Use of Mai Dong (dwarf lilyturf roots) in TCM
Please note that you should never self-prescribe TCM ingredients. A TCM ingredient is almost never eaten on its own but as part of a formula containing several ingredients that act together. Please consult a professional TCM practitioner, they will be best able to guide you.
Preparation: Remove impurities, wash, soak in water, cut into sections and dry.
Dosage: 6 - 12 grams
Main actions according to TCM*: Replenishes Yin Essence and promotes secretions. Lubricates and nourishes the Stomach. Soothes the Lung. Nourishes the Heart.
Primary conditions or symptoms for which Mai Dong may be prescribed by TCM doctors*:
Dry cough
Insomnia
Dry mouth
Constipation
Diphtheria
Contraindications*: Not for those with weak Spleen and Stomach with Coldness and diarrhea.
Common TCM formulas in which Mai Dong is used*
Mai Dong is a king ingredient in Mai Men Dong Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
In Mai Men Dong Tang, Mai Dong clears Heat caused due to Stomach Deficiency and generates Body Fluids in the Stomach and Lungs. It is very useful in treating Lung atrophy. Together with Ginseng it is an especially powerful combination to rise the Qi and Yin in the Lungs and Stomach.
Read more about Mai Men Dong Tang
Mai Dong is a king ingredient in Yi Wei Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
In Yi Wei Tang, Mai Dong is sweet, cooling and moistening. It is used both for Yin Deficiency and internal Heat.
Read more about Yi Wei Tang
Mai Dong is a king ingredient in Sha Shen Mai Men Dong Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
In Sha Shen Mai Men Dong Tang, Mai Dong is sweet and cooling and it enters both the Lungs and Stomach.
It nourishes the Yin by generating Body Fluids by combining with Bai Sha Shen.
Read more about Sha Shen Mai Men Dong Tang
Mai Dong is a deputy ingredient in Bai He Gu Jin Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
In Bai He Gu Jin Tang, Mai Dong is an important herb for tonifying the Yin, especially that of the Upper Burner. It also assist Lily bulb (Bai He) and the other two key herbs with their actions on the Lungs.
Read more about Bai He Gu Jin Tang
Mai Dong is a deputy ingredient in Zeng Ye Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
In Zeng Ye Tang, Mai Dong assists in enriching and moistening the Yin, especially of the Stomach and Intestines.
Read more about Zeng Ye Tang
Mai Dong is a deputy ingredient in Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
In Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan, Mai Dong enriches the Yin and clear Empty Heat due to Yin Deficiency. In fact, all three deputies herbs are noted for their efficacy in calming the Mind.
Read more about Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan
Mai Dong is a deputy ingredient in Tong Ru Dan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
In Tong Ru Dan, Mai Dong , like Dong Quai (another deputy ingredient), nourishes Blood and supports the flow of Body Fluids.
Read more about Tong Ru Dan
Mai Dong is a deputy ingredient in Qing Ying Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
In Qing Ying Tang, Mai Dong clears Heat, tonifies Yin and Body Fluids.
Read more about Qing Ying Tang
Mai Dong is a deputy ingredient in Ba Xian Chang Shou Wan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
Read more about Ba Xian Chang Shou Wan
Mai Dong is a deputy ingredient in Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
In Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang, Mai Dong is sweet and cooling. It supports Body Fluids generating so as to nourish the Yin. It also assists the key herb in protecting the Yin and the Lungs from Heat Dryness invasion.
Read more about Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang
Mai Dong is a deputy ingredient in Sheng Mai San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
In Sheng Mai San, Mai Dong nourishes the Yin and moistens the
Lungs. It also supports the Stomach by generates Body Fluids directly. While the key herb Ginseng of the formula creates Fluids indirectly. The combination of the two herbs give a strong effect on generating Body Fluids.
The herb can also clears Heart Heat or Fire to eliminate irritability.
Read more about Sheng Mai San
Mai Dong is a deputy ingredient in Zeng Ye Cheng Qi Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
In Zeng Ye Cheng Qi Tang, Mai Dong removes Qi Stagnation in the epigastrium caused by overeating. It also helps in digesting food and regulating the Middle Burner.
The combination of Dwarf lilyturf root and Ningpo figwort root helps in nourishing the Yin, generate Body Fluids and promote bowel movement.
Read more about Zeng Ye Cheng Qi Tang
Mai Dong is a deputy ingredient in Cong Bai Qi Wei Yin. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
In Cong Bai Qi Wei Yin, Mai Dong nourishes the Blood and Yin, so as to supply Body Fluids, which is the source of sweating.
Read more about Cong Bai Qi Wei Yin
Mai Dong is a deputy ingredient in Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
In Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang, Mai Dong , working together with Ginseng, moistens the Lungs and nourishes the Yin, benefits the Stomach and generates Body Fluids, as well as clears Heat from the Heart and eliminates irritability.
Read more about Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang
Mai Dong is a deputy ingredient in Qing Gong Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
In Qing Gong Tang, Mai Dong unblocks the collateral vessels of the Heart.
It removes Qi Stagnation in the Heart and abdomen and Food Stagnation in the Stomach.
Read more about Qing Gong Tang
Mai Dong is a deputy ingredient in Xin Yi Qing Fei Yin. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
In Xin Yi Qing Fei Yin, Mai Dong enhances the Yin and moisten the Lungs so as to offset damage to the Lung Yin caused by the drying herbs in the formula and the stagnant Heat inherent in this disorder.
Dwarf lilyturf root and Lily bulb work together for this purpose.
Read more about Xin Yi Qing Fei Yin
Mai Dong is a deputy ingredient in Yu Nu Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
In Yu Nu Tang, Mai Dong is very effective in moistening the Stomach, generating fluids, and alleviating irritability.
It nourishes the Yin primarily in the middle and upper burners, and thus complement the action of Prepared Rehmannia. which nourishes the Kidney Yin.
Read more about Yu Nu Tang
Mai Dong is a deputy ingredient in Qing Shu Yi Qi Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
In Qing Shu Yi Qi Tang, Mai Dong nourishes the Yin of the Lungs and Stomach.
Read more about Qing Shu Yi Qi Tang
Mai Dong is an assistant ingredient in Sheng Tie Luo Yin. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
In Sheng Tie Luo Yin, Mai Dong nourishes the Yin to replenish the physiological Body Fluids.
Read more about Sheng Tie Luo Yin
Mai Dong is an assistant ingredient in Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
In Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin, Mai Dong clears the Heat and tranquillizes the Heart by nourishing the Yin.
Read more about Qing Xin Lian Zi Yin
Mai Dong is an assistant ingredient in Wu Shi Lian Mei Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
In Wu Shi Lian Mei Tang, Mai Dong is sweet and cooling. It tonifies the water to stop the thirst and extinguish the Wind.
Its sweetness is restrained by the sourness of Chinese plum and guided toward transformation into Yin.
Read more about Wu Shi Lian Mei Tang
Mai Dong is an assistant ingredient in Bai Zi Yang Xin Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
In Bai Zi Yang Xin Tang, Mai Dong replenishes Kidney Yin Essence and promotes secretions. It also lubricates and nourishes the Stomach as well as soothes the Lung and nourishes the Heart.
Read more about Bai Zi Yang Xin Tang
Mai Dong is an assistant ingredient in Zhi Gan Cao Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
In Zhi Gan Cao Tang, Mai Dong moistens Dryness in the Stomach and Lungs, which is thte Upper Burner.
The combination of E Jiao, Huo Ma Ren and Mai Dong assists Sheng Di Huang in enriching the Yin, moistening Dryness, and cooling
Heat from Yin Deficiency.
Read more about Zhi Gan Cao Tang
Key TCM concepts behind Mai Dong's properties
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Mai Dong belongs to the 'Tonic herbs for Yin Deficiency' category. Tonic herbs are used for patterns of Deficiency, when one lacks one of the 'Four Treasures' (Qi, Blood, Yin and Yang). Yin tonics have a heavy, moist nature. They either nourish the Kidneys and Liver or moisten the Lungs and Stomach. Extreme Yin Deficiency often translates into a 'burn-out', unfortunately more and more common among people today. It is worth mentioning that another great remedy against Yin Deficiency is a lot of rest and sleep; no herb will ever be able to replace this!
Furthermore Mai Dong is Cool in nature. This means that Mai Dong tends to help people who have too much 'Heat' in their body, although with less effect than a plant that would be Cold in nature. Balance between Yin and Yang is a key health concept in TCM. Those who have too much Heat in their body are said to either have a Yang Excess (because Yang is Hot in nature) or a Yin deficiency (Yin is Cold in Nature). Depending on your condition Mai Dong can help restore a harmonious balance between Yin and Yang.
Mai Dong also tastes Bitter and Sweet. The so-called 'Five Phases' theory in Chinese Medicine states that the taste of TCM ingredients is a key determinant of their action in the body. Bitter ingredients like Mai Dong tends to have a cleansing action on the body by clearing Heat, drying Dampness and promoting elimination via urination or bowel movements. On the other hand Sweet ingredients tend to slow down acute reactions and detoxify the body. They also have a tonic effect because they replenish Qi and Blood.
The tastes of ingredients in TCM also determine what Organs and Meridians they target. As such Mai Dong is thought to target the Heart, the Lung and the Stomach. In addition to regulating Blood flow, in TCM the Heart is believed to be the store of the 'Mind' which basically refers to someone's vitality. In addition to performing respiration, the Lungs are thought in TCM to be a key part of the production chain for Qi and the Body Fluids that nourish the body. The Stomach is responsible for receiving and ripening ingested food and fluids. It is also tasked with descending the digested elements downwards to the Small Intestine.
Research on Mai Dong
Ophiopogonis Radix can be used either as a healthy food or a therapeutic agent for disease prevention and treatment.1
An aqueous extract of Radix Ophiopogon japonicus (ROJ-ext) exerted significant antithrombotic activity and ruscogenin and ophiopogonin D are two of its active components, which supported its therapeutic use for thrombotic diseases.2
Sources:
1. Chen MH, Chen XJ, Wang M, Lin LG, Wang YT. (2016). Ophiopogon japonicus--A phytochemical, ethnomedicinal and pharmacological review. J Ethnopharmacol. , 181:193-213. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2016.01.037. Epub 2016 Jan 27.
2. Junping Kou, Youqing Tian, Yunkit Tang, Jin Yan, Boyang Yu (2006). Antithrombotic Activities of Aqueous Extract from Radix Ophiopogon japonicus and Its Two Constituents. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 29(6): 1267-1270. DOI https://doi.org/10.1248/bpb.29.1267
Use of Mai Dong as food
Mai Dong is also eaten as food.
