Tian Men Dong - 天门冬 - Radix Asparagi - Asparagus Root
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Radix Asparagi |
| Common English: | Asparagus Tuber Shiny Asparagus Tuber |
Category
Herbs that Tonify the YinProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Sweet Bitter | Very Cold | Kidney Lung (Stomach) | 5-15g Tincture: 2-5ml 6-12g (Secondary source) |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Nourishes 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 |
Generates Fluids, Moistens the Lungs, Nourishes the Kidneys, Resolves Phlegm | Lung and Kidney Yin Deficiency, especially wasting and thirsting disorder(upper, middle and lower)and consumption with low-grade afternoon fever Constipation due to dry Intestines |
*Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Major Combinations
| Tub. Ophiopogonis | Tub. Ophiopogonis | Tub. Ophiopogonis |
A dry cough, thirst and other symptoms 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 Deficiency with dry throat, thirst, low-grade fever and debility in the aftermath of a severe illness. |
| Rx. Ginseng | Fol. Mori | Cx. Mori |
Debility and a low grade fever due to Yin Deficiency or after a 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. Hedyotis Diffusae |
Constipation due to Blood Deficiency. | Constipation. | Fibrocystic breast disorders. Breast cancer. Lymphatic cancer. Malignant lymphoma. |
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 | ||
Sore throat due to Lung Heat. |
Notes
- It is commonly made into a syrup together with Tub. Ophiopogonis Mai Men Dong.
- Combined with other Yin tonics, it treats feverishness in the upper body.
- On its own, it can treat a mild dry cough.
- According to some sources, this herb is diuretic.
- Some sources report that, eaten with meat, it boosts milk production in nursing mothers.
- According to one source, it breaks up Blood Stagnation.
- Research has shown that it inhibits cancer cell growth.
- One source reports that it cures pyogenic Lung cancer.
- It is reported to cure carbuncles, abdominal masses and pyogenic sores.
- For carbuncles and swelling, wash and grind 30-150g of Tian Men Dong, strain it with wine and take it by mouth.
- For chronic stomatitis, combine equal amounts of Tian Men Dong, Rx. Ophiopogonis Mai Men Dong and Rx. Scrophulariae Xuan Shen, form them into honey-coated pills, and suck one pill daily.
- It is reported to get rid of foul body odor.
- Rx. Trichosanthis Tian Hua Fen, Tub. Ophiopogonis Japonici Mai Men Dong, and Tub. Asparagi Tian Men Dong each clear Heat and moisten the Lungs. The first works best for Lung Heat arising from Stomach Heat, the second for Lung Heat arising from Heart Fire, and the third for Lung Dryness arising from Kidney Yin Deficiency.
- Tian Men Dong and Rx. Ophiopogonis Mai Men Dong both nourish Lung Yin, moisten Dryness and stop coughs, and they are combined for dry coughs with Blood-tinged sputum, thirst from injured Yin and constipation from Intestinal Dryness. Mai Men Dong is slightly cold and nourishes Yin less, but it is less greasy and cloying than Tian Men Dong and can relieve irritability, which Tian Men Dong cannot. Tian Men Dong is very cold and clears Heat and moistens Dryness more strongly. It also enriches Kidney Yin, something Mai Men Dong cannot do.
- Fresh Asparagus Tuber Xian Tian Dong is colder, rich and moistening, deeply nourishes the Yin and fluids, and is used for insatiable thirst that nothing else can quench.
- Succus Asparagi, Raw Asparagus Juice Sheng Tian Men Dong Zhi is very cold, sweet and pleasant-tasting, and strongly nourishes Yin and generates fluids. It also cools the Blood and stops bleeding, particularly bleeding linked to Lung or Stomach Heat, and is especially suitable for people who are unable to eat and are vomiting Blood from Stomach Heat.
- Dry-fried Asparagus Tuber Chao Tian Dong is less greasy and cloying and aids digestion.
- Honey-prepared Asparagus Tuber Mi Zhi Tian Dong is more effective at moistening the Lungs and stopping coughs from Lung Yin Deficiency.
- Cinnabar Asparagus Tuber Zhu Tian Dong calms the Spirit and is best suited to insomnia, irritability or emotional disturbance linked to Lung and Kidney Yin Deficiency.
- Also known as Tian Dong.