The source is from the root of Platycodon grandiflorum (Jacq.) A. DC., family Campanulaceae. The medicinal material is produced in the areas of Anhui, Jiangsu, and Shandong, etc., dug and collected in both spring and autumn, dried in the sun after the impurity is got rid of. The raw is cut into pieces for being used. Medicinal Properties Bitter and pungent in flavor, bland in nature and attributive to the lung meridian. Actions Disperse the lung to resolve phlegm, ease the throat and drain the pus. Application 1. It is indicated for cough with excessive phlegm, sore throat and aphonia due to failure of the lung to disperse. It can be used for cough with excessive phlegm no matter whether it is due to lung-cold or lung-heat. For cough of wind-cold type, it is combined with Xingren (Semen Pruni Armeniacae ) , Zisuye ( Folium Perillae ) and Jupi (Pericarpium Citri Tangerinae), etc. ; for that of wind-heat type, usually combined with Sangye (Folium Mori ), Juhua ( Flos Chrgsanthemi ), and Xingren (Semen Pruni Armeniacae), etc.; for sore throat and aphonia due to pathogenic heat invading the lung, combined with Bohe (Herba Menthae), Niubangzi (Fructus Arctii )', and Chantui (Periostracum Cicadae), etc.; for domination of pathogenic heat, combined with Shegan (Rhizoma Belamcandae ), Mabo ( Lasiosphaera seu Calvatia ) and Banlangen (Radix Isatidis ) , etc.. 2. For pulmonary abscess with chest pain, cough with pus, blood and yellow sputum with stinking smell, it is combined with Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae), such as Jiegeng Tang (Decoction); if the herb is combined with Yuxingcao (Herba Houttuyniae), Yiyiren ( Semen Coicis), Dongguazi ( Semen Benincasae) and Beimu ( Bulbus Fritillariae), its action of clearing away heat and draining the pus is even stronger. Usage and Dosage 3 - 6 g is used in decoction for oral use. Large dosage untill 10 g can be used in draining pus. Notes It is lifting and dispersing in property, therefore, it is not suitable for functional activities of qi going upward resulting in vomiting, chocking cough and dizziness. Over dosage easily results in nausea and vomiting. It is not suitable to be used as injection because of the hemolyzation of its platycodoside.
