Radix ophiopogonis a.k.a Ophiopogon root (Maidong) - TCM Materia Medica compiled by Raymond Cheng PhD DPA @ Traditional Chinese Medicine Basics (TCMBasics.com) - TCM theories, resources, herbs, materia medica

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Pharmaceutical Name

Radix Ophiopogonis

Botanical Name

1. Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb.) Ker-Gawl.; 2. Liriope spicata

Common Name

Ophiopogon root, Lilyturf root

Source of Earliest Record

Shennong Bencao Jing

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations

The tuberous roots are dug in summer. After the fibrous roots have been removed, the roots are dried in the sun.

Properties & Taste

Sweet, slightly bitter and slightly cold

Meridians

Lung, heart and stomach

Functions

1. To nourish the yin and moisten the lungs; 2. To strengthen the stomach and promote the production of body fluids; 3. To clear heat in the heart and relieve irritability

Indications & Combinations

1. Dry and heat in the lungs due to deficiency of yin manifested as cough with scanty and sticky sputum or cough with bloody sputum. Ophiopogon root (Maidong) is used with Glehnia root (Shashen), Asparagus root (Tianmendong), Tendrilled fritillary bulb (Chuanbeimu) and Fresh rehmannia root (Shengdihuang). 2. Deficient yin of the stomach manifested as dry tongue and thirst. Ophiopogon root (Maidong) is used with Fragrant solomonseal rhizome (Yuzhu), Glehnia root (Shashen) and Fresh rehmannia root (Shengdihuang). 3. Irritability and insomnia; (a) nutritive (ying) system invaded by pathogenic heat. Ophiopogon root (Maidong) is used with Fresh rehmannia root (Shengdihuang), Bamboo leaf (Zhuye) and Coptis root (Huanglian) in the formula Qingying Tang; (b) heart yin deficiency with internal heat causing insomnia. Ophiopogon root (Maidong) is used with Fresh rehmannia root (Shengdihuang) and Wild jujube seed (Suanzaoren) in the formula Tianwang Buxin Dan. 4. Constipation caused by dryness in the intestines. Ophiopogon root (Maidong) is used with Fresh rehmannia root (Shengdihuang) and Scrophularia (Xuanshen) in the formula Zengye Tang.

Dosage

6-15 g

Cautions & Contraindications

This herb is contraindicated in cases with cough due to wind-cold type of common cold, with presence of phlegm fluid and turbid dampness, with diarrhea due to deficiency, and cold in the spleen and stomach.

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With over 3000 years of experience, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has remain one of the many fascinating areas in ancient Chinese culture. First known to be documented in the Yellow Emperor's Canon of Medicine, TCM is believed to have been practised in as early as 475 to 221 B.C. The field of working knowledge of TCM stretches from anything related to general healthcare practice to the philosophy of the mind, the logic of life, religion, and even to as far as cosmology and astronumerology. This is why in order to thoroughly understand the concepts behind TCM, one must be comprehensive in learning and embracing the Chinese culture as a whole.

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Raymond Cheng, PhD DPA Thank you for visiting this TCM and acupuncture information website. If you have previously been to this website, you might have noticed that some of the pages on ancient historical ideas and holistic thinkings related to Chinese metaphysics are temporarily taken offline. This is because I will be revamping the whole website and be moving those information into a new \"Ancient Chinese Culture\" section so as to reflect a more current perspective on the interpretation of some of the fundamental concepts as well as to include some of the latest information in the area. But if you have just found this website for the very first time, I welcome you again and wish you could find what you require and, hopefully, you could also be benefitted from reading the articles I published on this website.

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March 28, 2020.

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