College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

 

AYURVEDIC HERB SUPPLEMENTS

Codonopsis (dang Shen) Herbal Powder (Codonopsis pilosula)

Poor man's ginseng

How Does This Ayurvedic Herb Supplement Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Poor man's ginseng

Metabolic Nature of Codonopsis (dang shen)

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

TASTES

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

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SWEET

ABOUT SWEET BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Sweet refers to anything builds tissue, including macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

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DOSHAS

The Three Doshas / Body Types

Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.

Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.

Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.

Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.

The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).

Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.

Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.

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PACIFIES
Pitta pacifying Vata pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Kapha aggravating

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.

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PACIFIES
CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHOLERIC

MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MELANCHOLIC

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

A hot and oily nature with a moderate metabolism and a well nourished body makes Sanguine individuals vigorous, vivacious, outgoing and generous, and prone to impulsivity and self indulgence. Bullish and intense when out of balance.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

AGGRAVATES
PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

A Phlegmatic has a cold and wet metabolic nature. The coldness implies a slow metabolism, the moisture that you are well-nourished. Phlegmatics tend towards sluggishness and thickened fluids, including mucus.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Codonopsis (dang shen)
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

(see all)
Nervine

NERVINE

Balances the nervous system. They can help with stress, memory, early alzheimer's, and even chronic pain. Often they are aromatic in nature.

SEE ALL 'NERVINE' FOODS / HERBS

Tonic

TONIC

A tonic herb restores function through strengthening tissue. This can happen through a combination of nourishing the tissue, and invigorating tissue metabolism. The tonic should not be withering, as in caffeine.

SEE ALL 'TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Lung Tonic

LUNG-TONIC

Strengthens the lungs. Lung tonics include antifibrotic, vessel tonic, or nourishing herbs with an affinity for the lungs. They aid recovery in acute or chronic lung conditions.

SEE ALL 'LUNG-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Adaptogen

ADAPTOGEN

Herbs that promote stabilization of physiological processes and homeostasis. Adaptogens increase the body's ability to resist the damaging effects of stress and promote or restore normal physiological functioning.

SEE ALL 'ADAPTOGEN' FOODS / HERBS

,
Immune Stimulant

IMMUNE-STIMULANT

Stimulates and strengthens the immune system. Helpful when fighting off a cold or flu.

SEE ALL 'IMMUNE-STIMULANT' FOODS / HERBS

Blood Tonic

BLOOD-TONIC

An herb that produces more blood cells in the body, or otherwise improves blood cell quality or hemoglobin content. Helpful for anemia and other types of deficiency.

SEE ALL 'BLOOD-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Cardiac Tonic

CARDIAC-TONIC

Strengthens and tones the heart (heart-tonic). Cardiac tonics are used to treat a wide range of heart issues from arrhythmia, to cardiac insufficiency.

SEE ALL 'CARDIAC-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Hypotensive

HYPOTENSIVE

An herb that lowers blood pressure.

SEE ALL 'HYPOTENSIVE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Rebuilds Fluids

REBUILDS-FLUIDS

Herbs or substances that create moisture in the body and increase fluids.

SEE ALL 'REBUILDS-FLUIDS' FOODS / HERBS

Promotes Virility

PROMOTES-VIRILITY

Encourages virility and potency.

SEE ALL 'PROMOTES-VIRILITY' FOODS / HERBS

Muscle Tonic

MUSCLE-TONIC

Herbs that strengthen and tone muscle tissue. Helpful for people recovering from long term illness and debility, or after a sprain.

SEE ALL 'MUSCLE-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Constituents:

Foods with a Similar Nature to Codonopsis (dang shen)

  • Almonds

    Almonds has these Actions in Common

    Nervine, Blood-tonic, Promotes-virility, Muscle-tonic, Tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Goji Berry

    Goji Berry has these Actions in Common

    Nervine, Rebuilds-fluids, Blood-tonic, Tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Flower / Bee Pollen

    Flower / Bee Pollen has these Actions in Common

    Blood-tonic, Tonic, Immune-stimulant, Promotes-virility

    LEARN MORE

  • Pork

    Pork has these Actions in Common

    Blood-tonic, Tonic, Muscle-tonic, Promotes-virility

    LEARN MORE

  • Sesame Seeds

    Sesame Seeds has these Actions in Common

    Muscle-tonic, Promotes-virility, Blood-tonic, Tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Tahini

    Tahini has these Actions in Common

    Promotes-virility, Blood-tonic, Tonic, Muscle-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Sesame Oil

    Sesame Oil has these Actions in Common

    Promotes-virility, Blood-tonic, Tonic, Muscle-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Carrot

    Carrot has these Actions in Common

    Lung-tonic, Blood-tonic, Tonic, Hypotensive

    LEARN MORE

  • Jackfruit

    Jackfruit has these Actions in Common

    Cardiac-tonic, Tonic, Muscle-tonic, Rebuilds-fluids

    LEARN MORE

  • Grape

    Grape has these Actions in Common

    Rebuilds-fluids, Blood-tonic, Tonic, Nervine

    LEARN MORE

  • Stinging Nettles

    Stinging Nettles has these Actions in Common

    Lung-tonic, Promotes-virility, Blood-tonic, Tonic

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Codonopsis (dang shen)

  • Chyavanprash Nutritive Jam

    Chyavanprash Nutritive Jam has these Actions in Common

    Cardiac-tonic, Immune-stimulant, Muscle-tonic, Promotes-virility, Rebuilds-fluids, Tonic, Adaptogen, Blood-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Eleuthero Ginseng

    Eleuthero Ginseng has these Actions in Common

    Nervine, Tonic, Adaptogen, Blood-tonic, Hypotensive, Immune-stimulant, Muscle-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Belly breathing

    Belly breathing has these Actions in Common

    Adaptogen, Blood-tonic, Cardiac-tonic, Lung-tonic, Nervine, Promotes-virility

    LEARN MORE

  • Oats, Fresh Milky Seed

    Oats, Fresh Milky Seed has these Actions in Common

    Nervine, Promotes-virility, Tonic, Adaptogen, Blood-tonic, Muscle-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Breathing Exercises

    Breathing Exercises has these Actions in Common

    Adaptogen, Blood-tonic, Cardiac-tonic, Lung-tonic, Nervine, Promotes-virility

    LEARN MORE

  • Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama)

    Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama) has these Actions in Common

    Adaptogen, Blood-tonic, Cardiac-tonic, Lung-tonic, Nervine, Promotes-virility

    LEARN MORE

  • Breath of Fire / Shining Skull (Kapalbhati Pranayama)

    Breath of Fire / Shining Skull (Kapalbhati Pranayama) has these Actions in Common

    Promotes-virility, Adaptogen, Blood-tonic, Cardiac-tonic, Lung-tonic, Nervine

    LEARN MORE

  • Punarnava

    Punarnava has these Actions in Common

    Blood-tonic, Cardiac-tonic, Hypotensive, Lung-tonic, Promotes-virility, Tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Amalaki

    Amalaki has these Actions in Common

    Blood-tonic, Cardiac-tonic, Promotes-virility, Rebuilds-fluids, Tonic, Adaptogen

    LEARN MORE

  • Ashwagandha

    Ashwagandha has these Actions in Common

    Nervine, Promotes-virility, Tonic, Adaptogen, Blood-tonic, Muscle-tonic

    LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

Guidelines - Preparation & Dose

1/8 tsp in warm water 2-3x daily before meals or as directed by your practitioner.
See guidelines for herbs?
Follow these guidelines

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Codonopsis (dang shen) may be beneficial for these symptoms. The suitability of any herb supplement for a condition is highly dependent on the individual. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

CONTRAINDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Codonopsis (dang shen) may be harmful or contraindicated for these symptoms. Note this is not a complete list of all possible contraindications. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

Herb Drug Interaction Risk

Here are some potential herb drug interactions with Codonopsis (dang shen). Please see your health care provider for more information.
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