Pharmaceutical Name:

Radix Platycodi

Botanical Name:

Platycodon grandiflorum (Jacq.) A. DC.

Common Name:

Platycodon root
Balloonflower root

Source of Earliest Record:

Shennong Bencao Jing

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations:

The Platycodon roots are dug in either spring or autumn, but the autumn roots are better quality.  After the root bark has been removed, the roots are dried in the sun and cut into slices.

Properties and Taste:

Bitter, pungent and neutral

Meridian:

Lung

Functions:

To promote the dispersing function of the lungs
To resolve phlegm
To expel pus

Indications and Combinations:

1.     Failure of lung Qi to disperse due to invasion of exogenous pathogenic factors manifested as cough with profuse sputum or sputum that is difficult to expectorate, fullness and distension in the chest and hypochondriac region, sore throat and hoarse voice.
*Use with Apricot seed (Xingren) and Trichosanthes fruit (Gualou) for wind heat cough.
*Use with Scrophularia (Xuanshen), Licorice root (Gancao) and Arctium fruit (Niubangzi) for sore throat and hoarse voice.

2.     Toxic heat accumulated in the lungs (lung abscess) manifested as cough with blood or pus, yellow and offensive smelling sputum and chest pain.
*Use with Houttuynia (Yuxingcao), Benincasa seed (Dongguaren) and Trichosanthes fruit (Gualou).

Dosage:

3-10 g