Ophiopogon root (Maidong)

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. Dryness 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 heatOphiopogon 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 insomniaOphiopogon 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.