Codonopsis

Codonopsis pilosula

Codonopsis is a twining perennial. It reaches a length of five feet and has oval leaves and purple-veined green flowers. Herbal medicine uses the long, sweet taproot. It is a native of Asia and is now cultivated throughout the world.

Other names

• Poor Man's Ginseng

Uses

Codonopsis prevents stomach pain and headache. It is beneficial in the treatment of both asthma and cancer. Codonopsis reduces stress and enhances tolerance to stress. It also boosts stamina.

Benefits of codonopsis for specific health conditions include the following:

• Cancer. Codonopsis increases red and white blood cell counts, which reduces the side effects of toxic medications such as those used in cancer chemotherapy. It also helps the body recover from radiation therapy.
• Headache. Codonopsis is employed in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to treat headaches accompanied by high blood pressure, muscular tension, and indigestion.
• Lupus. Codonopsis restrains the immune system in lupus, a disease in which the immune system attacks the DNA found in the body's own skin cells.
• Peptic ulcer. In animal studies, codonopsis has been found to prevent the formation of peptic ulcers induced by stress. Codonopsis is especially useful for ulcers that are compounded by loss of appetite, diarrhea, or vomiting.
• Vomiting. Codonopsis has been used for centuries to treat appetite loss, diarrhea, and vomiting. Laboratory studies suggest that codonopsis extracts act by reducing the secretion of pepsin in the stomach and by slowing the rate at which the stomach passes food to the intestines.

Considerations

Codonopsis is available in tablets, teas, and tinctures. It is a relatively inexpensive herb that is often substituted for ginseng in herbal tonics labeled as "ginseng." While the substitution makes herbal formulas less expensive for manufacturers to produce, in many cases codonopsis is actually more effective for the intended purpose of the formula than the more expensive ginseng.

If you are interested in using codonopsis in the treatment of ulcers, you should do so under professional supervision.

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