Product Name: Codonopsis Pilosula Extract

Pin Yin Name: Dang Shen
Latin Name: Campanumaea pilosula
Other names: bastard ginseng
Specification: 10:1
Part Used: root
Theraputic effect: stomachic; cardiotonic; builds immunity and raises resistance; lowers blood pressure; raises blood sugar.
Indications: chronic fatigue; hypertension; loss of appetite; indigestion due to hyperacidity; loose bowels; pale complexion; exhaustion after surgery or childbirth body bloating and facial swelling due to edema; immune deficiency; hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
Contraindications: none
Incompatibles: none

Since this herb acts similarly to ginseng, it can be substituted for the latter when ginseng is too costly or in short supply. It is often used instead of ginseng for mild chronic conditions that do not require high-potency herbs. Recent research has also established dang shen as an effective preventive against many forms of heart disease. Since it lends itself well to cooking, it can be used daily in the kitchen as an ingredient in stews, soups, and porridges, or simply boiled in chicken broth, as a general nutrient tonic for the whole family and a specific preventative against heart disease.

According to the traditional Chinese view, the reason that this herb is such a reliable energy tonic is because of its affinity for the spleen and lungs, which are the two major organ-energy systems responsible for the extraction of energy from food and air through digestion and respiration.