Codonopsis
Useful properties and application of codonopsis
Botanical characteristics of lanceolate codonopsis
Lanceolate codonopsis is a perennial climbing plant of the bellflower family. Stems glabrous, occasionally hairy, curly, up to 200 cm long. The root system is powerful, well developed, the main root is radish. Leaves are large, rhombic or broadly lanceolate, short-petiolate (sessile), whole-edged (less often toothed), glabrous, reaching 4–8 cm in length.
The flowers are apical, solitary, the corolla is bell-shaped, the color is bluish-green or yellow with a purple edge. The fruit is a reverse conical capsule, the seeds are small (2-3 mm), dull, winged. Lanceolate codonopsis blooms from July to August.
The natural distribution area of the medicinal plant is Korea, North China, Japan, the Far East. It grows in thickets of bushes (including dense ones), in river valleys and on slopes.
Useful properties of codonopsis
In folk medicine, the underground part of the medicinal plant is used - the radish root, as well as the aboveground part - the leaves, flowers and seeds. The roots are harvested in the autumn (the last months of autumn), the seeds - as they ripen, and the flowers and leaves - during the budding period (the beginning of flowering).
In its chemical composition, the roots of a medicinal plant contain a number of useful organic compounds: polysaccharides, sucrose, glucose, steroids, triterpenoids, alkaloids, coumarins, aromatic compounds, organic acids, essential oil, heterocyclic compounds, phospholipids and trace elements.
The chemical composition of the aboveground part of the medicinal plant is similar to the underground part, in addition, the leaves, flowers and seeds contain tannins, pigments and vitamins.
Healing infusions and decoctions of codonopsis have a pronounced expectorant, antitussive, hypotensive effect. Also, with the regular use of infusion from a medicinal plant, inhibition of leukopoiesis (the process of formation of leukocytes) is noted, the body's resistance to adverse environmental conditions is significantly increased, endurance and stress resistance develop.
Application of codonopsis
A decoction from the underground and aboveground parts of codonopsis is used for various diseases of the respiratory system (bronchitis, pneumonia, tracheitis), for chronic dystrophy, nephritis, diabetes mellitus, for hypertension (high blood pressure), rheumatism and cancer (malignant formations in the uterus). In addition, the use of medicinal infusions helps in the fight against edema, with inflammatory processes in the kidneys, with chronic inflammation of the intestines and with various types of anemia.
Broth codonopsis lanceolate
Recipe No. 1: 10 g of crushed roots are poured into 200 ml of water, then placed in a boiling water bath for 8 minutes, after which they are insisted for two hours. Filter the resulting broth into a clean container and take 1/3 cup 3 times a day. The broth is indicated for anemia, diabetes mellitus, respiratory diseases and impotence.
Recipe No. 2: 15 g of crushed roots are poured into 200 ml of boiling water and placed in a boiling water bath for 30 minutes, then cooled for 10 minutes and filtered into a clean container. The resulting volume of the broth is brought to 200 ml with purified water and stirred. Take the medicine 2 tablespoons 3 times a day.
Infusion of codonopsis lanceolate
20 g of the aerial part of the medicinal plant is poured with 200 ml of boiling water and infused for 15 minutes, after which it is cooled for 45 minutes and filtered into a clean container. The resulting infusion is taken in 1/3 cup 3 times a day.
Tincture of codonopsis lanceolate
1 part of the crushed roots is poured with 5 parts of 70% ethyl alcohol and insisted in a dark place for 14 days, after which the agent is filtered into a clean container and taken 30–40 drops 3-4 times a day.
Codonopsis clematis
Codonopsis clematis is a perennial climbing plant with creeping shoots, of the campanula family. Straight or sinuous stem reaches 50–70 cm in length. Leaves are small, ovate or broadly lanceolate, entire. The flowers are apical bells, single, large and drooping, of a gray-green shade with dark blue veins.
The fruit of the plant is a capsule, the seeds are smooth, pale brown in color. Codonopsis clematis blooms in June-August, bears fruit in August.
The natural area of distribution of this species is Central Asia. It grows in damp meadows, as well as along the shores of various reservoirs.
From a medical point of view, clematis codonopsis is of no value, therefore it is used exclusively as an ornamental plant in gardening (as a rule, to decorate artificial reservoirs).
Codonopsis small-haired
Codonopsis small-haired is a perennial climbing plant of the bellflower family. The stem of the plant is curly, at the base it is covered with fine hairs, in the upper part, as a rule, absolutely smooth. The root is powerful, thick, radish, grayish in color, up to 1.5 cm in diameter. The leaves are petiolate, ovate, entire (leaves are slightly wavy along the edge), opposite or alternate. Flowers are solitary, on thin pedicels, yellow with a purple tint.
The fruit of the plant is a capsule, the seeds are small, shiny and smooth. Codonopsis small-haired blooms from August to September.
The natural area of distribution is the Far East. This species grows on forest edges and clearings, in thickets of bushes (including dense ones), as well as on the banks of various reservoirs.
In Chinese and Korean medicine, the underground part of the plant (roots) is used, less often its aboveground part (grass) is used.
The roots are harvested in late autumn, and the grass is harvested at the beginning of flowering (during the budding period).
The chemical composition of the roots of codonopsis fine-hairy contains polysaccharides, glucose, sucrose, mucus, organic compounds, triterpenoids, coumarins, sterols and essential oils.
Flavonoids are found in the chemical composition of the herb of medicinal plant.
The roots of codonopsis small-haired in Chinese and Korean medicine, according to the mechanism of action and the therapeutic effect on the human body, are rightfully considered a natural analogue of ginseng. A healing decoction from the roots has a tonic and stimulating effect, moreover, it is an effective androgenic and general tonic.
Broth codonopsis fine-hairy
15–20 g of medicinal raw materials (crushed dry roots) are poured into 400 ml of water and placed in a boiling water bath for 7–8 minutes, then infused for two hours and filtered into a clean container. Take 0.5 cups 3-4 times a day before meals.
Contraindications to the use of codonopsis
The use of a decoction of codonopsis roots is unacceptable during pregnancy and lactation (breastfeeding). Also, with extreme caution, the healing broth should be taken by people with cardiovascular diseases (tachycardia) and individual intolerance (allergic reactions).
The author of the article: Sokolova Nina Vladimirovna | Phytotherapist
Education: Diploma in "General Medicine" and "Therapy" received at the Pirogov University (2005 and 2006). Advanced training at the Department of Phytotherapy at the Peoples' Friendship University of Moscow (2008).
