Ophiopogon

Latin Name: Ophiopogon japonicus

Chinese Name: MaiDong

Traditional Uses

Actions: Has antipyretic, antitussive, expectorant, diuretic, cardiotonic, blood sugar-lowering, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects. Cleanses yin, moistens dryness, removes heat, resolves phlegm, increases salivation, quenches thirst, nourishes lungs, and controls cough.

Applications: Impairment of body fluids due to febrile diseases, fidgets and restlessness, thirst, dry throat, and hematemesis. It is traditionally used to treat nasopharyngeal cancer, lung cancer, and oral cancer.

Reference: Hung-yen Hsu, Ph.D. and Associates: Oriental Materia Medica A Concise Guide 1986, Keats Publishing