- Region
- Asia
- Origin
- Asia (China, Japan, Korea)
- Other names
- Slangenbaard
Asia · Herb · № 313
Ophiopogon japonicus
Herb · Asia
Dwarf lilyturf (mai men dong)
Ophiopogon japonicus
Traditionally attributed effects: promotes the secretion of body fluids, tonic, calming, cough-suppressing, lowers blood sugar, antibacterial.
Safety notes
Traditional use is no proof of effectiveness; if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have a medical condition, consult a doctor or pharmacist.
Cautions by tradition (1)
- Chinese materia medica: Not with a cold, weak stomach and spleen with diarrhoea.
Preparation
Tuber.
Use in traditions
Described in herbal medicine (Western, Chinese and Ayurvedic). The tubers nourish yin in dry cough and thirst and are part of Mai Men Dong Tang (Japanese: Bakumondoto), which is prescribed in Japan for dry cough. The plant is a well-known ground cover worldwide.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Herbal medicine worldwide
Attributed effects
Promotes the secretion of body fluids, tonic, calming, cough-suppressing, lowers blood sugar, antibacterial.
Preparation and amount
Tuber.
Chinese materia medica
- Nature and taste
- sweet, slightly bitter, cold
- Meridians
- heart, lung, stomach
Attributed effects
Replenishes yin and body fluids, moistens stomach and lungs and nourishes the heart: in chronic bronchitis, coughing up blood, hoarseness, dry stools from stomach heat and in palpitations, anxiety, restlessness and insomnia from heart yin deficiency. At the same time it mildly dissolves hot phlegm.
Preparation and amount
Traditional dosage: 6–12 g a day, usually in a decoction. The sweet tubers of this ornamental plant ('snake's beard') are strikingly sweet when fresh.
Combinations
- With sha shen, Chinese asparagus, bei mu and raw rehmannia for dry cough with blood
- With raw rehmannia and sour jujube seed in tian wang bu xin dan for heart yin deficiency
Caution: Not with a cold, weak stomach and spleen with diarrhoea.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- Decoction