Platycodon, Jie Geng 桔梗

Balloon Flower root
Jie Geng (TCM)
Picture Platycodon grandiflorum
Houtte, Flore des serres et des jardin de l’Europe, vol. 22 (1845)

Picture Platycodon grandiflorum
Photo by Kurt Stueber (Wikimedia)

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Botanical name:


Platycodon grandiflorum

Parts used:


Root

Temperature & Taste:


Neutral. Bitter, Pungent

Classification:


P. Clears 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
-“clears a Stuffy Nose” (Zhang Yuan Su)

2. Clears Wind-Heat, Benefits the Throat: 
-Sore Throat, Hoarseness
-Red, sore eyes (Li Shi Zhen)
-Aphtha of the tongue (Li Shi Zhen)
-“prevents attack of Epidemics” (Da Ming)

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

5. Settles Wind:
-Infantile Convulsions, Epilepsy
-Syncope due to Fright
–“good for relieving fright and terror, and palpitations” (Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing)


Dose:


Decoction: 3–9 grams
Powder: 1–3 grams

Preparations:
… available in PRO version
Picture

Main Combinations:


Platycodon Jie Geng is often combined with Licorice for Sore Throat, Cough and Wheezing.

1. Cough in general, Platycodon Jie Geng with … available in PRO version
2. Cough, Wheezing with excess mucus:
i. Platycodon Jie Geng with … available in PRO version
ii. Platycodon Jie Geng with … available in PRO version
3. Acute Cough:
i. from Wind-Heat, Platycodon Jie Geng with … available in PRO version
ii. from Wind-Heat, Platycodon Jie Geng with … available in PRO version
iii. from Wind-Cold, Platycodon Jie Geng with … available in PRO version
iv. from Wind-Cold, Platycodon Jie Geng with … available in PRO version
4. Cough from deficiency:
i. Platycodon Jie Geng with … available in PRO version
ii. Platycodon Jie Geng with … available in PRO version
5. Shortness of Breath, Wheezing:
i. Platycodon Jie Geng with … available in PRO version
ii. Platycodon Jie Geng with … available in PRO version
iii. Platycodon Jie Geng with … available in PRO version
6. Acute Sore Throat, Hoarseness:
i. Platycodon Jie Geng with … available in PRO version
ii. Platycodon Jie Geng with … available in PRO version
iii. acute Wind-heat itchy Sore Throat, Platycodon Jie Geng with … available in PRO version
iv. from Heat, Platycodon Jie Geng with … available in PRO version
v. from Fire-Toxin (Toxic Heat), Platycodon Jie Geng with … available in PRO version
vi. with loss of Voice, Platycodon Jie Geng with … available in PRO version
vii. with loss of Voice, Platycodon Jie Geng with … available in PRO version
7. Fullness and pain in the chest, Platycodon Jie Geng with … available in PRO version
8. Lung Abscess:
i. Platycodon Jie Geng with … available in PRO version
ii. Platycodon Jie Geng with … available in PRO version
iii. Platycodon Jie Geng with … available in PRO version
9. Abscess that has ulcerated, Platycodon Jie Geng with … available in PRO version

Cautions:


Not used for chronic dry Cough from Yin deficiency, Hemoptysis or Consumption.

Main Preparations used: