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Codonopsis / Dang Shen
Codonopsis pilosula
Immune Modulatorpreliminary evidence
Codonopsis polysaccharides and saponins enhance T-cell activity, stimulate macrophage function, and show anti-tumour effects against gastric, lung, and leukemia cells. Used in TCM as a gentler alternative to Panax ginseng for immune support in debilitated cancer patients who cannot tolerate strong stimulating herbs.
Medicinal Properties
ImmunomodulatoryAdaptogenicAnti-tumourBlood tonicAnti-fatigue
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Cancer Types Studied
GastricLungLeukemia
Recommended Dosage
9–15 g dried root as decoction, or 500–1000 mg extract daily.
Preparations
Decoction / Soup
Add 9–15 g dried Codonopsis root to bone broth or vegetable soup. Simmer 1 hour. Pleasant mild sweet flavour.
NIH / PubMed Research
Links open on PubMed (National Library of Medicine). Research is ongoing — results may not reflect clinical use.
Cautions & Interactions
- Avoid in early stages of acute infection
- May interact with immunosuppressants
- Generally very well tolerated
- Avoid in pregnancy — insufficient safety data
Related Herbs
Informational only. Not medical advice. Consult your healthcare provider before use.