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Asparagus [root]
天冬 〔天冬〕tiān dōng
Latin pharmacognostic name: Asparagi Radix
Alternate English names: Chinese asparagus [root] shiny asparagus [root]
Alternate Chinese names: 天门冬 tiān mén dōng
Kingdom: Plant
Origin in PRC Pharmacopoeia: Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr. (PRC Pharmacopoeia)
Origin (other sources): Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr.* [= A. lucidus Lindl.]; Asparagus spinasissimus Wang et S.C. Chen
Use: Medicinal
Category: Supplementing agents / Yīn-supplementing agents
Properties: Sweet, bitter; cold.
Channel entry: Lung, kidney, and stomach channels.
Indications:
- Nourishes lung yīn and clears lung heat: Cough due to dryness-heat or vacuity taxation cough.
- Enriches kidney yīn and downbears vacuity fire: Kidney yīn vacuity with heat.
- Boosts the stomach and engenders liquid: Thirst, poor appetite, and constipation due to damage to qì and yīn in febrile disease.
- Additional uses: Tiān dōng may also be used to treat painful swollen sore throat.
Dosage & Method: Oral: 6–15g in decoctions, often stir-fried before use.
Warnings: Contraindicated in spleen-stomach vacuity cold with reduced eating and sloppy stool.
Quality: Large full shiny light-colored tubers with sticky flesh are the best quality.
Product Area: Húnán, Guìzhōu, Húběi.
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