Use of Jie Geng (platycodon roots) in TCM
Please note that you should never self-prescribe TCM ingredients. A TCM ingredient is almost never eaten on its own but as part of a formula containing several ingredients that act together. Please consult a professional TCM practitioner, they will be best able to guide you.
Preparation: Dig out the root in the spring or autumn seasons, wash it, remove the fibrous elements, peel the skin and dry it. Remove impurities, wash again, soak in water, cut in thick pieces and dry.
Dosage: 3-10g.
Main actions according to TCM*: Opens the Lungs and smoothes the flow of Lung Qi. Expels Phlegm and pus from the Lungs and throat, can be used for either Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat according to the other herbs in the formula. Directs
the actions of other herbs to the Upper Warmer.
Primary conditions or symptoms for which Jie Geng may be prescribed by TCM doctors*:
Coughing
Common cold
Tonsillitis
Chest congestion
Sore throat
Lung abscess
Contraindications*: This herb should not be used if there is blood in the expectoration and so is often not appropriate for tuberculosis.
Common TCM formulas in which Jie Geng is used*
Jie Geng is a deputy ingredient in Xing Su San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
In Xing Su San, Jie Geng causes the Lung Qi to descend and stops coughing.
Read more about Xing Su San
Jie Geng is a deputy ingredient in Yin Qiao San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
In Yin Qiao San, Jie Geng spreads the Lung Qi and improves the throat. Also, Liquorice and Platycoden together are very strong in treating sore throat.
Read more about Yin Qiao San
Jie Geng is a deputy ingredient in Sang Ju Yin. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
In Sang Ju Yin, Jie Geng helps the two key herbs in invigorating the Lung Qi and stopping coughing by directing the Qi upwards.
Read more about Sang Ju Yin
Jie Geng is a deputy ingredient in Jia Jian Wei Rui Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
In Jia Jian Wei Rui Tang, Jie Geng gently releases the Exterior and also dispels Wind-Heat.
It can also works as an assistant to spread the Lung Qi to stop the coughing and expel the Phlegm.
Read more about Jia Jian Wei Rui Tang
Jie Geng is a deputy ingredient in Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
In Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin, Jie Geng clear Heat from the throat and relieve the Toxic-Fire there.
Read more about Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin
Jie Geng is a deputy ingredient in Zhi Sou San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
In Zhi Sou San, Jie Geng focuses on opening the Lung Qi Stagnation, by facilitating its spreading.
It assists the key herbs in treating the root of coughing.
Read more about Zhi Sou San
Jie Geng is a deputy ingredient in Qing Xin Li Ge Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
In Qing Xin Li Ge Tang, Jie Geng work with Wild mint to resolve Toxicity and disperse clumps, and to clear the throat.
Read more about Qing Xin Li Ge Tang
Jie Geng is a deputy ingredient in Fang Feng Tong Sheng San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
In Fang Feng Tong Sheng San, Jie Geng clears Heat from the Lungs and Stomach.
The ascending nature of Platycodon root complements the descending nature of the purgatives in their separate actions of expelling Heat.
Such combinations are frequently used in treating complex Exterior and Interior disorders.
Read more about Fang Feng Tong Sheng San
Jie Geng is an assistant ingredient in Bai He Gu Jin Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
In Bai He Gu Jin Tang, Jie Geng facilitates the movement of Lung Qi and stops coughing, especially when combined with Fritillary bulbs (Chuan Bei Mu), as is the case here.
Read more about Bai He Gu Jin Tang
Jie Geng is an assistant ingredient in Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
In Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang, Jie Geng expands the chest and supports Qi movement together with other assistant herbs. They eliminate Qi Stagnation in the chest and supports the Qi movement so as to facilitate Blood circulation.
Read more about Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang
Jie Geng is an assistant ingredient in Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
In Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San, Jie Geng promotes the proper functioning of the Lungs and the diaphragm, which strengthens the actions of the key herb
Read more about Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San
Jie Geng is an assistant ingredient in Bei Mu Gua Lou San. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
In Bei Mu Gua Lou San, Jie Geng invigorates Lung Qi and treats throat problems.
Read more about Bei Mu Gua Lou San
Jie Geng is an assistant ingredient in Ren Shen Bai Du San. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
In Ren Shen Bai Du San, Jie Geng invigorates Qi in the chest by directing it upwards, so as to ease chest discomfort. When combining with Qi descending herb Bitter orange, it is very power in invigorating Lung Qi, expelling Phlegm and stopping coughing, as they interact with Phlegm removing herb Hogfennel root.
Read more about Ren Shen Bai Du San
Jie Geng is an assistant ingredient in Jing Fang Bai Du San. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
In Jing Fang Bai Du San, Jie Geng invigorates Qi in the chest by directing it upwards, so as to ease chest discomfort. When combining with Qi descending herb Bitter orange, it is very power in invigorating Lung Qi, expelling Phlegm and stopping coughing, as they interact with Phlegm removing herb Hogfennel root.
Read more about Jing Fang Bai Du San
Jie Geng is an assistant ingredient in Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
In Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang, Jie Geng disperses accumulations and thrust out pus along with Angelica root and Bitter orange.
Read more about Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang
Jie Geng is an assistant ingredient in Huang Long Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
In Huang Long Tang, Jie Geng removes Lung and Large Intestine Qi Stagnation.
It also has an uplifting action that helps to counteract the downward-draining action of the key ingredients. This allows the Stagnation to be eliminated without causing a collapse of the Middle Qi.
Read more about Huang Long Tang
Jie Geng is an assistant ingredient in Qing Wen Bai Du Yin. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
In Qing Wen Bai Du Yin, Jie Geng has an ascending action that direct the actions of the other ingredients upward.
Read more about Qing Wen Bai Du Yin
Jie Geng is an assistant ingredient in Shi Wei Bai Du San. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
In Shi Wei Bai Du San, Jie Geng resolves Toxicity and also, with the help of Szechuan lovage root, thrusting out the pus.
Read more about Shi Wei Bai Du San
Jie Geng is an assistant ingredient in San Zhong Kui Jian Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
In San Zhong Kui Jian Tang, Jie Geng clears Heat while also protecting Yin that is susceptible to damage from the Heat
accumulation and the bitter, drying herbs in the formula. The combination of Anemarrhena rhizome, Platycodon root and Snake gourd root is very effect in performing this task.
Read more about San Zhong Kui Jian Tang
Jie Geng is an assistant ingredient in Wu Ji San. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
In Wu Ji San, Jie Geng guides the Qi to ascend.
Read more about Wu Ji San
Jie Geng is an envoy ingredient in Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
In Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan, Jie Geng conducts the actions of the other herbs upward toward the upper burner, the abode of the Mind.
Read more about Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan
Jie Geng is an envoy ingredient in Tong Ru Dan. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
In Tong Ru Dan, Jie Geng plays the role as a carrier to direct the herbs to the Upper Burner.
Read more about Tong Ru Dan
Jie Geng is an envoy ingredient in Xia Ru Yong Quan San. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
In Xia Ru Yong Quan San, Jie Geng plays the carrier role to direct the ingredients to the Upper Burner.
Read more about Xia Ru Yong Quan San
Jie Geng is an envoy ingredient in Shen Ling Bai Zhu San. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
In Shen Ling Bai Zhu San, Jie Geng disseminates Lung Qi, helps spread nourishment throughout the body and guides the actions of the other herbs into the Lungs.
Read more about Shen Ling Bai Zhu San
Jie Geng is an envoy ingredient in Jiu Xian San. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
In Jiu Xian San, Jie Geng focuses the actions of all the ingredients on the Lungs, while also disseminating the Lungs and transforming the Phlegm.
Read more about Jiu Xian San
Key TCM concepts behind Jie Geng's properties
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Jie Geng belongs to the 'Warm herbs that transform Phlegm and stop Cough' category. In TCM Phlegm is a condition of Stagnation of Fluids which tends to start in the Spleen and then goes to the Lungs. If this overly accumulates it thickens and becomes pathological Phlegm. Phlegm, being a form of Stagnation, often starts as being Cool and transforms to Hot as the condition progresses. The herbs in this category are Warm in nature so they treat the early stages of the Stagnation: Cold-Phlegm and Wet-Phlegm with symptoms of wheezing, vomiting and nausea.
As suggested by its category Jie Geng is Neutral in nature. This means that Jie Geng typically doesn't affect the balance in your body. Balance between Yin and Yang is a key health concept in TCM. Eating too many "Hot" (Yang) ingredients can lead to an imbalance whereby one has a Yang Excess. The inverse is true as well: too many "Cold" (Yin) ingredients can lead to a Yin Excess. The Neutral nature of Jie Geng means that you don't have to worry about that!
Jie Geng also tastes Bitter and Pungent. The so-called 'Five Phases' theory in Chinese Medicine states that the taste of TCM ingredients is a key determinant of their action in the body. Bitter ingredients like Jie Geng tends to have a cleansing action on the body by clearing Heat, drying Dampness and promoting elimination via urination or bowel movements. On the other hand Pungent ingredients tend to promote the circulations of Qi and Body Fluids. That's why for instance someone tends to sweat a lot when they eat spicy/pungent food.
The tastes of ingredients in TCM also determine what Organs and Meridians they target. As such Jie Geng is thought to target the Lung. In addition to performing respiration, the Lungs are thought in TCM to be a key part of the production chain for Qi and the Body Fluids that nourish the body.
Research on Jie Geng
The extracts and purified platycoside compounds (saponins) from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum may exhibit neuroprotective, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-allergy, improved insulin resistance, and cholesterol-lowering properties.1.
Herbal medicine consisting of Platycodon Root effectively reduces the incidence of acute tonsillitis.2.
Sources:
1. Nyakudya E.; Jeong JH.; Lee NK.; Jeong YS. (2014) “Platycosides from the Roots of Platycodon grandiflorum and Their Health Benefits.” Preventative Nutrition and Food Science 19 (2): 59-68. PMID 25054103
2. Goto F, Asama Y, Ogawa K. (2010). Sho-saiko-to-ka-kikyo-sekko as an alternative treatment for chronic tonsillitis to avoid surgery. Complement Ther Clin Pract. , 16(4):216-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2010.02.006. Epub 2010 Mar 19.
Use of Jie Geng as food
Jie Geng is also eaten as food. It is used as an ingredient in dishes such as Doraji-muchim or Sauteed bellflower root.
