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    Yemama Apothecary

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    Lung-Kidney Yin Nourishing, Dry-Cough Quelling & Anti-Aging Monarch (养阴润燥 / 清肺生津滋肾降火清心除烦美白养颜润肠通便治阴虚劳热燥咳痰粘津伤消渴肠燥便秘咽喉干痛 — 历代滋阴清热第一天门冬 / 金匮要略消渴与燥咳君药 / 肺肾双补与抗衰老延年神药)

    天门冬 / 广天冬 / 沿阶草同科 / 虋冬 / 地门冬 / 颠棘 — Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr. (syn. Melanthium cochinchinense)

    Pinyin: Tiānméndōng / Guǎng Tiāndōng / Mèndōng · Malay: Akar Seribu / Tian Men Dong / Chinese Asparagus / Cochinchinese Asparagus · Family: Asparagaceae (天门冬科 / 天门冬属)

    Botanical Illustration

    Energetics

    Cold (大寒 / 苦甘寒)

    Flavor

    Sweet, bitter, very cold, succulent-mucilaginous (甘、苦、大寒、大润)

    Meridians

    Lung (肺), Kidney (肾)

    Traditional Edict

    Chinese Asparagus / Tian Men Dong (Tian Men Dong / Guang Tian Dong / Men Dong). Translucent yellowish-white succulent spindle tubers. Supreme Imperial Monarch for Nourishing Lung-Kidney Yin: clears parched dry coughs, dissolves sticky blood-streaked phlegm, quenches diabetic thirst (Xiao Ke).

    Cautions & Contraindications

    • Intensely cold and succulent; excessive doses in weak digestion may induce loose stools. CONTRAINDICATED in Spleen-Yang deficiency cold diarrhea with thick greasy tongue coating. Safe in pregnancy.

    Clinical Applications

    • Chronic dry hacking cough and pulmonary tuberculosis (mucin restoration via Asparagosides and Asparagine), Type 2 Diabetes mellitus with thirst, perimenopausal hot flashes, and chronic dry constipation.

    Quality Markers

    Asparagine (天冬酰胺) >= 0.50% (HPLC Chinese Pharmacopoeia standard), Asparagosides A-I & Sarsasapogenin >= 0.50%

    Mechanism & Phytochemistry

    1. Asparagosides and steroid saponins stimulate bronchial goblet cell serous secretion, liquefying tenacious phlegm. 2. Upregulates SOD and telomerase to retard cellular senescence. 3. Lubricates colon.

    Preparation & Dosage

    THE SOVEREIGN TIAN MEN DONG YIN-RESTORING DECOCTION: 10 to 15 g dried peeled translucent tuber slices boiled with Mai Men Dong (10 g) and Bei Sha Shen (12 g) in 500 mL water for 25 min; taken warm twice daily. Steamed honey paste: 50 g steamed with honey for chronic cough.

    Appended Prescriptions

    • 1. Classical Er Dong Tang (Master Lung-Kidney Yin Duo) with Ophiopogon japonicus (Mai Men Dong). 2. Diabetic Yin-Nourishing & Thirst-Quenching Draught with Trichosanthes root (Tian Hua Fen).

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    Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only