Codonopsis
Scientific names: Codonopsis pilosula, Codonopsis tangshen, Codonopsis tubulosa
Family: Campanulaceae
Alternate names: Bastard Ginseng, Bellflower, Bonnet Bellflower, Campanule à Bonnet, Chuan Dang, Codonopsis Modestae, Codonopsis Pilosula Modesta, Dangshen, Deodeok, Dong Seng, Ginseng Bâtard, Ginseng du Pauvre, Poor Man's Ginseng Root, Racine de Campanule à Bonnet, Radix Codonopsis, Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae, Tsoong
Actions: Antifertility activity, Antiobesity, Antioxidant, Cardiac, Coagulation, Cytotoxic activity, Gastrointestinal, Hepatic, Immunomodulatory, Memory, Nerve cell
Background
Codonopsis is a family of plants used in China and Korea to replenish vital energy, or qi. It's sometimes used as a cheaper alternative to Panax ginseng.
Codonopsis contains chemicals that seem to slow down the growth of cancer cells. It also seems to affect the immune system.
People use codonopsis for HIV/AIDS, cancer, obesity, diabetes, heartburn, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Codonopsis is sometimes called "poor man's ginseng" because it's used in commercial products as a substitute for Panax ginseng. But none of the active chemicals in ginseng have been found in codonopsis. They are not the same.
Codonopsis contains chemicals that seem to slow down the growth of cancer cells. It also seems to affect the immune system.
People use codonopsis for HIV/AIDS, cancer, obesity, diabetes, heartburn, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Codonopsis is sometimes called "poor man's ginseng" because it's used in commercial products as a substitute for Panax ginseng. But none of the active chemicals in ginseng have been found in codonopsis. They are not the same.
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: Codonopsis is possibly safe when used appropriately. Doses of 6-9 grams seem to be safe. But codonopsis is possibly unsafe when used in large amounts. Doses of 30-60 grams have been linked with side effects including chest pain, throat pain, dizziness, confusion, and other symptoms.
Surgery: Codonopsis might slow blood clotting. Taking codonopsis might increase the risk for bleeding during and after surgical procedures. Stop using codonopsis at least two weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if codonopsis is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.Surgery: Codonopsis might slow blood clotting. Taking codonopsis might increase the risk for bleeding during and after surgical procedures. Stop using codonopsis at least two weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Effectiveness
Effective Effectiveness definitions
There is interest in using codonopsis for a number of purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.
Dosing & administration
There isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of codonopsis might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Abiraterone (Zytiga)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Abiraterone is a drug used for cancer. Codonopsis might speed up how quickly the body gets rid of abiraterone. This might reduce the anticancer effects of abiraterone.
Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Codonopsis might lower blood sugar levels. Taking codonopsis along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely.
Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Codonopsis might slow blood clotting. Taking codonopsis along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar: Codonopsis might lower blood sugar. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might lower blood sugar too much. Examples of supplements with this effect include aloe, bitter melon, cassia cinnamon, chromium, and prickly pear cactus.
Herbs and supplements that might slow blood clotting: Codonopsis might slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might increase the risk of bleeding in some people. Examples of supplements with this effect include garlic, ginger, ginkgo, nattokinase, and Panax ginseng.
Herbs and supplements that might slow blood clotting: Codonopsis might slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might increase the risk of bleeding in some people. Examples of supplements with this effect include garlic, ginger, ginkgo, nattokinase, and Panax ginseng.
Interactions with foods
There are no known interactions with foods.
Products
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Per 5 mL:
- Codonopsis pilosula (Codonopsis) ext. 1 mL
- Iron amino acid chelate 25 mg equiv. iron 5 mg
- Withania somnifera ext. 120 mg
- Urtica dioica ext. 1 mL
- Glycyrrhiza glabra ext. 125 mg
- Zingiber officinale ext. 0.1 mL
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 2.5 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 2.5 mg equiv. pyridoxine 2 mg
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) 1.5 μg
Practitioner product
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Per tablet:
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Per tablet:
Practitioner product
Per tablet:
- Codonopsis pilosula (Codonopsis) ext. 83.33 mg
- Iron amino acid chelate 60 mg equiv. iron 12 mg
- Withania somnifera ext. 150 mg
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) 120 mg
- Riboflavin 5-phosphate sodium (Activated B2) 6.9 mg equiv. riboflavin 5 mg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate monohydrate (P5P) 7.8 mg equiv. pyridoxine 5 mg
- Levomefolate calcium (Activated folate) 108 μg equiv. levomefolic acid 100 μg
- Co-methylcobalamin (Vitamin B12) 250 μg
Practitioner product
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Codonopsis pilosula (Mi Zhi Dang Shen) ext. 56.1 mg
- Atractylodes macrocephala ext. 42.3 mg
- Poria cocos ext. 42.3 mg
- Pinellia ternata ext. 42 mg
- Citrus reticulata ext. 28.2 mg
- Amomum villosum ext. 23.4 mg
- Glycyrrhiza uralensis ext. 23.4 mg
- Lindera strychnifolia ext. 42.3 mg
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Codonopsis pilosula (Mi Zhi Dang Shen) ext. 46.8 mg
- Astragalus membranaceus ext. 46.8 mg
- Atractylodes macrocephala ext. 46.8 mg
- Angelica polymorpha ext. 37.5 mg
- Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa ext. 31.2 mg
- Bupleurum falcatum ext. 28.2 mg
- Actaea racemosa ext. 18.9 mg
- Citrus reticulata ext. 18.9 mg
- Glycyrrhiza uralensis ext. 15.6 mg
- Zingiber officinale ext. 9.3 mg
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Codonopsis pilosula (Mi Zhi Dang Shen) ext. 38.79 mg
- Astragalus membranaceus ext. 38.79 mg
- Atractylodes macrocephala ext. 31.02 mg
- Angelica polymorpha ext. 31.02 mg
- Poria cocos ext. 31.02 mg
- Ziziphus jujuba ext. 25.86 mg
- Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa ext. 23.28 mg
- Dimocarpus longan ext. 23.28 mg
- Cyperus rotundus ext. 23.28 mg
- Polygala sibirica ext. 12.96 mg
- Glycyrrhiza uralensis ext. 12.93 mg
- Zingiber officinale ext. 7.77 mg
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Codonopsis pilosula (Mi Zhi Dang Shen) ext. 30 mg
- Astragalus membranaceus ext. 37.5 mg
- Paeonia lactiflora ext. 30 mg
- Rehmannia glutinosa ext. 30 mg
- Atractylodes macrocephala ext. 30 mg
- Angelica polymorpha ext. 22.5 mg
- Poria cocos ext. 22.5 mg
- Ziziphus jujuba ext. 22.5 mg
- Citrus reticulata ext. 15 mg
- Schizandra chinensis ext. 15 mg
- Polygala sibirica ext. 12.51 mg
- Zingiber officinale ext. 12.51 mg
- Glycyrrhiza uralensis ext. 12.48 mg
- Cinnamomum cassia (bark) ext. 7.5 mg
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Codonopsis pilosula (Mi Zhi Dang Shen) ext. 29.04 mg
- Rehmannia glutinosa ext. 58.08 mg
- Astragalus membranaceus ext. 29.04 mg
- Dioscorea oppositifolia ext. 29.04 mg
- Poria cocos ext. 29.04 mg
- Epimedium sagittatum ext. 29.04 mg
- Cuscuta hygrophilae ext. 29.04 mg
- Cornus officinalis ext. 23.19 mg
- Lycium barbarum ext. 23.19 mg
- Citrus reticulata ext. 11.61 mg
- Glycyrrhiza uralensis ext. 9.69 mg
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Codonopsis pilosula (Mi Zhi Dang Shen) ext. 22.5 mg
- Eucommia ulmoides ext. 22.5 mg
- Angelica polymorpha ext. 22.5 mg
- Dipsacus asper ext. 22.5 mg
- Loranthus parasiticus ext. 22.5 mg
- Cuscuta hygrophilae ext. 22.5 mg
- Paeonia lactiflora ext. 22.5 mg
- Atractylodes macrocephala ext. 22.5 mg
- Poria cocos ext. 22.5 mg
- Alisma orientale ext. 22.5 mg
- Morus alba ext. 22.5 mg
- Curcuma longa ext. 22.5 mg
- Bupleurum falcatum ext. 15 mg
- Ligusticum striatum ext. 15 mg
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Codonopsis pilosula (Mi Zhi Dang Shen) ext. 22.17 mg
- Astragalus membranaceus ext. 22.17 mg
- Paeonia lactiflora ext. 22.17 mg
- Rehmannia glutinosa ext. 22.17 mg
- Angelica polymorpha ext. 22.17 mg
- Ziziphus jujuba ext. 22.14 mg
- Curcuma longa ext. 22.14 mg
- Cyperus rotundus ext. 22.14 mg
- Bupleurum falcatum ext. 22.14 mg
- Lindera strychnifolia ext. 22.14 mg
- Epimedium sagittatum ext. 22.14 mg
- Curculigo orchioides ext. 22.14 mg
- Morindae officinalis ext. 22.14 mg
- Zingiber officinale ext. 12.03 mg
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Codonopsis pilosula (Mi Zhi Dang Shen) ext. 21.78 mg
- Biota orientalis ext. 12.09 mg
- Rehmannia glutinosa ext. 43.56 mg
- Ophiopogon japonicus ext. 21.78 mg
- Cornus officinalis ext. 21.78 mg
- Dioscorea oppositifolia ext. 21.78 mg
- Poria cocos ext. 21.78 mg
- Inula britannica ext. 21.78 mg
- Epimedium brevicornum ext. 21.78 mg
- Perilla frutescens ext. 21.78 mg
- Prunus armeniaca ext. 21.78 mg
- Ziziphus jujuba ext. 24.18 mg
- Citrus maxima ext. 12.09 mg
- Glycyrrhiza uralensis ext. 12.06 mg
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Codonopsis pilosula (Mi Zhi Dang Shen) ext. 21 mg
- Poria cocos ext. 21 mg
- Angelica pubescens ext. 18 mg
- Gentiana macrophylla ext. 18 mg
- Loranthus parasiticus ext. 21 mg
- Eucommia ulmoides ext. 18 mg
- Cyathula officinalis ext. 18 mg
- Achyranthes bidentata ext. 18 mg
- Angelica polymorpha ext. 18 mg
- Ligusticum wallichii ext. 18 mg
- Rehmannia glutinosa ext. 18 mg
- Paeonia lactiflora ext. 19.5 mg
- Clematis chinensis ext. 18 mg
- Cynanchum stauntonii ext. 19.5 mg
- Cinnamomum cassia (bark) ext. 9 mg
- Glycyrrhiza uralensis ext. 9 mg
Practitioner product
Per capsule:
- Codonopsis pilosula (Mi Zhi Dang Shen) ext. 20.1 mg
- Astragalus membranaceus ext. 26.7 mg
- Crataegus pinnatifida ext. 26.7 mg
- Gynostemma pentaphyllum ext. 33.3 mg
- Citrus aurantium ext. 26.7 mg
- Atractylodes macrocephala ext. 20.1 mg
- Nelumbo nucifera ext. 20.1 mg
- Pinellia ternata ext. 20.1 mg
- Poria cocos ext. 20.1 mg
- Alisma plantago aquatica ext. 20.1 mg
- Morus alba ext. 20.1 mg
- Senna tora ext. 20.1 mg
- Citrus reticulata ext. 12.9 mg
- Ziziphus jujuba ext. 12.9 mg
Practitioner product
Per 5 mL:
- Codonopsis pilosula (Codonopsis) ext. 285 mg
- Astragalus membranaceus ext. 720 mg
- Ligustrum lucidum ext. 425 mg
- Ganoderma lucidum ext. 285 mg
- Atractylodes macrocephala ext. 285 mg
- Eleutherococcus senticosus ext. 250 mg
- Schisandra chinensis ext. 175 mg
- Glycyrrhiza uralensis ext. 18.75 mg
- Ethanol
- Glycerol
- Mentha spicata (oil)
- Water
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Per capsule:
- Codonopsis pilosula (Mi Zhi Dang Shen) ext. 31.8 mg
- Paeonia lactiflora ext. 31.8 mg
- Citrus reticulata ext. 16.2 mg
- Atractylodes macrocephala ext. 24 mg
- Atractylodes lancea ext. 24 mg
- Dolichos lablab ext. 24 mg
- Coix lachryma-jobi ext. 24 mg
- Dioscorea oppositifolia ext. 24 mg
- Hordeum vulgare ext. 24 mg
- Ziziphus jujuba ext. 24 mg
- Glycyrrhiza uralensis ext. 12 mg
- Cyperus rotundus ext. 24 mg
Discontinued by ChinaMed
Practitioner product
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This monograph was last reviewed on 31/07/2024 10:00:00 and last updated on 23/10/2020 21:18:31. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
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Natural Medicines rates safety based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Likely Safe, Possibly Safe, Possibly Unsafe, Likely Unsafe, Unsafe, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate. For more information about Natural Medicines’ Safety Rating System, click here.
The Natural Medicines Effectiveness Ratings are assigned for specific indications. A product might be rated "Possibly Effective" for one condition, but be rated "Likely Ineffective" for another condition, depending on the evidence. For more info click here.
