Dang Shen

Name: Dang Shen

Other Names: Codonopsis Root, Radix Codonopsis Pilo

Description: Codonopsis Root (dang shen)

Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae

Properties: The herb is sweet in flavour, neutral in nature, and acts on the lung and spleen channels. Being sweet, neutral, noist, not dry, not greasy and mild in potency, it can not only invigorate spleen-qi but also nourish blood and promote the production of the body fluid. with its effects similar to but weaker than those of ginseng, dangshen can be used to replace ginseng but the dosage of dangshen should be doubled as much as that of ginseng wherever ginseng is used except for emergency treatment of collapse. Therefore, dangshen is often used to treat deficiency of spleen-qi and lung-qi and deficiency of body fluid and blood.

Effects: Reinforcing the spleen, tonifying the lung, nourishing blood and promoting the production of the body fluid.

Indications:

1. For deficiency of lung-qi, lingering cough and asthma of deficiency type, deficiency of the lung and kidney, failure of the kidney in holding air, short breath and asthma, dangshen is often used in combination with astragalus root, schisandra fruit, gecko, walnut kernel and other remedies for tonifying the lung and kidney and improving breath to relieve asthma.

2. For deficiency of the spleen and stomach, anorexia, loose stool, emeciation and lassitude, or sinking of Qi in middle-jiao, lingering diarrhea and proctoptosis, dangshen isoften used in combination with white atractylodes rhizome, astragalus root, bupleurum root, cimicifuga rhizome and other herbs for invigorating Qi and Yang.

3. For injury of Qi and Yin by heat, perspiration, lassitude, vexation and thirst, dangshen can be used in combination with ophiopogon root, schisandra fruit, reed rhizome and other herbs for nourishing Yin and promoting the generation of the body fluid.

4. For paleness due to deficiency of blood, or deficiency of Qi and blood, dangshen is often used in combination with Chinese angelica root, prepared rehmannia root, longan aril and other herbs for invigorating Qi and blood.

Dosage and Administration: 10-15g. Up to 30g for being used to replace ginseng.