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Poor man's ginseng-Dang Shen

Codonopsis pilosula is also known as Dang Shen or Poor Man's Ginseng and is part of the Campanulaceae family.

Codonopsis pilosula is a small perennial native to Asia, which is especially abundant in the Shanxi and Szechuan provinces of China.

Little is known about the active components of codonopsis. Some chemical substances have been isolated, namely: saponins, alkaloids and polysaccharides. The roots are harvested from the plant during the third or fourth year of growth and dried prior to sale. They have a sweet taste.

Introduction

Codonopsis is used frequently in Chinese medicine to improve the function of the lungs and the spleen. It is thought to revive the entire body as a whole. The actions of this herb are quite similar to ginseng, but it aren't as strong and don't last as long. That makes it a good choice for people who are too sensitive to ginseng. Like ginseng, codonopsis is referred to as an adaptogen, a substance that non-specifically enhances and regulates the body's ability to withstand stress.

One of the recent developments in China is making pills with the concentrated extract of two mild qi tonic herbs: Codonopsis plus Astragalus (also available from: www.benseng.com), typically called Shen Qi Wan.

	Photo: Poor Man's Ginseng is a twining, sprawling herb growing up to 1.5 m long with yellowish, purple-tinted bell-shaped flowers.
	Photo: Codonopsis supplements are made from the dried root of the plant. The root contains a mixture of components that are similar to those found in Ginseng.

Application

Codonopsis can be found in many shapes and forms. The root is most commonly found dried, but there are also fresh varieties available. Codonopsis can be raw or cooked, and is often processed as teas, tablets, and tinctures. Naturally this is a sweet, soothing herb that can be cooked with rice until it is glutinous and soft and used as a tonic food.

Nowadays Poor Man's ginseng is more often used in food supplements as capsules or in tablets.

Chinese herbal medicines as additives in cosmetics can both keep the properties of cosmetic and have maintaining, health protection and remedial effect. There is no direct evidence that Codonopsis pilosula is currently used for that purpose.

Medicinal actions

The strong point of Codonopsis pilosula is, that it is not heavy and sticky. It does not generate heat and dryness in the body, and so it is more suitable for many chronic diseases with spleen qi and lung qi deficiency. This is what it has been used for thousands of years in China.

Besides the effect on the spleen and lung, Codonopsis is thought to benefit the entire body by boosting strength, increasing stamina and alertness, rejuvenating the body, strengthening the immune system, aiding recovery from chronic illness, reducing stress, and stimulating the appetite.

Other common applications of Poor Man´s Ginseng are:

Lower blood pressure and increase endurance to stress;
Increase energy;
Assist with digestive problems;
Increase the milk production in the breast and provide energy in breastfeeding mothers;
Alleviate the effects of stress;
Positive effects on memory;
Aid in treatment of asthma and shortness of breath;
Strengthen lungs;
Strengthen spleen and stomach;
Restore liver;
Stimulate nervous system.

Industrial application

There is no evidence that Codonopsis pilosula is used for any purpose other than as a food component.

Dosage

In food supplements and in TCM herbal mixtures, dried Codonopsis root decoction is usually advised preventative at levels of 5-10 grams per adult person per day. If the dry root or root powder is consumed entirely, then a dosage of 3-5 grams is comparable.

For therapeutic effects, dry Codonopsis root is given at high dosage of 15-30 grams per day or in specific cases even as high as 60 grams of dried root per day.

If a concentrated extract powder is used with an extract ratio of 5:1, then an effective therapeutic dosage would be 2-4 grams per day.

For an optimal therapeutic effect of products for external use it is advised to add 10-15% concentrated extract powder with 5:1 extract ratio to the cosmetic product. For just getting a cosmetic effect, it is recommended to apply a minimum of 10 grams of concentrated Codonopsis extract powder per kilo of the final cosmetic product.

Contra-indications

In general, (side) effects from Poor Man´s Ginseng are rare and milder than those that occur when using real Ginseng. This is why codonopsis root is relatively safe for long term use. Be careful with the use of this herb in the case of excess heat. Few adverse effects in humans have been reported for codonopsis. Use cautiously:

in patients with bleeding disorders;
when taking laxatives or stool softeners;
with inflamed bowels or appendicitis;
when trying to become pregnant.

Furthermore, Codonopsis is not recommended in:

pregnant or breastfeeding women, because of insufficient research;
combination with aspirin or blood thinners;
when taking fertility medications.

More information / news

2011-07-20

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