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Jie Geng (桔梗), the root of Platycodon, opens and disseminates Lung qi, expels phlegm and stops cough, benefits the throat and voice, promotes the discharge of pus, and acts as a ‘messenger’ directing the actions of a formula upward.
Latin / Pharmaceutical Name
Platycodon grandiflorum (Radix Platycodi)
Common English Name
Platycodon root
Taste
Bitter, acrid
Temperature
Neutral
Channels Entered
Lung
Actions & Functions
- Opens and disseminates Lung qi; expels phlegm and stops cough
- Benefits the throat and the voice
- Promotes the discharge of pus (Lung abscess)
- Directs the actions of other herbs upward
Indications
Cough with phlegm (hot or cold, in combination); sore, swollen throat and loss of voice; and Lung abscess with thick, foul sputum.
Dosage
3-9 g in decoction.
Common Combinations
With Gan Cao for sore throat; with Xing Ren for cough.
Cautions & Contraindications
Use with caution in cough from yin deficiency or with coughing of blood; can irritate in high doses.