What is the difference between Codonopsis and Ginseng?

We all know that ginseng is a common Chinese medicinal material in life, and it is very effective in nourishing the body. Another common Chinese medicinal material is Codonopsis pilosula, but most people do not know much about Codonopsis pilosula and it is easy to mistakenly think that ginseng and Codonopsis pilosula are the same thing. In fact, there is a big difference between Codonopsis pilosula and ginseng, especially in terms of medicinal use. When using them, they must be distinguished. The following introduces the differences and effects of Codonopsis pilosula and ginseng.

Difference in taste

Both Codonopsis and Ginseng are very good Chinese medicinal materials, which are very helpful to our health, especially their strong nourishing effect. Codonopsis is mild in nature, sweet and slightly sour in taste, and belongs to the Campanulaceae family, while Ginseng is warm in nature, sweet and slightly bitter in taste, and belongs to the Araliaceae family. Therefore, we should understand the differences between these Chinese medicinal materials.

Efficacy difference

At the same time, there are actually many differences in the effects of Codonopsis and ginseng. First of all, Codonopsis has the effects of tonifying the middle and replenishing Qi, nourishing blood and promoting body fluid, strengthening the body and eliminating evil. At the same time, Codonopsis is also the main Chinese medicinal material for nourishing the spleen and stomach. People with weak spleen and stomach are very suitable for taking Codonopsis.

As for ginseng, it has the effects of nourishing the middle and replenishing Qi, promoting fluid production and quenching thirst, calming the mind and improving intelligence, and prolonging life, which are helpful to our human health. In addition, ginseng is often used as a tonic medicine for people who have just recovered from a serious illness or have been ill for a long time. Not only that, ginseng is also a key medicinal material for treating critical symptoms such as qi deficiency, weak pulse, etc., so we should understand how to distinguish them, which will be helpful to our health.

Appearance Difference

In addition to the differences introduced above, there are actually differences in the appearance of ginseng and codonopsis. First of all, codonopsis comes from the roots and rhizomes of medicinal plants, but the taproot of ginseng is fleshy, cylindrical or spindle-shaped, with slender fibrous roots and relatively long rhizomes with stem scars and buds on them; the fibrous roots often have inconspicuous or obvious small wart-like protrusions, and generally speaking, a taproot usually has only one rhizome.

The root of Codonopsis pilosula is oblong, with few branches or branches below the middle, and an enlarged root head at the top. The root head has many protruding stem scars and bud scars, so everyone should know how to distinguish them.