Dang shen, as the dried root of poor man’s ginseng is called in Chinese, is a very important and commonly used herbal medicine in China.
In China, the herb is regarded both as food and medicine. It is often ground into flour, boiled with rice, added to soups and used as an ingredient in nourishing teas.
The roots are viewed as an effective and more affordable substitute for ginseng, hence the common English name “poor man’s ginseng”.
Dang shen is found in many different qualities on the Chinese market. The quality of the herb depends on the plant species used, if it is cultivated or collected from the wild, and the area it comes from.
The main types are western dang shen, eastern dang shen and lu dang shen. These three types are all produced from the species Codonopsis pilosula. Another type, tiao dang shen, originates from Sichuan, a province in southwest China and comes from the plant Codonopsis tangshen. “White dang-shen” is collected from the wild from Codonopsis tubulosa.
Just like ginseng, roots collected from the wild are considered more powerful than those that are cultivated. Wild harvested roots are more expensive, even though they are often smaller.
Roots of high quality have a sweet flavor which is first notice after having chewed on the root for awhile (the roots can easily be eaten raw). Roots of poor quality have very little flavor and are considered to be of less value for medicinal purposes.
Medicinal Uses
Poor man’s ginseng is used traditionally for ailments associated with weakness, fatigue, poor appetite and anemia.
It is also thought to be helpful for diarrhea, vomiting, flatulence and excessive stomach acid.
Laboratory tests suggest that the herb improves digestion by reducing the secretion of pepsin in the stomach and slowing of food as it passes through the stomach on the way to the intestines.
Other ailments that have been treated with dang shen is a headache (when it is due to high blood pressure, muscle tension or indigestion), chronic cough and shortness of breath.
The herb is considered to have blood building properties and to be effective in reducing chronic fatigue syndrome.
The herb is rich in immune enhancing polysaccharides and it is considered to be helpful in building up the immune system in people with cancer who use the herb in conjunction with conventional cancer therapies.
It has also been theorized that the herb may be effective in protecting cancer patients against the adverse effects of radiation therapy without reducing the efficacy of the therapy.
Poor man’s ginseng has also interferon-forming properties, which can be important for people with weakened immune system, including those with HIV infection.
Given the herb’s astringent properties it is also used as a styptic agent in cases of uterine bleeding and excessive menstruation.
In addition, it has also been used as an herbal remedy for arthritis and other conditions of the muscles and joints. The herb has also the reputation as an aphrodisiac.
Pharmacological studies and research have confirmed that dang shen promotes digestion, increases nutrient uptake in the body and enhances the immune system. It also stimulates the nervous system (used in the form of an alcoholic extract), expands the peripheral vascular system and inhibits the activity of the adrenal cortex, which lowers blood pressure.
Studies have also shown that the herb stimulates breathing, increases blood glucose levels and the production of red blood cells. So far scientific studies have not been able to identify one specific chemical substance in the plant that could explain its broad spectrum scope.
[Read more about Dang Shen (Poor Man’s Ginseng)…]
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