Platycodon grandiflorus
By way of the Eyes of the Authors of the De Pei Bencao (得配本草)
In right now’s weblog I’ll discover Platycodon grandiflorus L., identified within the nursery commerce as balloon flower and in Chinese language medication as jiegeng (桔梗). This plant was a part of a few of the earliest collections going from Asia to European gardens. The basis is eaten in lots of locations in China, being ready as a part of chilly dishes and fermented meals. It has change into a staple in lots of cosmetics in China, Korea, and Japan, the place the plant is native.
I’ve at all times appreciated jiegeng’s simplicity mixed with each class and style within the backyard, to not point out the truth that it is vitally straightforward to develop! The rest of the publish right now will likely be form of a tough draft of a monograph, or no less than part of a monograph, in my upcoming translation and annotation of the mid-Qing dynasty textual content often known as the De Pei Bencao (得配本草), or the Materia Medica of Combos.
The unique a part of the textual content is represented under by italicized sort. The remaining components are my additions and translations famous as “annotations.” It’s my hope that these annotations assist the reader to higher perceive the unique textual content. I’ve endeavored to supply particular components and/or scientific data that will likely be instantly relevant in a therapeutic method when working with our shoppers.
Lastly, I have to apologize for 3 issues about this publish, 1) I’ve not included an inventory of cited texts (if you actually need to know, ask within the feedback about any particular textual content and I’ll present the quotation), 2) herbs are solely represented utilizing pinyin whereas formulation are offered each in English and Chinese language characters (once more, if you’re uncertain of an herb identify, ask within the feedback and I’ll present additional data), and three) all measurements are additionally represented as pinyin. For these not aware of the burden measurements utilized in Chinese language medication (liang, qian, & fen), from the Tune via the Qing dynasties, which covers this text, measurements have been as follows; 1 liang = 37.3 g, 1 qian = 3.7 g, and 1 fen = 0.37 g.
Acrid, bitter, degree. Enters the hand tai-yin channel, in addition to the qi side. Strikes [through] the outside and expresses [through] the orifices. Opens and lifts the qi and blood. Can carry all medicinals to the floor. Used to disperse all constrained binds. Treats phlegm congestion, hasty panting, nasal congestion, lung abscess, dry cough, crimson eyes, throat obstacle with painful swallowing, toothache with mouth sores, piercing ache within the chest and diaphragm, and belly ache with rumbling intestines.
Mix with zhizi and dahuang to deal with crimson, swollen, painful eyes.
Annotation: This mix is present in Zhang (1624) in his components Peony Clear the Liver Powder (芍藥清肝散). He states, “To deal with extreme ‘gum’ within the eyes with blurred or dim imaginative and prescient, [a feeling of] tightness and dryness with aversion to gentle, crimson veins all through the eyes, and the viscera and bowels are closed and certain.”
Formulation: baizhu, chuanxiong, fangfeng, qianghuo, jiegeng, huashi, shigao, mangxiao (every 3 fen), huangqin, bohe, jingjie, qianhu, zhi gancao, shaoyao (every 2.5 fen), chaihu, shanzhi, zhimu (every 2 fen), and dahuang (4 fen). Take sizzling between meals.
Mix with niubangzi and dahuang to deal with epidemic toxin.
Annotation: A method to take a look at this mix is to first look at Zhang Zhongjing’s Platycodon Decoction (桔梗湯), which is a straightforward mixture of jiegeng and gancao in a ratio of 1:2 by weight. Within the Necessities from the Golden Cupboard (金貴要略), we are able to see that this components was initially for “cough with a sensation of fullness within the chest, chilly shivers, a fast pulse, dry throat with out thirst, with occasional coughing of turbid, stinking, spittle with pus and the looks of rice gruel as a result of lung abscess.” That is wind-heat with inner congestion constraining the lung qi.
Wang (1602) modifies Zhang Zhongjing’s components by including niubangzi, dahuang, and mangxiao to deal with “epidemic toxin with swelling within the head [region]” (i.e., face, throat, and many others.). Zhang (1624) says that jiegeng acts as a conducting herb for dahuang, inflicting it to go upward. Epidemic toxin as a time period shouldn’t be often used and carries the that means of “seasonal epidemic,” which is the part (Seasonal Epidemic) in Wang (1602) the place the primary incidence of the time period is used. This textual content seems to have drawn from Wang’s components however dropped the mangxiao. Seasonal epidemic is a kind of warmth illness that first assaults the higher burner and might trigger important congestion of qi and fluids within the lung viscera and channel. The addition of niubangzi assists jiegeng and gancao to free the throat whereas additionally gently resolving the outside. Jiegeng conducts dahuang upward the place its bitter taste and chilly nature will clear warmth and drain congested fluids within the lung and throat (i.e., higher burner).
Mix with zhike to disinhibit the chest and diaphragm.
Annotation: On this components, jiegeng is acrid and dissipates, diffusing the lung and disinhibiting the diaphragm; zhiqiao is bitter and heat, regulating qi and loosening the middle. Jiegeng upbears whereas zhiqiao downbears to unblock the qi dynamic, loosen the chest, and disinhibit the diaphragm.
Zhu Gong (1108) states, “Treats chilly injury glomus qi with a sensation of fullness within the chest and sense of hopelessness.”
Within the Tune dynasty Formulary of the Pharmacy Service for Benefiting the Individuals within the Taiping Period (太平惠民和劑局方) this mix is used within the components Ginseng Vanquish Toxin Powder (人參敗毒散) to “deal with injury by chilly seasonal qi with headache, stiff neck, vigorous warmth and aversion to chilly, vexation with physique aches, chilly congestion with cough, nasal congestion with deep hoarse [voice], retching with warmth [effusion] (fever) and [aversion to] chilly, [this formula] treats all these signs equally.
Formulation: chaihu (take away sprout), gancao, jiegeng, renshen (take away neck), chuanxiong, fuling (take away pores and skin), zhiqiao (take away pulp, wheat bran mix-fry), qianhu (take away sprout, wash), qianghuo (take away sprout), duhuo (take away sprout)
Instructions: Mix 30 liang of every herb and [grind to a] coarse powder. Every dose is 2 qian with one bowl of water, add a bit of every sheng jiang and bohe, decoct all the way down to 70%, take away dregs and take any time. If there’s extra chilly, administer sizzling, if there’s extra warmth, administer heat.
Qin (1714) discusses a components often known as Bitter Orange and Platycodon Decoction (枳桔湯), which consists of solely these two herbs, stating, “Zhongjing used Bitter Orange and Atractylodes Decoction (枳朮湯) to deal with glomus as a result of spleen vacuity with meals stagnation and makes use of all forms of Drain the Coronary heart Decoction (瀉心湯) to deal with glomus as a result of chilly injury warmth illness. In the present day Bitter Orange and Platycodon Decoction is used to brush the chest earlier than qi [binds to form] glomus, in addition to binding within the chest, rib-side, and limb.
Shi Jinmo states, “Mix with zisugeng, treats any [condition where] the qi dynamic is impeded, manifesting with signs equivalent to oppression within the chest and feeling uncomfortable, qi reversal, and many others.”
When these two medicinals are used collectively, one [bears] upward and one [bears] downward. They open the chest and normalize qi, disperse the gut, remove fullness, and “enhance brightness.”
Sovereign to gancao to deal with shao-yin painful swallowing, and for lung abscess with coughing and spitting of pus add to glutinous rice congee.
Annotation: Qin (1714) states, “Within the authentic textual content (i.e., Treaties on Chilly Injury) it says, shao-yin illness, after 2–3 days there’s throat ache, Licorice Decoction (甘草湯) can be utilized; if the affected person doesn’t recuperate, use Platycodon Decoction (桔梗湯). Accordingly, gancao drains coronary heart hearth but when the situation doesn’t heal after utilizing this components, that is hearth pathogen certain within the lung, it can’t be resolved on the exterior, subsequently jiegeng [is used to] open the lung and effuse qi whereas on the identical time gancao drains latent hearth from the chest. The explanation this [approach is used] is the attention that the specified therapy is to clear the certain pathogen from inside the lung, this requires each opening of the lung [qi] and clearing lung [heat]. When these two herbs are used collectively, the pathogen from inside the lung begins to exist. This mix is just like the way in which that Drain the White Powder (瀉白散) is constructed the place fangfeng is used to resolve lung wind and shigao is used to empty lung hearth.
Add Cool the Diaphragm Powder then it received’t have such a drastic downbearing motion.
Annotation: Cool the Diaphragm Powder (涼膈散) originates within the Formulary of the Pharmacy Service for Benefiting the Individuals within the Taiping Period, first revealed in 1078 and up to date a number of instances with the ultimate version revealed in 1148. That is the primary authorities sponsored patent components textual content revealed in China and was a part of a significant public well being motion throughout the Tune dynasty. The textual content states, “treats grownup and kids with warmth accumulation within the viscera and bowels, vexation and agitation with extreme thirst, warmth within the head with dizziness, burnt (i.e., very dry and cracked) lips, dry throat, tongue swollen and throat blocked, eyes crimson and nostril bleeding, jaw and cheek certain and arduous,* ulcerations within the mouth and on the tongue, phlegm repletion inhibited,** thick and sticky nasal mucus and saliva, disquieted sleep, delirious speech and manic ravings, dry and inhibited abdomen and intestines, constipation, and/or every thing congested by wind. This components is equally acceptable to provide [for any of these symptoms].
Formulation: chuan dahuang, poxiao (mangxiao), zhi gancao (every 20 liang), shanzhizi, bohe ye, (take away stem), huangqin (every 10 liang) lianqiao (2.5 jin)
Instructions: Grind all of the herbs to a course powder. For each 2 qian use 1 small cup of water, to it, add 7 bamboo leaves and a small quantity of honey. Decoct to 70% and take away the dregs. Take heat after meals. For youngsters use 1/2 qian and add or subtract based on the kid’s age. This components will obtain a disinhibiting and downbearing motion.
When contemplating this components with the addition of jiegeng we see that the creator states that it lessens the downbearing motion as a result of upbearing nature of jiegeng. Nonetheless, we even have an affliction of warmth rising and, though it’s inflicting constipation, the vast majority of the signs are within the higher physique. Moreover, there’s a phlegm congestion and presumably cough, and jiegeng is bitter and drains warmth from the higher burner, together with the tai-yin and shao-yin, and treats phlegm congestion and throat obstacle. Due to this fact, the addition of jiegeng to this components is smart, particularly, to deal with the signs within the higher burner.
*NOTE: Lock jaw or related.
**NOTE: That is considerably uncommon and presents no specifics about what the replete phlegm is inhibiting. The time period “phlegm repletion” is used 15 different instances within the textual content. In different instances, they’re principally related to cough and congestion of phlegm within the lungs. The time period can be used a number of instances to current congested phlegm within the diaphragm, though this looks like an unlikely connection contemplating the over-all sample being described for this components.
Use with blood supplementing medicinals to clear and rectify the throat.
Annotation: Chen (1174) discusses a sample often known as coronary heart vacuity chilly, initially mentioned by Solar Simiao. The particular person with this sample is fearful, has palpitations, and an emotionally depressed structure. Additionally they have ache within the coronary heart and stomach space, issue utilizing speech, a sensation of coldness within the coronary heart space with absentmindedness, bloody nostril, yellow facial complexion, vexation and oppression, heat within the 5 palms with thirst, throat ache, and talks to themselves. The tongue is stiff. In pregnant ladies, there’s nausea and vomiting, with dizziness, fatigued limbs with little impetus to maneuver them, and no want to eat. The components focuses on supplementing qi and nourishing blood, nonetheless nourishing blood is the first focus, consisting of 4 Substances Decoction (四物湯) with the addition of jiegeng. When the guts is vacuous and chilly, blood can’t be engendered within the physique. When blood is vacuous, qi can’t be engendered.
Use with medicinals to deal with dysentery to open constraint of the lung qi on the giant gut.
Annotation: Shen (1773) states, “[For dysentery with] belly ache that received’t cease, that is lung pathogen constrained within the giant gut. Jiegeng and zisuzi are sovereigns in a components, baishao, gancao, chenpi, muxiang, and danggui are assistants. If the affected person has aversion to chilly, add gan jiang, if the particular person has aversion to warmth, add huanglian, if there’s vacuity weak point use Fortify the Center Decoction (建中湯). One other components is equal components zhiqiao and huanglian, huaihua (1 liang) used to mix-fry with the zhiqiao and huanglian. Disgard the huaihua, use the opposite two herbs and decoct with ruxiang and moyao (every 8 fen). This can be a marvelous components to deal with belly ache.”
Use with medicinals to deal with cough to dissipate constraint of as a result of hearth pathogens inside the lung.
Annotation: Jiegeng is often used for constraint within the chest. Yang (1833) states, “[Jiegeng] governs the therapy of lung warmth qi with hasty respiratory, cough, or counterflow…and ache as a result of stagnant qi within the chest and diaphragm.” Zhu (1358) says, “Dry cough is tough to deal with. This sample is expounded to fireside constraint resulting in phlegm constraint hearth pathogen within the middle. Use ku jiegeng to open it.” An instance of that is present in Wu (1798), “Hand tai-yin summerheat heat with cough however no phlegm, a particular hoarse sound when coughing. The governing components is Clear the Community Vessels Powder (清絡散) with the addition of gancao, jiegeng, tian xingren, maidong, and zhimu. There’s cough however no phlegm, if there isn’t a cough [the pathogen] shouldn’t be evident, the cough is distinctly hoarse, the sound of the lung is evident and resounding, persistent cough results in hoarseness, hearth tends to be [the cause] of this pathogenesis, not dampness. Use Clear the Community Vessels Powder,* it clears the formless warmth from inside the lung channel, add gancao (1 qian) and jiegeng (2 qian) to open and raise the lung, tian xingren (2 qian) to disinhibit the lung with out damaging the qi, maidong (3 qian) and zhimu (3 qian) to guard the lung yin and management hearth.”
*NOTE: This components is for the therapy of summerheat injury to the lung channel and qi side. It doesn’t tackle hearth or cough. The addition of the opposite herbs clearly exhibits that combining herbs equivalent to xingren for cough and maidong and zhimu for lung hearth together with jiegeng change the components considerably, demonstrating the principle precept on this passage.
Clear the Community Vessels Powder (acrid, cool, fragrant methodology)
recent bohe leaf (2 qian), recent jingyinhua (2 qian), watermelon rind (2 qian), recent biandouhua (1 department), sigua peel (2 qian), recent coronary heart of zhuye (2 qian).
Scrape off the outer pores and skin, soak in rice water, gently stir-fry. This herb shouldn’t be acceptable to make use of in formulation which might be particularly for downbearing. Prohibited to be used in any instances the place qi is floating upwards or blood illness with hearth flaming.
If you happen to’ve made it this far, you then love these items as a lot as I do and I applaud your willingness to affix me for this exploration of one in every of China’s most helpful and in addition stunning vegetation.
Thanks for dropping by to learn this. Keep in contact.
Warmly,
Thomas
Edited by Rachael Witt
