The efficacy and function of Chinese medicine Platycodon grandiflorum

Platycodon grandiflorum is a common medicinal material in traditional Chinese medicine, and it is also a medicinal material that has certain benefits for human health. In the clinical medicine of traditional Chinese medicine, many types of diseases, such as cough, chest tightness, sore throat, lung abscess, coughing up pus and sputum, and other diseases and symptoms, have good treatment and relief effects. Below, I will introduce in detail the efficacy, functions and applications of the traditional Chinese medicine Platycodon grandiflorum.

1. The efficacy of Chinese medicine Platycodon grandiflorum

1. It can clear the lungs and eliminate phlegm. It is used for cough with excessive phlegm and chest tightness caused by stagnation of lung qi. This product is pungent and bitter in nature, and can open up the lung qi, eliminate phlegm and promote qi circulation. It can be used to treat cough with excessive phlegm, regardless of whether it is caused by cold or heat. For those suffering from wind-cold, it can be combined with perilla and apricot kernel, such as Xingsu Powder. For those with wind-heat, use mulberry leaves, chrysanthemum and almonds, such as Sangju Drink. If phlegm blocks qi stagnation, the ascending and descending functions are disturbed, and the chest and diaphragm are stuffy, use Citrus aurantium to ascend and descend qi, regulate qi and relieve chest tightness.

2. It is used to relieve sore throat and loss of voice. This product can clear the lungs, relieve sore throat and open the voice. For those who have external evil invading the lungs and have sore throat and loss of voice, use licorice, burdock fruit, etc., such as Platycodon Decoction and Jiawei Ganjue Decoction. If the throat is swollen and painful and there is severe heat and toxicity, use a combination of Belamcanda chinensis, Puffball, Isatis root, etc. to clear away heat, detoxify and relieve sore throat.

3. Drain pus, used for lung abscess with cough and sputum. This product has a dispersing and ascending nature and can benefit the lung qi to expel the pus and phlegm that are blocking the lungs. In clinical practice, it is often combined with Houttuynia cordata, wax gourd seeds, etc. to enhance the effect of clearing the lungs and discharging pus.

4. Platycodon grandiflorum has the function of carrying drugs upward, and can be used as a boat to carry various drugs upward. Clinically, Platycodon grandiflorum is often added to prescriptions for the treatment of lung meridian diseases to guide the drugs upward.

2. The role of Platycodon grandiflorum

The traditional Chinese medicine Platycodon contains a variety of saponins, mainly platycodon saponins, as well as inulin, phytosterols, etc. This product can reflexively increase tracheal secretion, dilute sputum and has a strong expectorant effect, as well as an antitussive effect. The platycodon saponins it contains have anti-inflammatory effects, can inhibit gastric juice secretion and anti-ulcer, and also have antispasmodic, analgesic, sedative, hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects.

1. This product contains a variety of saponins, mainly platycodon saponins; it also contains steroids and their glycosides, fatty oils, fatty acids, etc. This product can reflexively increase tracheal secretion, dilute sputum and has a strong expectorant effect, and can also suppress cough; Platycodon saponins have anti-inflammatory, immune-enhancing, and anti-ulcer effects; its crude saponins have sedative, analgesic, antipyretic, blood sugar-lowering, cholesterol-lowering, and spasmolytic pharmacological effects. In addition, Platycodon inulin has an inhibitory effect on ascites tumors. Platycodon saponins have a strong hemolytic effect and can be decomposed and destroyed in the digestive tract when taken orally, thus losing its hemolytic effect.

2. Platycodon grandiflorum crude saponin has a strong hemolytic effect and is not suitable for injection.

3. Application of Platycodon grandiflorum

1. Used for cough with excessive sputum. The Chinese medicine Platycodon grandiflorum can promote the secretion of respiratory mucosa, dilute sputum and has good expectorant and cough-relieving effects. It can also open up the lung qi and clear the chest and diaphragm. Therefore, no matter whether it is a new infection or a long-term illness, whether it is cold or hot, it can be used in combination. If used to treat cough with excessive sputum, nasal congestion and runny nose caused by exogenous wind-cold, it can be used together with drugs that dispel wind-cold. For the treatment of wind-heat cough, thick yellow phlegm, thirst, and fever, it is often used in combination with mulberry leaves, chrysanthemum and other wind-heat dispersing drugs. It is used for long-term cough and difficulty in expectorating. It can be used in combination with cough suppressants and expectorants. For patients with yin deficiency and dry cough or spleen deficiency and damp phlegm cough, it can also be used with corresponding yin-nourishing and lung-moistening, spleen-strengthening and dampness-drying medicines.

2. Used for sore throat and loss of voice. The Chinese medicine Platycodon has the effects of clearing the lungs, relieving sore throat and improving voice. If you have sore throat and aphonia caused by exogenous wind-heat, you can use it together with burdock seeds, cicada shells and other herbs that can dispel wind-heat and relieve sore throat. For those with redness, swelling, heat and pain in the throat caused by heat and toxicity, it is advisable to use it together with heat-clearing, detoxifying and throat-relieving medicines such as Isatis root, Belamcanda chinensis, and Puffball.

3. Used for lung abscess. This product can both eliminate phlegm and detoxify and discharge pus. Patients with lung abscess who cough up pus and blood, have yellow and smelly sputum, and have fever and chest pain often need to use herbal medicines such as Houttuynia cordata, Scutellaria baicalensis, and Coix seed to clear away heat, detoxify, purge fire and discharge pus to enhance the efficacy.