Codonopsis is considered an excellent substitute for ginseng. The roots are harvested in autumn after three years' growth, and have a mild, sweet taste and are used in traditional Chinese food therapy dishes like chicken soup. After the Chinese Revolution of 1949, codonopsis became the standard replacement for ginseng in nearly all traditional herbal medicine formulas. Chinese doctors came to think of codonopsis as a milder version of ginseng, and it held a reputation throughout as a necessary building block for optimal health and energy. The cooling properties of the codonopsis root were primarily considered to cleanse the lungs and to return energy to the digestive tract. Today, this herbal ingredient is used for ulcers, GI complaints, asthma, and to build the metabolic and immune systems.