Codonopsis lanceolata
Codonopsis lanceolata is one of the plants of the family called Campanaceae; in Latin the name of this plant will be as follows: Codonopsis lanceolata.
As for the name of the Codonopsis lanceolata family itself, in Latin it will be: Campanulaceae Juss.
Description of Codonopsis lanceolata
Codonopsis lanceolata is a perennial climbing plant whose height will reach two meters. The root of this plant is quite thick, long and radish-shaped. The stems of Codonopsis lanceolata are glabrous or they may be sparsely hairy, and such stems are also branched and climbing. The leaves of Codonopsis lanceolata can be either rhombic or broadly lanceolate. From below, such leaves will be colored in gray-blue tones; they are collected in bunches of four at the ends of rather short side branches. It is worth noting that sometimes the leaves of this plant can be single: such leaves are short-petioled, entire, sometimes serrated, they can be either blunt or sharp. The leaves will most often be finely ciliated, but may also be scatteredly hairy; their length will be about three and a half to seven and a half centimeters, and the width will be two to three and a half centimeters.
The flowers of Codonopsis lanceolata are apical, they are equipped with bare pedicels, their length does not exceed two centimeters. The teeth of the hemispherical bare calyx are lanceolate or oblong; they will be bare and sharp. The corolla will be bell-shaped, it is painted in bluish-green tones or has a purple edge and the same speckles and spots. The length of such a corolla will reach three centimeters, they will be endowed with sharp lobes and bent triangular lobes, the filaments of the stamens are bare, and at the bottom they will be expanded. The stem of Codonopsis lanceolata is glabrous, it will be equipped with a tripartite stigma, the ovary is inferior, triangular and trilocular. The boll is obverse-conical and bluish. The seeds of Codonopsis lanceolata are smooth, dull, winged, and their length will be about two to three millimeters.
Flowering of Codonopsis lanceolata occurs in the period from July to August. Under natural conditions, this plant is found in the Far East. As for the general distribution, this plant can be found in Japan, Northern China and Korea. For growth, the plant prefers river and stream valleys, slopes and bushes.
Description of the medicinal properties of codonopsis lanceolata
Codonopsis lanceolata is endowed with very valuable healing properties, and it is recommended to use the roots of this plant for medicinal purposes. It is recommended to harvest such roots in late autumn.
A decoction prepared from the roots of this plant is used as a very effective antitussive and expectorant.
It is noteworthy that in Korea, the roots of this plant are used as a substitute for ginseng. The roots of Codonopsis lanceolata are used for chronic dystrophy, decreased body resistance after illness, various types of anemia, kidney inflammation, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, poor digestion and chronic intestinal inflammation. It is believed that this plant can be used to treat impotence, which is caused by chronic inflammation and atherosclerosis.
For chronic gastritis, nephritis, colitis and enterocolitis, the following remedy is used: six grams of crushed roots per three hundred milliliters of water, boil for five minutes over low heat, then leave for two hours and filter. Take this remedy on an empty stomach three to four times a day, one hundred milliliters.
