoside, tangshenoside I, II, III, IV), flavonoids (luteolin-7-glucoside, apigenin, apigenin-7-glucoside, luteolin, aynaroside, luteotin-7-rotinoside, luteotin-7-galactoside), triterpenoids (oleanolic acid, echino cystic acid, albigenic acid, taraxeryl acetate, taraxerol, friedelin), essential oils (palmitic acid, hexanoic acid, heptanoic acid, octanoic acid, nonanoic acid, dodecanoic acid, tetradecanoic acid, pentadecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, octadecoic acid, octadecadienoic acid), α-spinasterol, stimasterol, amino acids |
| Pharmacological Effects | • Adaptogenic: both stimulating and inhibiting effects on CNS to help animals adapt to various stressful environments; according to studies, intraperitoneal injection greatly enhances resistance to hypoxia in mice • Gastrointestinal: administration has marked preventative and treatment effects on peptic ulcers; decoction at various dosages ranging from 50 to 250 mg/kg increases gastric emptying time, decreases severity of ulceration, and increases amount of prostaglandins in stomach; administration also showed marked protective effect in relieving peptic ulcers induced by over-consumption of aspirin and non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory drugs • Immunostimulant: increase in number and activities of macrophages associated with administration in mice via intraperitoneal, intramuscular or intravenous injections • Hematological: water and alcohol extracts associated with increase in red blood cells and hemoglobin, but a decrease in white blood cells and lymphocytes • Cardiovascular: intravenous injection of water and alcohol extracts has temporary effect to lower blood pressure in anesthetized rabbits and dogs; in anesthetized cats, intravenous injection increases cardiac output and blood perfusion to brain, lower extremities, and internal organs |
| Herb-Drug Interactions | • Incompatible with Li Lu (Veratri nigri Radix et Rhizoma) |
| Classical Formula(s) |
This information is a reference tool for Chinese herbal studies. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Please consult a primary health professional if you require health advisory.