tonifying
Asparagus Root (Tian Men Dong)
天冬 · Tiānméndōng
Asparagus cochinchinensis
Nature
Cold
Saveur
Sweet, bitter
Meridian
Lung, Kidney
Tian Men Dong — 'heaven's gate winter' — is the great moistener of lung and kidney yin, treasured in Daoist longevity traditions. Glutinous, translucent tubers clear deficiency heat where ophiopogon cannot reach, particularly for deep dryness with night sweats and wasting thirst.
🌿 Fonctions
- •Nourishes lung and kidney yin
- •Clears lung deficiency heat
- •Generates fluids
- •Moistens the intestines
📖 Usage
6–12 g in decoction, simmered 40 minutes; traditionally honey-processed to moderate its cold nature.
🔬 Recherche moderne
Asparagus steroidal saponins (asparagosides) and polysaccharides are studied for antitussive, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant activity.
⚠️ Contre-indications
Avoid with spleen deficiency, dampness, and diarrhea — its cold and cloying nature burdens weak digestion.
