Platycodon, Jie Geng 桔梗
Balloon Flower root
Jie Geng (TCM)
Jie Geng (TCM)
Houtte, Flore des serres et des jardin de l’Europe, vol. 22 (1845)
Botanical name:
Platycodon grandiflorum
Parts used:
Root
Temperature & Taste:
Neutral. Bitter, Pungent
Classification:
P. Cold Phlegm
Platycodon grandiflorum
Parts used:
Root
Temperature & Taste:
Neutral. Bitter, Pungent
Classification:
P. Cold Phlegm
Uses:
1. Stops Cough, Moves Lung Qi, Clears Phlegm:
-Cough, Wheezing with excess mucus
-moves the Qi of the Lungs and Chest to relieve chest tightness and constriction
2. Clears Heat, Benefits the Throat:
-Sore Throat, Hoarseness
3. Resolves Abscess:
-Abscess, especially of the Throat or Lung
-used to help heal abscesses anywhere on the body
4. Guides to the Lungs and Upper Body:
-regarded as guiding the action of other herbs to the Lungs and upper body
-raises and disseminates Lung Qi
DOSE:
3–9 grams in decoction;
1–3 grams in powder
PREPARATIONS:
1. Dry-Fried Platycodon:
Stir-fried or baked until yellow. This reduces the dispersing effect and makes it more gentle on the stomach. It is good for Cough in the young, old or weak.
2. Honey Fried Platycodon:
Stir-fried with honey until the root is candied. This is more moistening and nourishing to the Lungs. It is used for Lung Qi and Yin deficiency.
3. Charred Platycodon:
Fried until black, it is used for Dysentery with blood and pus.
3–9 grams in decoction;
1–3 grams in powder
PREPARATIONS:
1. Dry-Fried Platycodon:
Stir-fried or baked until yellow. This reduces the dispersing effect and makes it more gentle on the stomach. It is good for Cough in the young, old or weak.
2. Honey Fried Platycodon:
Stir-fried with honey until the root is candied. This is more moistening and nourishing to the Lungs. It is used for Lung Qi and Yin deficiency.
3. Charred Platycodon:
Fried until black, it is used for Dysentery with blood and pus.
Main Combinations:
Platycodon Jie Geng is often combined with Licorice for Sore Throat, Cough and Wheezing.
1. Cough in general, Platycodon Jie Geng with Coltsfoot flower (Kuan Dong Hua), Almond kernel (Xing Ren), Licorice, Raisins (or Red Dates)
2. Cough, Wheezing with excess mucus, Platycodon Jie Geng with Almond (Xing Ren), and Perilla Zi Su Ye.
3. Acute Cough:
i. from Wind-Heat, Platycodon Jie Geng with Morus Sang Ye and Chrysanthemum Ju Hua.
ii. from Wind-Heat, Platycodon Jie Geng with Scutellaria Huang Qin and Licorice
iii. from Wind-Cold, Platycodon Jie Geng with Pinellia Ban Xia and Licorice
iv. from Wind-Cold, Platycodon Jie Geng with Ginger, Aniseed, Licorice
4. Cough from deficiency, Platycodon Jie Geng with Astragalus Huang Qi, Lillium Bai He
5. Acute Sore Throat, Hoarseness:
i. Platycodon Jie Geng with Licorice.
ii. acute Wind-heat itchy Sore Throat, Platycodon Jie Geng with Licorice, Peppermint
iii. from Heat, Platycodon Jie Geng with Licorice, Scutellaria Huang Qin
iv. from Fire-Toxin (Toxic Heat), Platycodon Jie Geng with Licorice, Coptis Huang Lian .
6. Lung Abscess:
i. Platycodon Jie Geng with Fritillaria Bei Mu
ii. Platycodon Jie Geng with Houttuynia Yu Xing Cao, Coix Yi Yi Ren (Job's Tears), Trichosanthes Semen Gua Lou Ren
7. Abscess that has ulcerated, Platycodon Jie Geng with Angelica dahurica Bai Zhi, Licorice
Cautions:
Not used for chronic dry Cough from Yin deficiency, Hemoptysis or Consumption. This is because of its acrid, dispersing quality that will weaken further or may increase Bleeding.
Main Preparations used:
Not used for chronic dry Cough from Yin deficiency, Hemoptysis or Consumption. This is because of its acrid, dispersing quality that will weaken further or may increase Bleeding.
Main Preparations used: