Ophiopogon japonicus, Mai Men Dong 麦门冬
Mai Men Dong (TCM)
Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, vol. 27: 1808
Botanical name:
Ophiopogon japonicus
In parts of China other species are used including O. bodinieri.
Parts used:
Root
Temperature & Taste:
Cool, moist. Sweet, slightly Bitter
Ophiopogon japonicus
In parts of China other species are used including O. bodinieri.
Parts used:
Root
Temperature & Taste:
Cool, moist. Sweet, slightly Bitter
Uses:
1. Nourishes Lung Yin, Stops Cough:
-chronic, hacking, dry Cough from Lung Yin deficiency
-Cough with hard-to-clear mucus
-Hemoptysis
2. Clears Stomach Heat, Nourishes Stomach Yin:
-dry mouth and tongue from Stomach Yin deficiency
3. Moistens the Intestines:
-constipation from internal dryness with dry mouth and irritability
4. Clears Heat, Settles Wind, Calms the Mind:
-Irritability and Restlessness from Heat and Yin deficiency
-spasms, cramps, paralysis associated with Yin deficiency
DOSE:
6–15 grams in decoction
SUBSTITUTES:
1. Asparagus root
2. In some parts of China, Liriope spicata and L. muscari are used.
6–15 grams in decoction
SUBSTITUTES:
1. Asparagus root
2. In some parts of China, Liriope spicata and L. muscari are used.
Main Combinations:
Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong with Asparagus Tian Men Dong
These are often combined in TCM for Lung and Kidney Yin deficiency with Consumption, Coughing of Blood and dryness. They nourish the Yin of the Lungs, Heart, Stomach and Kidneys.
1. Cough:
i. from heat and dryness with hard-to-clear phlegm, Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong with Eriobotrya Pi Pa Ye, Mulberry leaf (Sang Ye)
ii. with excess Phlegm, Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong with Tangerine peel (Chen Pi), Pinellia Ban Xia, Coltsfoot flower (Kuan Dong Hua), Licorice, Platycodon Jie Geng, Bitter Almond kernel (Ku Xing Ren) (as in Zhi Ke Ju Hong Kou Fu Ye)
iii. Chronic Dry Cough, Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong with Lilium Bai He, Fritillaria Chuan Bei Mu, Scrophularia Xuan Shen, Dang Gui, Paeonia Bai Shao, Licorice, Platycodon Jie Geng (as in Bai He Gu Jin Tang)
iv. Cough, Wheezing, from Lung Yin and Qi deficiency, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Ginseng, Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong (Sheng Mai San)
2. Sore, dry Throat from Yin deficiency and Heat, Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong with Scrophularia Xuan Shen (Figwort) and Licorice
3. Fever of Consumtpion, Lycium Cortex Di Gu Pi with Bupleurum Chai Hu (as in Di Gu Pi San)
4. Damage to fluids after febrile disease, Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae) with Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong
5. Stomach Yin deficiency with Dry mouth, Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong with Soloman's Seal (Yu Zhu)
6. Thirst, Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong with Prunus mume Wu Mei
7. Wasting and Thirsting (Diabetes-like disorder):
i. Lung and Stomach Yin deficiency, Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong with with Anemarrhena Zhi Mu, Glehnia Sha Shen, Trichosanthes Tian Hua Fen (as in Sha Shen Mai Men Dong Tang)
ii. from Stomach Fire with Yin deficiency, Gypsum (Shi Gao) with Rehmannia Sheng Di Huang, Anemarrhena Zhi Mu and Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong (as in Yu Nu Jian)
8. Heart Yin deficiency with Insomnia, Restlessness, Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong, Asparagus root Tian Men Dong, Polygala Yuan Zhi, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi, Ziziphus Suan Zao Ren (as in Tian Wang Bu Xin Wan)
Major Formulas:
Bai He Gu Jin Tang
Da Ding Feng Zhu
Di Gu Pi San
Sha Shen Mai Men Dong Tang
Sheng Mai San
Tian Wang Bu Xin Wan
Yu Nu Jian
Zhi Ke Ju Hong Kou Fu Ye
Cautions:
1. Not used in internal Coldness or Damp and weakness of the Digestive system.
Main Preparations used:
1. Not used in internal Coldness or Damp and weakness of the Digestive system.
Main Preparations used: