Asparagus cochinchinensis, a traditional Chinese medicine. It is the dried tuberous root of Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr., a plant in the Liliaceae family. It is primarily produced in Meitan, Chishui, and Wangmo in Guizhou; Fuling, Luzhou, and Leshan in Sichuan; Baise and Luocheng in Guangxi; Pingyang and Jingning in Zhejiang; and Weishan Yi Autonomous County and Binchuan in Yunnan.It is also produced in Shaanxi, Gansu, Hubei, Hunan, Anhui, Jiangxi, and Henan. Among these regions, Guizhou has the largest output and the highest quality. It is effective in nourishing yin and moistening dryness, as well as clearing the lungs and reducing internal heat.It is primarily used to treat dry cough with sticky phlegm, chronic cough with hemoptysis, fluid deficiency with restlessness and thirst, intestinal dryness with constipation, internal heat with excessive thirst, night sweats and nocturnal emissions, restlessness and anxiety, forgetfulness and insomnia, mouth and tongue sores, swollen and painful gums, blood-related disorders, eye diseases, consumptive diseases, and female infertility.
Asparagus cochinchinensis
Asparagus cochinchinensis, a traditional Chinese medicine. It is the dried tuberous root of Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr., a plant in the Liliaceae family. It is primarily produced in Meitan, Chishui, and Wangmo in Guizhou; Fuling, Luzhou, and Leshan in Sichuan; Baise and Luocheng in Guangxi; Pingyang and Jingning in Zhejiang; and Weishan Yi Autonomous County and Binchuan in Yunnan.It is also produced in Shaanxi, Gansu, Hubei, Hunan, Anhui, Jiangxi, and Henan. Among these regions, Guizhou has the largest output and the highest quality. It is effective in nourishing yin and moistening dryness, as well as clearing the lungs and reducing internal heat.It is primarily used to treat dry cough with sticky phlegm, chronic cough with hemoptysis, fluid deficiency with restlessness and thirst, intestinal dryness with constipation, internal heat with excessive thirst, night sweats and nocturnal emissions, restlessness and anxiety, forgetfulness and insomnia, mouth and tongue sores, swollen and painful gums, blood-related disorders, eye diseases, consumptive diseases, and female infertility.
Chinese Name : 天门冬
Aliases : Asparagus root, Dangmen root, Tian冬
Authentic Producing Area : Guizhou, Sichuan, Guangxi, Zhejiang, Yunnan
Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Sweet and bitter in taste; cold in nature; enters the Lung and Kidney meridians
Benefits & Efficacy
Benefits
Nourishes yin and moistens dryness; clears the lungs and reduces fire.
Indications
1. Primarily used for dry cough with sticky phlegm, chronic cough with hemoptysis, fluid deficiency with restlessness and thirst, intestinal dryness with constipation, internal heat with excessive thirst, night sweats and nocturnal emissions, restlessness and anxiety, forgetfulness and insomnia, mouth and tongue sores, swollen and painful gums, blood-related disorders, eye diseases, consumptive diseases, and female infertility. 2. In Western medicine, it is indicated for cases of chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, lung cancer, recurrent respiratory tract infections, cough during pregnancy, pulmonary tuberculosis, and whooping cough associated with lung yin deficiency; pharyngitis, diabetes, and Sjögren’s syndrome associated with lung and stomach yin deficiency; and cataracts associated with liver and kidney deficiency.
Usage and Dosage
1. Internal Use: Decoct 6–15 g; prepare as a paste; or incorporate into pills or powders. 2. External Use: Apply an appropriate amount; apply fresh, pounded plant directly or apply juice extracted from pounded fresh plant.
Precautions
Patients requiring treatment with traditional Chinese medicine should first consult a licensed TCM hospital, where a TCM practitioner will conduct a professional pattern differentiation and issue a prescription.
Chemical Constituents
Contains 32.4%–35.1% asparagine, as well as mucilage, β-sitosterol, and 5-methoxy-methylaldehyde. The bitter components consist of steroidal saponins, including parthenolide aglycone, rhamnose, xylose, and glucose.
Pharmacological Actions
This product possesses antibacterial properties, kills mosquito and fly larvae, enhances the body’s immunity, and has antitussive and expectorant effects.
Applications
Related Compatibility
1. Asparagus root combined with Ophiopogon tuber: Asparagus root excels at nourishing yin, moistening dryness, clearing the lungs, and reducing internal heat; Ophiopogon tuber excels at nourishing yin, moistening the lungs, benefiting the stomach, and promoting fluid production. When combined, these two herbs enhance the effects of nourishing yin and moistening the lungs. This combination is suitable for conditions such as lung and kidney yin deficiency, chronic cough, and hemoptysis.
2. Tianmendong combined with Beimu: Tianmendong is sweet, bitter, and cold in nature, excelling at nourishing the yin of the lungs and kidneys while transforming phlegm-heat; Beimu is sweet, bitter, and slightly cold in nature, excelling at clearing and draining lung heat while transforming phlegm. When combined, these two herbs enhance the effects of nourishing yin, moistening the lungs, and clearing and transforming phlegm-heat. This combination is suitable for conditions such as phlegm-heat obstructing the lungs, depletion of body fluids, and sticky phlegm that is difficult to expectorate.
3. Asparagus Root combined with Donkey-hide Gelatin: Asparagus Root is sweet, bitter, and cold in nature, excelling at nourishing the yin of the lungs and kidneys while resolving phlegm-heat; Donkey-hide Gelatin is sweet and neutral in nature, excelling at nourishing yin, moistening dryness, and stopping bleeding. When combined, these two herbs enhance the effects of nourishing yin, reducing fire, moistening the lungs, relieving cough, resolving phlegm, and stopping bleeding. This combination is suitable for conditions such as chronic lung atrophy, yin deficiency with internal heat, and coughing up phlegm mixed with blood.
4. Tianmendong Combined with Jiegeng: Tianmendong excels at nourishing yin and moistening dryness; Jiegeng excels at dispersing the lungs and resolving phlegm. When combined, these two herbs nourish yin, moisten dryness, disperse the lungs, and resolve phlegm. This combination is suitable for conditions such as heat pathogens obstructing the lungs, resulting in cough with thick phlegm due to impaired lung function, a sensation of air being trapped in the throat, and mental confusion.
5. Tianmendong Combined with Huangqi: Tianmendong excels at nourishing yin, moistening dryness, clearing the lungs, and reducing fire; Huangqi excels at tonifying qi, raising yang, strengthening the defensive qi, and consolidating the exterior. When combined, these two herbs can simultaneously tonify both qi and yin, nourish yin, moisten the lungs, and relieve cough. This combination is suitable for severe cases of pulmonary tuberculosis with cough, concurrent lung and kidney deficiency, insufficiency of qi and yin, cough with shortness of breath, and emaciation of the limbs.
6. Asparagus Root Combined with Phellodendron: Asparagus Root excels at nourishing yin, reducing fire, generating body fluids, and quenching thirst; Phellodendron excels at clearing “phase fire” and alleviating deficiency heat. When combined, these two herbs enhance the effects of nourishing yin, reducing fire, alleviating deficiency heat, generating body fluids, and quenching thirst. This combination is suitable for conditions such as yin deficiency with excessive fire, characterized by tidal fever, night sweats, nocturnal emissions, seminal emissions, dizziness, weakness in the lower back and knees, dry throat and mouth, and a red tongue with a sparse coating.
7. Tianmendong Combined with Dan Nansheng: Tianmendong is sweet, bitter, and cold in nature; its functions include using its bitter properties to drain and subdue fire, clear heat, and resolve phlegm. Dan Nansheng is bitter, pungent, and cool in nature; its functions include clearing heat, resolving phlegm, subduing wind, and calming convulsions. When combined, these two herbs enhance the effects of clearing heat and resolving phlegm. This combination is indicated for restlessness of the mind caused by phlegm-heat disturbing the heart, or conditions such as mania, delirium, and epilepsy.
8. Tianmendong Combined with Danggui: Tianmendong is sweet, cold, and moist in nature; it nourishes yin, moistens dryness, generates body fluids, and quenches thirst. Danggui is sweet, warm, and moist in nature; it excels at tonifying and nourishing blood, as well as moistening the intestines and promoting bowel movements. When combined, these two herbs enhance the effects of nourishing blood, replenishing yin, moistening the intestines, and promoting bowel movements. This combination is suitable for intestinal dryness and constipation caused by heat diseases depleting body fluids, or even yin deficiency and blood deficiency, where bowel movements have not occurred for several days.
Medicinal Identification
1. Ophiopogon japonicus and Asparagus cochinchinensis: Both are tuberous roots of plants in the Liliaceae family. They have a sweet taste and enter the Lung meridian; they are classified as herbs that clear heat and moisten dryness. Both can nourish yin, clear the lungs, moisten dryness, and promote bowel movements. They are similarly used to treat dry cough due to lung heat, chronic cough with hemoptysis, internal heat with excessive thirst, and constipation caused by fluid depletion and intestinal dryness.However, Ophiopogon tuber (McMenon) has a slightly cold nature and a slightly bitter taste; it enters the Heart and Stomach meridians. Its ability to moisten dryness and clear heat is relatively mild, and it is less greasy. It can also nourish the stomach and generate body fluids, as well as clear the heart and relieve restlessness. It is particularly effective for treating dry mouth and tongue caused by damage to stomach yin in febrile diseases or chronic illnesses, as well as restlessness and insomnia resulting from yin deficiency with heat or heat invading the营血 (ying-blood) stage in febrile diseases.Tianmendong (Asparagus cochinchinensis) has a very cold nature and a bitter taste; it enters the Kidney meridian. It is highly effective at clearing fire and moistening dryness, and it also nourishes Kidney yin. It is particularly effective for treating Kidney yin deficiency, as well as hot flashes and night sweats caused by yin deficiency with excessive fire, and seminal emission; in recent years, it has been used to treat lobular hyperplasia of the breast.
2.Anemarrhena and Asparagus: Both belong to the Liliaceae family, are cold in nature with a sweet and bitter taste, and enter the Lung and Kidney meridians. As herbs that clear, descend, and moisten, they can all clear heat, subdue fire, nourish yin, generate body fluids, moisten dryness, and promote bowel movements. They are similarly used to treat dry cough due to lung heat and consumptive cough due to yin deficiency; thirst caused by heat diseases damaging body fluids; internal heat-induced diabetes; night sweats, nocturnal emissions, and hot flashes resulting from kidney deficiency; and intestinal dryness and constipation caused by yin deficiency and depletion of body fluids.However, Anemarrhena is more bitter than sweet and also enters the Stomach Meridian; it has a stronger effect in clearing heat and purging fire, and is thus often used for exogenous febrile diseases. It can also clear Stomach fire and nourish Stomach yin, treating toothaches caused by Stomach fire, mouth and tongue sores, and dryness of the mouth and tongue due to insufficient Stomach yin. Asparagus root is sweeter than bitter and has a stronger ability to nourish yin and moisten dryness; it is often used for internal heat damaging yin, night sweats, and seminal emission or premature ejaculation.
Notes
References: 1. *Clinical Chinese Materia Medica* 2. *Chinese Materia Medica* 3. *Jiangsu Compendium of Chinese Materia Medica, Volume 1*
Processing & Preparation
Harvesting & Processing
Harvesting can begin 2–3 years after planting. Cut off the vines, dig up the tuberous roots, remove the soil, and boil or steam them until the skin cracks. Remove them and place them in clean water; while still hot, peel off the outer skin, then dry them in the sun or fumigate them with sulfur.
Processing Methods
1. Tianmendong: Take the raw herb, remove impurities and any pieces that are oily or blackened, wash thoroughly immediately, or wash with alum water, sun-dry until half-dry, slice thinly, and dry completely.
2. Roasted Tianmendong: Place the cleaned Tianmendong slices in a pan and roast over low heat until slightly charred; remove and let cool.
3. Roasted Tianmendong: Dilute refined honey with an appropriate amount of boiling water, then mix it thoroughly with the cleaned Tianmendong slices. Let stand briefly, then place in a pan and stir-fry over low heat until deep yellow and no longer sticky to the touch. Remove and let cool. For every 100 kg of Tianmendong slices, use 12 kg of refined honey.
4. Cinnabar-Treated Asparagus Root: Lightly moisten the cleaned Asparagus Root slices with clean water, sprinkle with fine cinnabar powder, mix thoroughly, and dry in the sun or air-dry. For every 100 kg of Asparagus Root, use 0.15 kg of cinnabar.
Storage Methods
Store in a dry container. Keep stir-fried Tianmendong, roasted Tianmendong, and cinnabar-treated Tianmendong tightly sealed in a cool, dry place to prevent moisture, mold, and insect infestation.
Crude Drug Identification
Properties of Crude Drugs
The root tuber is 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, with longitudinal grooves of varying depths and fine wrinkles. The texture is tough and resilient or soft and supple; the cross-section is yellowish-white, horn-like, and sticky, with a wide periderm and a distinct central column.It has a faint odor and a sweet, slightly bitter taste. The best specimens are plump, dense, yellowish-white, and translucent.
Properties of Processed Slices
1. Tianmendong: Roundish thin slices with a yellowish-white or pale brown surface and a yellowish-white center. They are horny, translucent, and slightly sticky. They have a faint odor and a sweet, slightly bitter taste.
2. Roasted Tianmendong: Resembles Tianmendong slices; the surface is pale yellow or brown, and the center is pale yellow.
3. Charred Tianmendong: Resembles Tianmendong slices; the surface is yellow or brownish-yellow. It has a faint odor and a sweet taste.
4. Vermilion Tianmendong: Resembles Tianmendong slices; the exterior is coated with fine red cinnabar powder.
Botanical Information
Botanical Classification
Asparagus, a plant of the Liliaceae family.
Morphological Characteristics
A perennial climbing herb; the entire plant is glabrous. The tuberous roots are fleshy, clustered, oblong or spindle-shaped, 4–10 cm long, and grayish-yellow. The stems are slender, up to 2 m long, with branched stems that are ribbed or have narrow wings; leaf-like branches typically occur in clusters of three, are flat, 1–3 cm long, 1–2 mm wide, and have an acute apex.Leaves are reduced to scales with long, pointed tips; the base bears woody, reverse-pointing spines that are 2.5–3 mm long on the stem but shorter or less prominent on the branches. Flowers are borne in clusters of 1–3 in the leaf axils; they are unisexual, with separate male and female plants, and pale green in color;flower stalks are 2–6 mm long; male flowers have 6 perianth segments, stamens slightly shorter than the perianth, filaments not adnate to the perianth segments, and ovate anthers approximately 0.7 mm long; female flowers are similar in size to male flowers and possess 6 rudimentary stamens. The berries are spherical, 6–7 mm in diameter, and red when ripe; each contains a single seed. Flowering occurs from May to July, and fruiting in August.
Distribution Area
Distributed in East China, Central and South China, Southwest China, as well as Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, and Taiwan.
Growth Habits
It prefers a warm and humid climate, is not tolerant of severe cold, and is sensitive to drought and waterlogging. It is best cultivated in deep, fertile, humus-rich, well-drained loam or sandy loam; it should not be planted in clay, poor soil, or poorly drained areas.
Propagation Methods
Propagate by seed or division.
Cultivation Techniques
1. Propagation by seed (seedling transplanting method): Harvest the fruits in July–August when they turn from green to yellow. Rub off the pulp, wash them thoroughly, and select large, plump, dark, and glossy seeds for propagation. Spring sowing takes place in March–April; fall sowing in August–September. In frost-free or short-frost regions, fall sowing yields higher germination rates and more vigorous growth.For spring sowing, store the seeds over winter in 2–3 times their volume of moist sand. Before sowing, prepare raised beds under trees providing 30% shade; alternatively, erect a shade structure.Dig transverse furrows across the bed surface with a row spacing of 17–20 cm, a sowing width of 8–10 cm, and a depth of 3.5 cm. Scatter the seeds evenly into the furrows, cover with fine soil or compost mixed with wood ash, and then cover with a thin layer of straw to retain moisture. Cultivate for 1–2 years, then transplant in October or before spring bud break, spacing plants (30–40) cm × (20–25) cm.
2. Division Propagation: In March–April, before the plants sprout, dig up the roots and divide them into 3–5 clumps, each with 1–2 buds. Plant each clump in its own hole, with row and plant spacing of 30 cm × (20–25) cm. Keep the soil moist; seedlings will emerge in 10–15 days.
Pest and Disease Control
Pests: Short-legged mites damage the leaves from May to June. Control by spraying with a 1,500-fold dilution of 40% water-soluble parathion or a 1,000-fold dilution of 20% dimethoate emulsifiable concentrate.