Chinese: 麦门冬汤
Pinyin: Mài Mén Dōng Tāng
Other names: Dwarf lilyturf Decoction, Ophiopogonis Decoction, Ophiopogon combination,
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that enrich Yin and moisten Dryness
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: AsthmaDiabetesPertussis and eleven other conditions
- Nourishes the Stomach
- Generates Body Fluids
- Directs Rebellious Qi downward
Contraindications: Contraindicated for patients with Dampness or Lung atrophy due to Cold from... Contraindicated for patients with Dampness or Lung atrophy due to Cold from Deficiency. Use with caution if there is high fever and irritability. see more
Source date: 220 AD
Source book: Essentials from the Golden Cabinet
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Mai Men Dong Tang is a 6-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Dwarf Lilyturf Roots (Mai Dong) as a principal ingredient.
Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that enrich Yin and moisten Dryness. Its main actions are: 1) nourishes the Stomach and 2) generates Body Fluids.
In Chinese Medicine health conditions are thought to arise due to "disharmonies" in the body as a system. These disharmonies are called "patterns" and the very purpose of herbal formulas is to fight them in order to restore the body's harmony.
In this case Mai Men Dong Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Lung Yin Deficiency, Stomach Yin Deficiency or Stomach Deficiency. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as morning sickness, lung atrophy or laryngitis for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the six ingredients in Mai Men Dong Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Mai Men Dong Tang helps treat.
The six ingredients in Mai Men Dong Tang
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.
1. Dwarf Lilyturf Roots (Mai Dong)
Part used: Dried root tuber
Nature: Cool
Meridian affinity: HeartLungStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Yin Deficiency
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.
Ren Shen is a deputy ingredient in Mai Men Dong Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
2. Ginseng (Ren Shen)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Ren Shen tonifies Qi, generates Body Fluids, and rises the Qi as well as Yin. With Mai Men Dong (Dwarf lilyturf) it makes an especially powerful combination to rise the Qi and Yin in the Lungs and Stomach.
Jing Mi is an assistant ingredient in Mai Men Dong Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
3. Rice Sprouts (Jing Mi)
Part used: Seed kernels
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
In general Jing Mi's main actions are as follows: "Replenishes Qi and tonifies the Spleen and Stomach. Eliminates thirst. Stops diarrhea."
In the context of Mai Men Dong Tang, it is used because it work closely with the king and deputy herbs to tonify the Stomach Qi and generate Body Fluids.
Da Zao is an assistant ingredient in Mai Men Dong Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
4. Jujube Dates (Da Zao)
Part used: Dried ripe fruit
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
In general Da Zao's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach Qi. Tonifies the Blood. Calms the Shen (spirit). Moderates the actions of other herbs in formula."
In the context of Mai Men Dong Tang, it is used because it work closely with the king and deputy herbs to tonify the Stomach Qi and generate Body Fluids.
Gan Cao is an assistant ingredient in Mai Men Dong Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
5. Liquorice (Gan Cao)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Gan Cao it has a relatively strong action in tonifying the Stomach. It can also improves the throat issue often encountered by patients who suffer from the patterns solved by this formula.
Ban Xia is an assistant ingredient in Mai Men Dong Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. Crow-Dipper Rhizomes (Ban Xia)
Part used: Dried rhizome and tuber
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Ban Xia facilitates the Stomach Qi flow and guides the Qi downward. The warm, acrid, drying nature of this herb is moderated by the moistening herbs in the formula and by its relatively low dosage. In fact, adding a small amount of this acrid, dispersing herb to the formula will assist in the distribution of nourishment from the Middle Burner to the Upper Burner, and redirect the Qi, thereby facilitating the replenishment of Body Fluids in the Lungs.
Conditions and patterns for which Mai Men Dong Tang may be prescribed
It's important to remember that herbal formulas are meant to treat patterns, not "diseases" as understood in Western Medicine. According to Chinese Medicine patterns, which are disruptions to the body as a system, are the underlying root cause for diseases and conditions.
As such Mai Men Dong Tang is used by TCM practitioners to treat three different patterns which we describe below.
But before we delve into these patterns here is an overview of the Western conditions they're commonly associated with:
Morning sickness Lung atrophy Laryngitis Pertussis Bronchiectasis Pneumonia Acute bronchitis Chronic bronchitis Asthma Hypertension Diabetes Peptic ulcers Reactive lymphoid hyperplasia Radiation therapy side effects
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Mai Men Dong Tang treats morning sickness" for instance. Rather, Mai Men Dong Tang is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind morning sickness.
Now let's look at the three patterns commonly treated with Mai Men Dong Tang.
The Lungs is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Lungs in Chinese Medicine
Lung Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Complete absence of coating
Tongue color: Red
Symptoms: Insomnia Red lips Dry cough Dry mouth Tiredness Thin chest Weak voice Dry throat Depression Blood spit Chest pain Malar flush Hoarse voice Night sweats Tickly throat Frequent sighing Aversion to speak Hot palms and soles Shortness of breath Thin body lacking strength Feeling of heat in the afternoon Low-grade fever in the afternoon
Mai Men Dong Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Lung Yin Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as hoarse voice, tickly throat, aversion to speak and thin chest. Patients with Lung Yin Deficiency typically exhibit rapid (Shu), empty (Xu) or floating (Fu) pulses as well as Normal or red color with no coating.
Exterior Heat and Dryness can invade the Lungs and exhausts the Body Fluids. If it is not dealt with for a long time, it leads to Lung Yin Deficiency. Typical manifestations are dry cough, throat and mouth, aversion to speak as well as Hoarse voice.
Other factors can cause this pattern such as the... read more about Lung Yin Deficiency
The Stomach is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Stomach in Chinese Medicine
Stomach Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Partial absence of coating
Tongue color: Red
Symptoms: Thirst Retching Dry mouth Hiccuping Dry throat Dry stools Constipation Poor appetite Slight thirst Bleeding gums Epigastic pain Epigastric pain No desire to eat Feeling of hunger Feeling of fullness Hot palms and soles Desire to drink in small sips Feeling of heat in the afternoon Slight feeling of fullness after eating
Mai Men Dong Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Stomach Yin Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as no desire to eat, desire to drink in small sips, slight feeling of fullness after eating and epigastric pain. Patients with Stomach Yin Deficiency typically exhibit empty (Xu) or floating (Fu) pulses as well as Normal color with rootless coating or without coating in the center.
The Stomach is responsible for receiving foods and drinks, ripening them and sending them to the Spleen for further digestion. Therefore, the Stomach is the origin of Body Fluids. It is also an Organ that likes Cold and Dampness which are both Yin characteristics. Stomach Yin Deficiency harms this... read more about Stomach Yin Deficiency
The Stomach is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Stomach in Chinese Medicine
Stomach Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Weak (Ruo)
Tongue color: Pale
Symptoms: Tiredness Dry mouth Depression Poor appetite Feeling of cold Nausea or vomiting
Mai Men Dong Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Stomach Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as nausea or vomiting, tiredness, feeling of cold and poor appetite. Patients with Stomach Deficiency typically exhibit weak (Ruo) pulses as well as a pale tongue.
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