Introduction of Tian Men Dong:Asparagus Root or Radix Asparagi.
✵The article gives records of the herb Asparagus Root, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source one plant species, ①.Asparagus cochin-chinensis (Lour.) Merr., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of this plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, the features of the herb Asparagus Root, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Radix Asparagi(Asparagus Root).
Pin Yin Name: Tiān Mén Dōnɡ.
English Name: Asparagus Root.
Latin Name: Radix Asparagi.
Property and flavor: cold in nature, tastes sweet, bitter.
Brief introduction: The herb Radix Asparagi is the steamed peeled and dried tuberous root of Asparagus cochin-chinensis (Lour.) Merr., used to replenish Yin and promote fluid production for the treatment of dipsosis, dry throat, cough with sticky phlegm, bloody sputum, and constipation. The herb is commonly known as Radix Asparagi, Asparagus Root, Cochinchinese Asparagus Root, Tiān Mén Dōnɡ.
Botanical source: Common herbal classics defined the herb Asparagus Root (Tian Men Dong) as the rhizome of the Liliaceae family plant species (1). Asparagus cochin-chinensis (Lour.) Merr. It is a plant of the Asparagus L. genus, the Liliaceae family (lily family) of the Liliales order. This commonly used species and Asparagus officinalis are introduced:
(1).Asparagus cochin-chinensis (Lour.) Merr.
Botanical description: The plant, Asparagus cochin-chinensis (Lour.) Merr is a plant of the Liliaceae family (lily family) and Asparagus genus, it is also known as Melanthium cochinchinensis Lour., Asparagus lucidus Lindl.(A. lucidus Lindl.), Asparagus gaudichaudianus Kunth. (A. gaudichaudianus Kunth.), Tiān Mén Dōnɡ. A perennial scandent herb (climbing herb), the whole plant is glabrous. Root tubers are succulent, tufty, oblong oval or fusiform (spindle-shaped), 4~10 cm long, and sallow (grayish-yellow). Stems are thin, grow up to 2 meters long, and branches have ribs or narrow wings; usually, 3 phylloclades (phyllocladium) grow in a tuft, flat, 1~3 cm long, 1~2 mm wide, and the apex is sharp-pointed.
Leaves degenerate to scales, the apex is long pointed, the base has ligneous anatropous spines, spines on stems are 2.5~3 mm long, shorter or inconspicuous on branches.
1–3 flowers grow in tuft and grow in leaf axils, unisexual, dioecious, pale green; pedicels are 2~6 mm long; male flower has 6 tepals (perianth lobes), stamens are slightly shorter than perianth, filaments are not attached to tepals, anthers are oval (egg-shaped), about 0.7 mm long; the female flower and male flower are similar in size, and has 6 staminodes.
Berries are spheric in shape (globular), 6~7 mm in diameter, turn red at maturity; and have 1 seed. Its flowering period is from May to July, the fruiting period is in August.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows in the dankish mountain forests, grass or bushes, on roadsides, hillsides and mountain slopes, valleys, sparse forests, and wasteland, and is often distributed in mountainous areas at altitudes below 1,000 meters above sea level. It is also cultivated. Geographical distribution: This species is mainly distributed in the east, northern, central south, northwest, southwest, and other areas of China.
Growth characteristics: The plant prefers a warm and moist climate, is not resistant to severe cold, and avoids drought, and waterlogging. It is appropriate to choose a field with deep soil layers, fertile, humus-rich, well-drained loam, or sandy loam for cultivation; it should not be planted in clay or barren soil with poor drainage.
Characters of herbs: The root tuber is long fusiform (long spindle-shaped) or cylindrical, slightly curved, 4~18 cm long, and 0.5~2 cm in diameter. The surface is yellowish-white or yellowish-brown, translucent, and has vertical grooves and fine wrinkles of varying depths. The texture of the herb is firm and tough, or soft and smooth, the fracture surface is yellowish-white, keratoid (keroid), sticky (glutinous), the cortex is wide, and the stele is conspicuous, yellowish-white. The herb has a slight odor, it tastes sweet and slightly bitter. The herb of a better grade is hypertrophic and full, compact, yellowish-white, and translucent.
Pharmacological actions: ①.In vitro inhibit the dehydrogenase of leukocytes in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, and acute monocytic leukemia; ②.inhibit the respiration of leukocytes in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Medicinal efficacy: Nourish Yin, moistening dryness, clearing away the lung-heat and promote the secretion of saliva or body fluid, lower fire. It is indicated for pulmonary dryness and dry cough, dryness-heat and cough, whooping cough and sticky phlegm, waist and knee pain aching, bone steaming and hectic fever, Yin deficiency and fever, Yin deficiency and over-strained cough, endogenous heat and wasting thirst (internal heat and consumptive thirst), febrile disease and injury of body fluid, febrile disease and Yin hurt, cough and hematemesis (cough, spitting blood), dry pharynx and thirst, swelling and pain in throat, atrophic lung disease, abscess of lung, wasting thirst (consumptive thirst), constipation, dryness of the intestine and constipation, etc.
Administration of Radix Asparagi (Tiān Mén Dōnɡ):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Radix Asparagi (Tiān Mén Dōnɡ)
TCM Books:
①.Internally: 6~12 grams; ②.Internally:water decoction, 2~4 qian (about 6~12 grams);prepare an ointment, or prepare to pill, powder; ③.Internally:water decoction, 6~15 grams, prepare an ointment, or prepare to pill, powder. Externally:proper amount, mash fresh herb and apply stick, or extract juice and smear apply.
Contraindications,Precautions and Adverse Reactions: the herb Radix Asparagi should not be combined with azurite ore.
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1.Introduction of Tian Men Dong:Asparagus Root or Radix Asparagi.
✵The article gives records of the herb Asparagus Root, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source one plant species, ①.Asparagus cochin-chinensis (Lour.) Merr., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of this plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, the features of the herb Asparagus Root, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Pin Yin Name: Tiān Mén Dōnɡ.
Botanical description: The plant, Asparagus cochin-chinensis (Lour.) Merr is a plant of the Liliaceae family (lily family) and Asparagus genus, it is also known as Melanthium cochinchinensis Lour., Asparagus lucidus Lindl.(A. lucidus Lindl.), Asparagus gaudichaudianus Kunth. (A. gaudichaudianus Kunth.), Tiān Mén Dōnɡ. A perennial scandent herb (climbing herb), the whole plant is glabrous. Root tubers are succulent, tufty, oblong oval or fusiform (spindle-shaped), 4~10 cm long, and sallow (grayish-yellow). Stems are thin, grow up to 2 meters long, and branches have ribs or narrow wings; usually, 3 phylloclades (phyllocladium) grow in a tuft, flat, 1~3 cm long, 1~2 mm wide, and the apex is sharp-pointed.
Leaves degenerate to scales, the apex is long pointed, the base has ligneous anatropous spines, spines on stems are 2.5~3 mm long, shorter or inconspicuous on branches.
Berries are spheric in shape (globular), 6~7 mm in diameter, turn red at maturity; and have 1 seed. Its flowering period is from May to July, the fruiting period is in August.
Growth characteristics: The plant prefers a warm and moist climate, is not resistant to severe cold, and avoids drought, and waterlogging. It is appropriate to choose a field with deep soil layers, fertile, humus-rich, well-drained loam, or sandy loam for cultivation; it should not be planted in clay or barren soil with poor drainage.
Characters of herbs: The root tuber is long fusiform (long spindle-shaped) or cylindrical, slightly curved, 4~18 cm long, and 0.5~2 cm in diameter. The surface is yellowish-white or yellowish-brown, translucent, and has vertical grooves and fine wrinkles of varying depths. The texture of the herb is firm and tough, or soft and smooth, the fracture surface is yellowish-white, keratoid (keroid), sticky (glutinous), the cortex is wide, and the stele is conspicuous, yellowish-white. The herb has a slight odor, it tastes sweet and slightly bitter. The herb of a better grade is hypertrophic and full, compact, yellowish-white, and translucent.
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