Description:
Codonopsis is an herbaceous perennial twining; climbing plant that normally grows about 5 ft. (1.5 m) tall. The plant is found growing in forests, thickets, meadows or scrub at forest margins, dense shrubby thickets, the shade of trees at forest edges and in stream banks etc. The plant thrives best in well drained neutral or acidic soil and can be planted in partially shaded or completely open areas. Roots are carrot-shaped or fusiform-cylindrical, about 15-30 cm long and 1-3 cm thick, often branched. Long twining stems are up to 2 m (6.6 ft.) long and branched.
In Chinese herbal medicine, codonopsis is considered to tone the qi, lungs, and spleen. It improves vitality and helps to balance metabolic function. It is a gentle tonic remedy that helps to recover the system as a whole.
Leaves
Leaves on main stems and branches are alternate, those on branchlets are opposite. Leaf-stalks are 0.5-2.5 cm long, sparsely bristly-hairy. Leaves are gray-green below, green above, ovate or narrowly ovate, 1-7.3 cm long and 0.8-5 cm wide. Leaf underside is sparsely or densely hairy, rarely hairless, base is somewhat heart-shaped, rounded, or flat, margin toothed, tip blunt or pointed.
Flowers and Fruits
The plant produces light green five pointed bell shaped flowers with prominent yellow or light purple veins. Flowers are yellow-green, with purple spots inside, broadly bell-shaped, 1.8-2.3 cm long and 1.8-2.5 cm wide, shallowly lobed. Lobes are triangular, tip pointed. Filaments are slightly dilated at base, about 5 mm; anthers elongate, 5-6 mm. Stigma is white bristly. Sepal cup is adnate to ovary up to middle. Sepals are broadly lance shaped or narrowly oblong, 1.0-2.3 cm x 6-8 mm, margin sub entire or sinuate, apex obtuse or acute; sinus between calyx lobes narrow and pointed. Fertile flowers are followed by fruit capsule that is up to 2.4 cm (0.9 in) long with persistent calyx and small, oval, brown and shiny seeds. The plant blooms from August to September and fruits from September to October.
Codonopsis is taken in particular for tired limbs, general fatigue, and for digestive problems such as appetite loss, vomiting, and diarrhea. It is beneficial in any chronic illness where "spleen qi deficiency" is a contributory factor. Codonopsis is given as a tonic to people who are stressed and have "false-fire" symptoms, including tense neck muscles, headaches, irritability, and high blood pressure, and who find the tonic action of ginseng too strong. Codonopsis is supposedly more successful in reducing levels of adrenalin-e, and therefore stress, than ginseng.Health Benefits:
1. Used as Lung tonic
Codonopsis helps to relieves chronic coughs, shortness of breath and chronic excessive phlegm of the Lungs and sinuses. In cases of dryness and heat of the Lungs, Codonopsis has a moistening effect on the tissue. It also helps to ease asthma attacks by decreasing the production of hormones that cause constriction of the bronchia passages.
2. Breast-feeding tonic
The herb is taken regularly by nursing mothers in China to increase milk production and as a tome to "build strong blood."
3. Diabetes
The plant is one of the traditional Chinese medicinal herbs used in treating diabetes and reducing the complications that arise from diabetes. Research in the Journal of Ethno pharmacology, traditional Chinese medicinal herbs flashed abundant interest because they may be vital for treating severe chronic diseases like diabetes while producing fewer side effects than most conventional medications. They also cost less and offer better patient tolerance than pharmaceutical drugs. According to this study, it lowers blood glucose considerably.
4. Respiratory problems
Codonopsis clears excessive mucus from the lungs and is useful for respiratory problems, including shortness of breath and asthma.
5. Liver Diseases
Codonopsis help to protect against alcoholic fatty liver disease according to a research published in the "Journal of Medicinal Food." In traditional Chinese medicine it is used to lower high blood pressure which would recommend that it benefits the Liver.
6. Brain Boost
Codonopsis combined with ginkgo biloba help to enhance memory and learning better than using gingko biloba only. Research result published in the Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine to determine the usefulness of several Chinese herbs showed that mixing C. pilosula with G. biloba produced better results than G. biloba alone.
7. Beautiful Skin and Hair
Codonopsis builds blood, particularly red blood cells and hemoglobin. Additionally, it cleanses the blood providing for smooth, elastic and radiant skin. It also expands blood vessels and lowers blood pressure.
8. Stress Adaptogen
It is considered as an adaptogenic herb due to its ability to strengthen the body's ability to adapt to change, moderate stress and balance metabolic functions of the body.
9. Fights Fatigue
Possibly because of its immune enhancing effects and its ability to boost the blood supply, Dang shen has long been used to treat general fatigue as well as illnesses that weaken the body like anemia.
10. Chronic Illness with Weakness
It has traditionally been used with extreme debility, weakness and wasting disorders, particularly where there is damage to the fluids of the body demonstrating heat signs (fever/thirst). It fortifies the immune system and not only supports the immune functions in cancer patients, but also protects the cells in the body from the damaging effects of radiation. It has not been determined if codonopsis may cause drug-herb interactions with patients utilizing chemotherapy.
| Item |
Specification |
Results |
Methods |
| Marker Compound |
polysaccharide 10% |
10.12% |
HPLC |
| Appearance & Color |
Yellow brown powder |
Conform |
GB5492-85 |
| Odor & Taste |
Characteristic |
Conform |
GB5492-85 |
| Plant Part Used |
Root |
Conform |
|
| Extract Solvent |
Ethanol |
Conform |
|
| Bulk Density |
0.4-0.6g/ml |
0.54-0.64g/ml |
|
| Mesh Size |
80 |
100% |
GB5507-85 |
| Loss on Drying |
≤5.0% |
2.35% |
GB5009.3 |
| Ash Content |
≤5.0% |
1.56% |
GB5009.4 |
| Solvent Residue |
<0.2% |
Conform |
GC-MS |
| Heavy Metals |
| Total Heavy Metals |
≤10ppm |
<3.3ppm |
AAS |
| Arsenic (As) |
≤1.0ppm |
<0.15ppm |
AAS(GB/T5009.11) |
| Lead (Pb) |
≤1.0ppm |
<0.51ppm |
AAS(GB5009.12) |
| Cadmium |
<1.0ppm |
Not Detected |
AAS(GB/T5009.15) |
| Mercury |
≤0.1ppm |
Not Detected |
AAS(GB/T5009.17) |
| Microbiology |
| Total Plate Count |
≤5000cfu/g |
<300cfu/g |
GB4789.2 |
| Total Yeast & Mold |
≤300cfu/g |
<100cfu/g |
GB4789.15 |
| Total Coliform |
≤40MPN/100g |
Not Detected |
GB/T4789.3-2003 |
| Salmonella |
Negative in 25g |
Not Detected |
GB4789.4 |
| Staphylococcus |
Negative in 10g |
Not Detected |
GB4789.1 |
| Packing and Storage |
25kg/drum Inside: Double-deck plastic bag, outside: Neutral cardboard barrel & Leave in the shady and cool dry place |
| Shelf Life |
2 Year When Stored properly |
| Expiration Date |
2 Years |
|
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