Evidence supporting the use of: Platycodon root
For the health condition: Cough (damp)

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 3

Platycodon root (Platycodon grandiflorus), also known as Jie Geng in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), has a long history of use for supporting respiratory health, particularly in cases of cough associated with "dampness" (phlegm) in the lungs. In TCM theory, Jie Geng is classified as an herb that "opens up and disseminates the Lung Qi," helping to expel phlegm and relieve cough. It is commonly included in herbal formulas designed to treat coughs with excessive sputum, sore throat, or chest congestion, especially when these symptoms are considered to be caused by an accumulation of dampness or phlegm.

Traditional texts such as the Shennong Bencao Jing and the Compendium of Materia Medica describe Platycodon root’s ability to "open up the lungs" and "benefit the throat," and it has been used for centuries to address symptoms that align with what is now described as respiratory tract infections, bronchitis, or productive coughs. Modern pharmacological studies have begun to investigate the saponins and other constituents of Platycodon root, which exhibit expectorant and anti-inflammatory properties in laboratory settings. However, while some animal and in vitro studies support its traditional use, rigorous clinical trials in humans are still limited. Thus, its use for "cough (damp)" is best supported by traditional evidence, with emerging but not yet definitive scientific validation.

More about platycodon root
More about Cough (damp)