Root of Codonopsis pilosula Long cylindrical, slightly curved, 10-35 cm long, 0.4-2 cm in diameter. Externally yellowish-brown to greyish-brown, with numerous warty prominent stem scars and buds on the root stock, and the apex of each stem scar sunkenly dotted; dense transverse annulations occurring below the root stock, gradually sparse downwards, some up to half length of the root while the transverse annulations rare or absent in some cultivars; whole root showing longitudinal wrinkles and scattered transverse lenticels, frequently with blackish-brown gelationous substances at the fractured area of the rootlet. Texture slightly hard or tenacious, fracture somewhat even, cleft or striated radially, bark pale yellowish-white to pale brown, wood pale yellow. Odour, characteristic and aromatic; taste, sweetish.

Root of Codonopsis pilosula Var. modesta 10-35 cm long, 0.5-2.5 cm in diameter. Externally yellowish-white to pale yellow, dense transverse annulations occurring below the root stock, frequedtly up to over half length of the root. Fracture more cleft, bark yellowish white, wood pale yellow.

Root of Codonopsis tangshen 10-45 cm long, 0.5-2cm in diameter. Externally greyish yellow to yellowish brown, with distinctly longitudinal wrinkles. Texture slightly soft and campact, fracture less cleft, bark yellowish white,wood pale yellow.

Weakness of the spleen and the lung manifested by shortness of breath, cough, palpitation, anorexia, loose stools; diabete caused by internal heat.

1. Invigorating Qi in the middle warmer

This drug is effective in invigorating the spleen, nourishing the stomach and promoting flow of Qi in the middle warmer, and often used clinically. In treating poor appetite and loose stool due to deficiency of the spleen and stomach, cough due to deficiency of the lung, shortness of breath, listlessness, and deficiency of Qi and weak physique due to various causes, the drug is often used in combination with Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, Poria and Radix Glycyrrhizae Praeparata. This drug is similar in the effect of invigorating Qi to Tadix Ginseng and is often used instead of the latter in the prescription for invigorating Qi and spleen. The drug's effect of invigorating Qi, however, is not so powerful as that of Radix Ginseng, and therefore can not be used instead of the latter in the serious cases of collapse.

2. Nourishing blood and promoting production of body fluid

In treating dizziness due to deficiency of blood, sallow complexion or edema, the drug can be used in combination with Rhizoma Rehmanniae Praeparatae, Radix Angelicae Sinensis. Radix Paeoniae Alba, Caulis Spatholobi, etc. In treating shortness of breath and thirst due to consumption of Qi and body fluid by heat, the drug is often used in combination with Radix Ophiophgonis, Fructus Schisandrae,etc. Besices,the drug can also be used to treat edema from nephritis to reduce the excretion of urinary protein.