Danning Codonopsis

Danning Codonopsis

　　Danning Codonopsis. The name "Codonopsis" first appeared in the Liao Dynasty in Luo’s *Compendium of Materia Medica (Ben Cao Cong Xin)*. Xie Zhongwan’s *Discourse on Varieties of Chinese Herbal Medicines* states: “Because it originally came from Shangdang in Shanxi and its roots resemble ginseng, it is thus named.” It functions to replenish qi and generate blood, nourish skin and beauty, strengthen the spleen and benefit the lungs, support vitality and expel pathogens. It is commonly used for symptoms such as weakness of the spleen and lungs, shortness of breath and palpitations, poor appetite and loose stools, as well as deficiency-type wheezing and coughing. The National Health Commission of China has designated Codonopsis as both a “food and medicinal” substance. Wuxi features rugged mountains, steep slopes, crisscrossing river valleys, and high-altitude cold zones ranging from 1,500 to 2,500 meters above sea level, shrouded in clouds and mist. The soil is loose, deep, and fertile, making it particularly suitable for Codonopsis growth, with no industrial or agricultural pollution and meeting agricultural environmental quality standards. As Wuxi was historically known as Danning, the naturally grown Codonopsis here is called “Danning Codonopsis,” a purely natural green product. Danning Codonopsis is a precious local medicinal variety gradually formed through long-term natural selection under Wuxi’s unique high-mountain ecological environment. It belongs to the Sichuan Codonopsis category and is uniquely characterized by “sweet taste, strong aroma, compact flesh and skin, minimal residue when chewed, and strong tonic efficacy,” making it a premium among Codonopsis varieties and ranking among the top in nationally traded Codonopsis-based herbal medicines. The *Daning County Annals* from the Qing Dynasty’s Guangxu era recorded, “Among medicinal herbs, Codonopsis with a lion’s head and chrysanthemum-like core are considered the finest, produced in areas such as Shoe-sole Mountain, Guankou Mountain, and Lintongya.” In the 1,800-meter-high Ma'erbei forest area, an intact stone tablet from the Qing Dynasty’s Yongzheng era still stands today, inscribed with the words: “The mountain is high, the water is cold, no grain grows here, only Codonopsis.” Danning Codonopsis is of premium quality and commands prices several times higher than other types of Codonopsis. For centuries, it has been an imperial tribute and has sold well overseas. Wuxi County is a key base county for high-quality Chinese medicinal material industrialization projects designated by the Chongqing Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, and Danning Codonopsis has been designated as an authentic medicinal herb.

　　Due to differences in origin and processing methods, Codonopsis goes by various commercial names. In Wuxi, it is called "Danning Codonopsis"; in Wushan, it is called "Wushan Codonopsis," "single-stem Codonopsis," "strip Codonopsis," or "Temple Codonopsis"; and in Fengjie, it is called "strip Codonopsis." The Codonopsis produced in Wuxi is a variety of Sichuan Codonopsis (*C. tangshen Oliv.*), specifically "Danning Codonopsis." Its name originates from its place of origin (Wuxi County was known as Danning County during the Republic of China period). Botanically classified as "strip Codonopsis," it refers to Codonopsis grown in the border regions of Chongqing, Hubei, and Shaanxi, often shaped in strips, hence the name "strip Codonopsis."

　　Danning Codonopsis

　　Wuxi County Chinese Herbal Medicine Industry Association

　　11144823

　　Codonopsis (Chinese Herbal Medicine)