The effects and functions of Platycodon grandiflorum will surprise you

Platycodon is very common in our lives, but many people do not understand its effects and functions. Platycodon not only has medical effects, but can also be eaten as a delicious dish. It tastes slightly bitter and is a rare good ingredient. Let us learn about the effects and functions of Platycodon.

The main effects are: opening up the lung qi, removing phlegm and discharging pus. It is used to treat exogenous cough, sore throat, lung abscess with pus vomiting, chest fullness and flank pain, and dysentery and abdominal pain.

In addition to treating respiratory diseases, Platycodon grandiflorum has also been frequently used to treat other systemic diseases in recent years. Atractylodes macrocephala and Platycodon grandiflorum decoction has been used to treat viral and dyspeptic enteritis in children, with satisfactory results. Rhubarb and Platycodon grandiflorum decoction was made into Rhubarb and Platycodon grandiflorum and taken with boiled water to treat 68 cases of dysuria caused by antipsychotic drugs, with only 4 cases being ineffective. Platycodon grandiflorum, Angelica sinensis and Chuanxiong slices were decocted to make an oil/water emulsion, which was applied to facial rashes and was also effective in treating chloasma.

Platycodon grandiflorum is cylindrical or slightly spindle-shaped, gradually tapering at the bottom, some with branches, slightly twisted, 7 to 20 cm long, and 0.7 to 2 cm in diameter. The surface is white or light yellowish white. If the skin is not removed, the surface is yellow-brown to gray-brown. It has longitudinal twisted grooves, and transverse lenticel-like scars and rootlet marks. There are horizontal stripes on the upper part. Some have shorter or less obvious rhizomes at the top, with several half-moon-shaped stem scars on them. The texture is brittle, the cross section is uneven, the cambium ring is brown, the cortex is white with cracks, and the wood is light yellowish white. Odorless, tastes slightly sweet then bitter.

Cross section of Platycodon grandiflorum: Cork cells sometimes remain, and if the outer bark is not removed, there is a cork layer, and the cells contain small prisms of calcium oxalate. The cortex is narrow and fissures are common. The phloem latex tubes are scattered, with slightly thick walls and containing fine granular yellow-brown substances. The cambium is ring-shaped. The xylem vessels are scattered singly or gathered together in radial arrangement. The parenchyma cells contain inulin.