Codonopsis
Codonopsis (Codonopsis pilosula)
Brief Background:
Codonopsis is a small perennial native to Asia, which is especially abundant in the Shanxi and Szechuan provinces of China. Codonopsis has been used in China for over 2,000 years as a tonic for the lungs and spleen, and to strengthen and nourish the blood and balance metabolic function.
Historically, codonopsis is thought to have properties similar to ginseng. The Chinese name for codonopsis, dangshen, indicated that it was ginseng from the Shandang region; shen is the key term to describe ginseng or a ginseng-like herb. Like ginseng, codonopsis is referred to as an adaptogen, a substance that non-specifically enhances and regulates the body’s ability to withstand stress. Adaptogens increase the body’s general performance in ways that help the whole body resist disease. Codonopsis is thought to benefit the entire body by boosting strength, increasing stamina and alertness, rejuvenating the body, strengthening the immune system, aiding recovery from chronic illness, reducing stress, and stimulating the appetite
