Dang shen / poor man's ginseng
Codonopsis pilosula
Other names: 党参 / 黨參 dǎngshēn, Dang shen / poor man's ginseng
Edible plantPhoto credit: Doronenko (Wikimedia Commons)
Safety information
Safety information
Toxicity: Generally low-toxicity in traditional/food use; comprehensive human safety data limited.
Contraindications: Traditional caution with excess heat patterns; pregnancy/clinical data limited. Traditionally considered incompatible with Veratrum (黎芦) in classic herb-pairing rules.
Interactions: Not well characterized; theoretical effects on blood glucose/immune modulation.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Data limited.
Evidence level
Supported by laboratory or animal studies; not yet confirmed in humans.
Preparations
decoction · root
Part used: root
Traditional use: For fatigue and as a general energy tonic.
How to prepare (traditional): Decoction of the root; tonic remedy simmers 4 tsp codonopsis, 4 tsp astragalus, and 2 tsp lycium berries with 3 cups (750 ml) water for 40 minutes.
Dosage note (descriptive only): For fatigue, drink 1/3 cup (75 ml) twice a day; drink the tonic remedy regularly.
tincture · root
Part used: root
Traditional use: As a general tonic.
How to prepare (traditional): Tincture (used in the West, not in Chinese herbal medicine).
Dosage note (descriptive only): As a tonic, take 1/2 tsp with water 3 times a day.
Associated conditions
Edibility
Edible parts: Root widely used in tonic soups/broths as food-medicine (simmered with meat, jujube, goji).
Toxic lookalike warning
Several Codonopsis species and lookalike roots are traded; use authenticated/pharmacopoeial C. pilosula only; never substitute unidentified foraged roots.
Nutritional notes
Functional soup tonic; polysaccharides, inulin-type sugars, trace minerals; mild nutritive value.
Healing traditions
Sources (2)
- Codonopsis pilosula (Wikipedia), English, accessed 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codonopsis_pilosula
- Dang Shen / Codonopsis - Drugs.com natural database, English, https://www.drugs.com/npp/codonopsis.html