What it is:
This herb is theroot of Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf. (family Cam-panulaceae), the wild one being ha-bitually called wildTai dangshen, while the cultivated one Lu dangshen. The herb is chiefly produced in Shanxi, Saanxi, Gansu, and North-eastern China.It is dug in autumn, driedin the sun, and cutto segments for use.

Property:
Sweet in flavour, neutral in property;acting on the spleenand lung channels.

Effects:
Invigo-rating the spleen and replenishing qi, promoting the produc-tion of body fluid and nourishing the blood.

Used for:
1. The syndrome of deficiency of thespleen. For lassitudeand weakness, poor appetite and loose stool due to defi-ciency of the spleen-qi, and general debi-lity due to deficiencyof qi of various causes, it is often used with white atra-ctylodes rhizome,poria, liquorice, etc.The action of this herb is similar to that of ginseng, and can be used as a sub-stitute for ginseng for ordinary disease,but its effect of replenishing qi is weaker than ginseng,and so, for the im-pending collapse syndrome due to deficiency of qi, genseng is preferable.

2. Short breath,cough, dyspnea, weakand low voice due to deficiency of thelung-qi. It is oftenused with astragalusroot and schisandrafruit, as in Lung Invigorating Decoc-tion (BufeiTang).

3. For consumption of both qi and body fluid infebrile diseases with symptoms such as short breath and thirst, it can be used with ophiopogonroot and schisandrafruit.

4. For dizzinessor sallow complexionand edema due to blood deficiency, itcan be used with chinese angelica root,prepared rehmannia root, white peony rootand spatholobus stem. Besides,dangshencan be added to dia-phoretics and purga-tives in cases of affection of body superficies due to general weakness or constipation with deficiency of the vital-qi.

Dosage and admi-nistration: 10-30g, decocted in water for an oral dose or prepared into pills or powder.

Precautions:
It should not be used for heat syndromes and syndromes of hyperactivity of yangdue to yin deficiency.