Do you know the efficacy, effects and contraindications of Platycodon grandiflorum?

Platycodon grandiflorum is a common Chinese medicinal material, which is well-known for its effect of relieving cough and reducing phlegm. However, Platycodon grandiflorum has many effects and is not limited to relieving cough and reducing phlegm. Although Platycodon grandiflorum is good, there are also precautions when using it. Let’s take a look at the effects and contraindications of Platycodon grandiflorum.

Effects of Platycodon grandiflorum:

Clear the lungs, eliminate phlegm, relieve sore throat and discharge pus. Platycodon grandiflorum tastes bitter and spicy, and is neutral in nature. It enters the lung meridian. It has the effects of clearing the lungs, relieving sore throat, removing phlegm and discharging pus. The author reviewed the literature and believed that Platycodon grandiflorum has the effects of regulating qi, promoting blood circulation, digesting food and calming the nerves.

The role of Platycodon grandiflorum:

1. Cough with lots of sputum and chest tightness. This product is pungent and bitter in nature, and can open up the lung qi and eliminate phlegm. It can be used regardless of cold or heat. For wind-cold, it is used with perilla and almond, such as Xingsu Powder (Treatise on Warm Diseases); for wind-heat, it is used with mulberry leaves, chrysanthemum and almond, such as Sangju Yin (Treatise on Warm Diseases); if treating chest fullness caused by phlegm, it is often used with Citrus aurantium.

2. Sore throat and loss of voice. This product can clear the lungs and expel evil to relieve throat and open the voice. When external pathogens invade the lungs and cause sore throat and loss of voice, licorice, burdock seeds, etc. are often used, such as Platycodon Decoction (Golden Chamber Synopsis) and Modified Ganjue Decoction (Medical Insights). For the treatment of sore throat and severe heat and toxicity, it can be combined with Belamcanda chinensis, Puffball, Isatis root, etc. to clear away heat, detoxify and relieve sore throat.

3. Lung abscess with pus vomiting. 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. Treat lung abscess, cough and chest pain. For patients with fishy-smelling sputum, it can be used with licorice, such as Platycodon Decoction (Golden Chamber Synopsis); in clinical practice, it can also be used with Houttuynia cordata, wax gourd seeds, etc. to enhance the effect of clearing the lungs and discharging pus.

Platycodon adverse reactions:

1. This product can irritate the gastric mucosa after taking it. Excessive dosage can cause mild nausea or even vomiting. Use with caution for gastric and duodenal ulcers, and the dosage should not be too large.

2. The platycodon saponins in this product have a strong hemolytic effect, so it is only suitable for oral administration and cannot be used for injection. After oral administration, the platycodon saponins are hydrolyzed and destroyed in the digestive tract, that is, there is no hemolytic effect.

3. The minimum lethal dose for subcutaneous injection to mice is 770 mg/kg.

Platycodon grandiflorum side effects:

Platycodon saponins have hemolytic effects and cannot be used for injection. After oral administration, they are hydrolyzed and destroyed in the digestive tract, which means they have no hemolytic effect. The minimum lethal dose for subcutaneous injection to mice is 770 mg/kg. There have been reports of hypotension reactions (general discomfort, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, sweating of the limbs, fatigue, irritability, and decreased blood pressure) after taking Platycodon grandiflorum tablets; there have also been reports of mental abnormalities (dizziness, nausea, disorganized speech, trance, anger, swearing, and emotional agitation) after taking Compound Platycodon grandiflorum tablets; there have also been reports of allergic reactions (itchy skin all over the body, rash, etc.) after taking Compound Platycodon grandiflorum tablets. For the above reactions, no special treatment is required and they will gradually disappear after stopping the medication.