INDIVIDUAL HERBS
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Radix Asparagi |
| Common English: | Asparagus Tuber Shiny Asparagus Tuber |
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
Sweet Bitter |
Very Cold |
Kidney Lung (Stomach) |
5-15g Tincture: 2-5ml |
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Nourishes the Kidney Yin, clears Lung Heat and sedates Fire |
Lung Yin Deficiency with Heat signs in the upper Jiao such as Dryness of the mouth, Dryness of the Lung with dry mouth and a dry, non-productive cough or a productive cough with scanty, viscous, Blood-streaked sputum Kidney Yin Deficiency Jing Deficiency due to Kidney Yin Deficiency with leg atrophy |
Moistens the Lungs, nourishes the Kidneys, generates fluids and resolves Phlegm |
Lung and Kidney Yin Deficiencies, especially wasting and thirsting disorder(upper, middle and lower)and consumption with low-grade afternoon fever Constipation due to dry Intestines |
CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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INCOMPATIBILITIES |
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Tub. Ophiopogonis |
Tub. Ophiopogonis |
Tub. Ophiopogonis |
Dry cough, thirst, and other symp-toms due to Yin Deficiency and injured fluids Aftermath of a febrile disease |
Chronic dry cough due to Heat with difficult to expectorate sputum due to Lung Deficiency |
Qi and Yin Deficiencies with dry throat, thirst, low-grade fever and debility in the aftermath of a severe illness |
Rx. Ginseng |
Fol. Mori |
Cx. Mori |
Debility and low grade fever due to Yin Deficiency or after febrile disease |
Warm-Dryness with fever, slight aversion to Wind, cough with Blood-streaked sputum and chest pain |
Cough and wheezing with thick, yellow, viscous sputum due to Blazing Lung Fire |
Pseudobulbus Cremastrae/Pleiones |
Colla Corii Asini |
Tub. Ophiopogonis |
Lung consumption or Lung abscess |
Fire or Dryness in the Lungs and Kidneys with emaciation, tidal afternoon fever, parched throat and a dry cough with blood streaked-sputum |
Upper Jiao wasting and thirsting disorder |
Gypsum Fibrosum |
Rz. Anemarrhenae |
Rx. Scrophulariae |
Middle Jiao wasting and thirsting disorder |
Lower Jiao wasting and thirsting disorder |
Constipation due to Yin Deficiency |
Rx. Angelicae Sinensis |
Rx. Ginseng |
Hb. Oldenlandia |
Constipation due to Blood Deficiency |
Constipation |
Fibrocystic breast disorders Breast cancer Lymphatic cancer |
Rz. Anemarrhenae |
Rx. Gentianae Macrophyllae |
Tub. Ophiopogonis |
Chronic dry cough with Blood |
Steaming bone sensations, flushed cheeks and night sweats |
Upper Jiao wasting and thirsting disorder with polydipsia |
Gypsum Fibrosum |
Rz. Anemarrhenae |
Tub. Ophiopogonis |
Middle Jiao wasting and thirsting disorder with polyphagia |
Lower Jiao wasting and thirsting disorder with polyuria |
Chronic respiratory disorders such as tuberculosis or cancer |
Rx. Scrophulariae |
Rx. Angelicae Sinensis |
Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata |
Constipation due to Yin Deficiency and Heat |
Constipation due to Blood Deficiency and Heat |
Sore throat due to deficient Fire |
Rx. Isatidis |
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Sore throat due to Lung Heat |
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- It is often used with Tub. Ophiopogonis Mai Men Dong as a syrup.
- It is used in combination with other Yin tonics to treat feverishness in the upper body.
- It can be used alone for a mild dry cough.
- Rx. Trichosanthis Tian Huang Fen, Tub. Ophiopogonis Japonici Mai Men Dong, and Tub. Asparagi Tian Men Dong all clear Heat and moisten the Lungs. The first is best for Lung Heat from Stomach Heat, the second is best for Lung Heat from Heart Fire and the last is best for Lung Dryness from Kidney Yin Deficiency.
- Some sources say that this herb has diuretic properties.
- Some sources say that taking this herb with meat increases the production of milk for nursing mothers.
- Both Tian Men Dong and Rx. Ophiopogonis Mai Men Dong nourish Lung Yin, moisten Dryness and stop coughs and are used together for dry coughs with Blood tinged sputum, thirst due to injured Yin and constipation from Intestinal Dryness. Mai Men Dong is slightly cold and less Yin-nourishing but is less greasy and cloying than Tian Men Dong, and can eliminate irritability which Tian Men Dong cannot do. Tian Men Dong is very cold and more strongly clears Heat and moistens Dryness. It also enriches Kidney Yin which Mai Men Dong cannot do.
- Fresh Asparagus Tuber Xian Tian Dong are colder, rich, moistening and very nourishing to the Yin and fluids and are used for insatiable thirst that nothing else will quench.
- Succus Asparagi, Raw Asparagus Juice Sheng Tian Men Dong Zhi is very cold, sweet and tasty with a strong ability to nourish Yin and generate fluids. It also cools the Blood and stops bleeding especially bleeding related to Lung or Stomach Heat. It is especially suited to those who cannot eat and are vomiting Blood due to Stomach Heat.
- Dry-fried Asparagus Tuber Chao Tian Dong has a reduced greasy, cloying effect and facilitates digestion.
- Honey-prepared Asparagus Tuber Mi Zhi Tian Dong is better able to moisten the Lungs and stop coughs due to Lung Yin Deficiency.
- Cinnabar Asparagus Tuber Zhu Tian Dong has a Spirit-calming action that is most appropriate to treat insomnia, irritability or emotional disturbance associated with Lung and Kidney Yin Deficiencies.
- This herb has shown antitumoral action.