WH Acupuncture & Herbs Centre

Ophiopogon Decoction mai men dong tang

[SOURCE]: Synopsis of the Golden Chamber

[INGREDIENTS]: Ophiopogon root 35g,  Pinellia tuber 5g,  Ginseng 5g,  Licorice 3g,  Round-grain rice 3g,  Chinese date 3 pcs.

[DIRECTIONS]:Decoct the above herbs in water for oral administration.

[EFFECTS]: Nourishing the lung and stomach, lowering the rebellious qi and harmonizing the middle.

[NDICATIONS]:

(1)     Insufficiency of the lung-yin marked by cough with sticky phlegm, or frothy sputum, dry mouth and throat, feverish sensation of the palms and soles, red tongue with less coating, feeble and rapid pulse.

(2)    Insufficiency of the stomach-yin marked by vomiting, thirst, dryness of throat, red tongue with less coating, feeble and rapid pulse. 

[ANALYSIS OF FORMULA]:It is a key formula for treating the weak lung due to yin deficiency. Being sweet flavor and cold nature, ophiopogon root acts as the main herb to nourish the lung and stomach-yin as well as clearing away the deficient heat. As the assistant herb, pinellia tuber can lower the rebellious qi and re­solve phlegm. Though pinellia tuber has the property of dryness, its dryness prop­erty is decreased when in combination with large dosage of ophiopogon root and it still is good at lowering the rebellious qi of the lung and stomach. Ginseng, as the adjuvant herb, can tonify the middle-qi as well as promoting generation of the body fluid by combination with ophiopogon root. Round-grain rice, Chinese date and licorice act as the dispatcher herbs to reinforce the spleen and stomach which then can transport the body fluid to the lung. This formula is effective not only to the case with symptom of spitting frothy sputum due to deficient heat in the lung but also to the case with symptom of vomiting due to insufficiency of the stomach- yin.