Jie Geng - 桔梗 - Radix Platycodi
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Radix Platycodi |
| Common English: | Balloon Flower Root Platycodon Root |
Category
Herbs that Transform Phlegm and Stop Coughing: Warm Herbs that Transform Cold PhlegmProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Bitter Acrid | Neutral | Lung | 3-10g Tincture: 2-4ml |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Benefits the throat, Expels Phlegm, Opens the Lungs, Spreads Lung Qi | Cough due to Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat (with profuse sputum, sore throat, loss of voice), asthma Loss of voice or sore throat due to external Heat, Phlegm Heat or Yin Deficiency Heat |
Expels pus | Lung or throat abscess (Phlegm and Qi Stagnation) with fevers, chest pain, coughing of yellow sputum with a fishy smell and hemoptysis, Lung carbuncles |
Opens and raises Lung Qi, directing the effects of other herbs to the upper body | Reinforces the actions of the other herbs and focuses the formula on the upper body |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Major Combinations
| Rx. Glycyrrhizae | Rx. Glycyrrhizae | Caulis Perillae |
| Disseminates Lung Qi, expels Phlegm, resolves toxicity and expels pus for productive coughing with hoarseness, pain and swelling of the throat due to Wind-Heat. Lung abscess with expectoration of pus and pain in the chest and flanks. Excess disorders in the Upper Jiao with no disorder in the Lower Jiao. | Hoarseness, pain and swelling of the throat due to Wind-Heat. (stronger action) | Cough, wheezing, or stifling sensations in the chest and diaphragm due to Lung Qi Stagnation. Focal distention of the epigastrium , loss of taste for food, nausea and reflux due to Spleen/Stomach Qi Stagnation. Good for elderly, deficient or pregnant patients. |
| Fol. Mori | Fol. Perillae | Cx. Mori |
Wind-Heat cough with mild fever and thirst. | Productive cough with clear, bubbly sputum, nasal congestion, chills and headache due to Wind-Cold Invading the Lungs. | Wind-Heat cough. |
| Rz. Pinelliae Preparata | Hb. Menthae | Fr. Aurantii |
Coughing due to Wind-Cold Invasion or long-standing Phlegm-Dampness. | Hoarseness and sore throat due to Wind-Heat. | Phlegm Obstruction and Qi Stagnation with discomfort and a stifling sensation in the chest. |
| Sm. Trichosanthis | Rx. Angelicae Dahuricae | Bul. Fritillariae Thunbergii |
Lung abscess. | Ulcerated abscess where pus is being discharged slowly. | Strengthens its ability to discharge pus for Lung abscess with profuse Phlegm and pus accumulation. |
| Fr. Chebulae | Rx. Glycyrrhizae | Hb. Houttuyniae |
Hoarseness and loss of voice. | Lung abscess with chest pain, fever and a cough with foul-smelling, yellow, sticky sputum. | Lobar pneumonia and bronchitis due to Heat and toxins. |
Rx. Paeoniae Alba | ||
Pus and abscess formation. |
Notes
- Because of its hemolytic properties, which digestion neutralizes, this herb is not suitable for injection.
- It is a versatile herb with both tonic and anti-inflammatory effects, used mainly for Lung and skin complaints.
- As a Lung Qi tonic, it is helpful in formulas that nourish Lung Yin.
- It is particularly effective at eliminating pus in the Lung.
- It lifts the actions of the other herbs upward.
- It is suitable for Hot or Cold conditions, acute or chronic, whether or not Phlegm is present.
- Research shows that it inhibits the growth of cancer cells.
- Jie Geng and Sm. Armeniacae Xing Ren are both Qi Level herbs of the Lung channel. Jie Geng raises and disseminates Lung Qi, benefits the throat and expels Phlegm, whereas Xing Ren descends Lung Qi, relieves cough and calms wheezing.
- Jie Geng and Sm. Sterculiae Pang Da Hai each disseminate Lung Qi, cool the Lungs, resolve toxicity and benefit the throat. Jie Geng is the more intense of the two. It lifts Lung Qi, releases the Exterior, helps the throat by clearing Phlegm and pus, and guides the other herbs to the Upper Jiao. It is also used for dysenteric disorder and abdominal pain. Pang Da Hai cools, moistens and drains constrained Fire, and is used specifically for throat disorders. It also moistens the Intestines and treats mild constipation and blood in the stool.
- In dry-fried Platycodon Chao Jie Geng, the acrid dispersing quality is tempered and the tendency to irritate the Stomach and cause nausea is lessened. It is the best choice for elderly and weak patients with cough from Phlegm or thin mucus.
- Honey-prepared Platycodon Mi Zhi Jie Geng has stronger moistening and tonifying properties and is used for chronic dry cough from Lung Deficiency.
- Charred Platycodon Jie Geng Tan is used for dysenteric disorders with hemafecia resulting from Lung Heat transferring to the Large Intestine.
From Class
- Jie Geng (Platycodon) — opens the chest to expel phlegm: Jie Geng is neutral, spicy, with Stomach/Lung affinity; it opens the chest, treats cough and expels phlegm, featuring in many phlegm formulas. (Yuen)
- Xing Ren / Jie Geng / Zhi Ke: Xing Ren diffuses lung qi and moistens intestines; Jie Geng diffuses lung qi (envoy upward); Zhi Ke opens the diaphragm. (Gioioso)