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Ophiopogon Radix (Maidong, 麦冬), with a sweet taste and slightly cold nature, possesses descending properties. It belongs to the category of Yang containing slight Yin, is non-toxic, and enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian. It clears latent fire in the lungs, eliminates heat pathogens in the stomach, supplements Qi deficiency due to overstrain in the heart, stops vomiting in patients with blood disorders, benefits essence and strengthens Yin, relieves vexation and quenches thirst, beautifies complexion, and nourishes skin. It is highly effective in retreating deficient heat, particularly efficacious in resolving lung dryness, and has miraculous effects in stopping coughs. It can truly be relied upon as the Sovereign herb (Jun Yao) in a prescription, and also utilized as an Assistant (Chen) or Envoy (Shi) herb. However, people are unaware of the subtleties of Ophiopogon Radix; often using small doses fails to achieve success, which is regrettable. One must know that Ophiopogon Radix requires large doses to exert its power. Since fire lurks within the lungs, scorching internal fluids, without a large dose of Ophiopogon Radix, the fire cannot be controlled. When heat blazes in the stomach, boiling away true Yin, without a large dose of Ophiopogon Radix, the fire cannot be extinguished. The Lung is the mother of the Kidney; when the Lung is dry, the Kidney becomes drier, and when the Kidney is dry, the Large Intestine and Small Intestine become entirely dry. Observing the dryness of the intestines, people use moistening intestinal herbs. However, if the intestines become slippery and Spleen Qi weakens further, Yin is damaged and the Kidney becomes more deficient. Kidney deficiency necessarily draws from Lung Metal; since the Lung is inherently dry and lacks Qi to nourish the Kidney, dry cough arises. Attempting to tonify Lung Qi to generate Kidney Water with only a small dose will certainly fail. Moreover, the Lung is the son of the Stomach; Stomach heat leads to Earth deficiency, and Earth deficiency causes fire to blaze more intensely. When fire blazes, it must be aided by Water. However, if Stomach fire is too strong and Kidney Water is minute, not only can it not control the fire, but it will also boil away body fluids. If one does not provide swift rescue like a vast ocean, the water will be exhausted immediately. Yet, in a great drought causing desiccation, torrential rain cannot be obtained suddenly. If Kidney Water has a source, the thin stream will not completely dry up; although external fire scorches, the deep spring has a root and can still moisten, preventing death. Therefore, excessive Stomach fire must be treated by replenishing Water, and the source of replenishing Water lies in tonifying Lung Qi. However, since external fire is strong, a cup of water cannot resolve it. Yin-cold Qi only becomes abundant during the white dew of late autumn when Metal Qi is vigorous, making dew thick and plentiful. Thus, to make Lung Qi vigorous, heavy doses of Ophiopogon Radix are required. If one uses only a small dose to tonify Lung Qi, how can one clear the boiling Stomach fire? Some argue that Liver Wood fears the control of Lung Metal. But if the Lung is too weak, Metal cannot control Wood, and Liver Wood bullies it. Consequently, Wood becomes prosperous and carries Heart Fire to punish Metal, showing no fear of Lung Metal's control. The Lung seeks relief from the Kidney son, but Kidney Water is depleted and cannot even care for itself, let alone the Lung mother. Thus, diseases of cough and distension arise, and ailments of asthma and phlegm obstruction occur. People attribute this to Lung disease and use herbs that drain the Lung, further depleting Lung Qi, while Liver Wood blazes more and Heart Fire punishes more severely, leading to illnesses lasting years without cure. If one does not use large doses of Ophiopogon Radix to greatly tonify Lung Qi, when will the prosperity of Liver Wood decline? This is why the necessity of using large doses of Ophiopogon Radix must be known. Additionally, Bladder fire may reverse upward into the chest and heart, causing urine to be scanty or absent. People believe urinary retention is due to Bladder heat and use diuretic herbs or fire-draining agents without effect. Why is this? The Qi of the Bladder requires the clear and descending command of the Upper Jiao to function properly for fire to descend and water to flow downward. (Commentary: Using large doses of Ophiopogon Radix assists Lung Qi to unblock the Bladder; few understand this principle.) The clear and descending command of the Upper Jiao is derived from the Lung. If Lung Qi is hot, the clear and descending command fails, causing Bladder fire to close and water to stagnate. Therefore, to unblock the Bladder, one must clear the Qi of Lung Metal. Although many herbs clear the Lung, most cause harm without benefit. None compare to Ophiopogon Radix, which clears while tonifying, draining Bladder fire without damaging Bladder Qi. However, small doses are ineffective. Since Ophiopogon Radix has a neutral and cold flavor, large doses are necessary for efficacy.

Someone asks: "Ophiopogon Radix calms Lung Qi; saving the Lung should generate the Kidney son. Why must those who tonify the Lung also tonify the Kidney?" I reply: The Qi of the Lung and Kidney mutually depend on each other. Lung Qi returns to the Kidney at night, and Kidney Qi ascends to the Lung during the day. Ophiopogon Radix calms the Lung, allowing Lung Qi to interact with the Kidney. If the Kidney is not supplemented, it continues to draw from the Lung mother, leaving the Lung unsettled. This is why tonifying the Lung mother requires tonifying the Kidney son. Once Kidney Water is sufficient, it no longer draws from Lung Qi, so Lung Qi naturally settles and can generate Water, further calming the Lung. Ophiopogon Radix can only benefit the Lung, not the Kidney. Ancient practitioners added Schisandra Berry (Wuweizi, 五味子) to Ophiopogon Radix not merely to astringe Lung Qi, but precisely to tonify the Kidney.

Someone asks: "I have heard of adding Schisandra Berry to Ophiopogon Radix to tonify the Kidney. Why did Sun Simiao add Ginseng Root (Renshen, 人参) to create Shengmai San (Generate Pulse Decoction)? You are skilled in differentiation; please enlighten me."

This is your humble inquiry, and I am eager to clarify. The Lung governs Qi, and Ginseng Root tonifies Qi. The decoction is named 'Tonify Qi,' who would deny this? However, Sun Simiao said 'Generate Pulse' rather than 'Generate Qi,' implying a secret intention. The Heart governs Pulses; thus, 'Generating Pulse' means generating Heart Qi. One might suspect that since the Heart governs Fire and the Lung governs Metal, generating Heart Fire would inevitably overcome Lung Metal. What is meant by tonifying Qi? In fact, the son of the Heart is Stomach Earth. Lung Metal is not born without Stomach Earth; weakness in the Stomach leads to weakness in Lung Metal. Tonifying Heart Fire naturally generates Stomach Earth. Once Stomach Earth grows, Lung Qi naturally flourishes. Fearing that tonifying the Heart might overcome the Lung, one adds Ophiopogon Radix to clear the Lung, so the Lung does not fear the blazing fire. Adding Schisandra Berry tonifies the Kidney, allowing the Kidney to control excessive fire. The subtlety of harmonizing and subduing is a method for saving lives since antiquity, demonstrating the妙 (wonder) of tonifying the Heart without fearing the Heart's punishment of Metal. Hence, saying 'Generate Pulse' instead of 'Generate Qi' holds profound meaning, which people have failed to contemplate.

Someone asks: "Ophiopogon Radix tonifies Lung Metal and calms Lung Qi. For consumed Lung Qi, one should add Ophiopogon Radix to tonify Lung Metal. Yet, daily use of Ophiopogon Radix does not result in vigorous Lung Qi. Why?" The reason is the decline of Wei Tu (Stomach Earth), the mother of Lung Metal. The Stomach prefers warmth and dislikes cold. Daily use of cold Ophiopogon Radix to benefit the Lung反而 (instead) damages the Stomach. If the Stomach is cold, Qi cannot generate Metal; what benefit is there in merely using Ophiopogon Radix? One must use warm Stomach herbs to generate Stomach Qi, then assist with Ophiopogon Radix. This tonifies both child and mother, naturally calming Stomach Qi and Lung Qi.

Someone doubts: "Fire in the Stomach seems best cleared by Ophiopogon Radix, yet you say the Stomach prefers warmth and dislikes cold. Is this contradictory?" It is not contradictory. The Stomach is Earth, and Earth naturally prefers warmth. The Stomach should have Fire; why hate Fire? Excess Fire should be drained, but deficient Fire should be tonified. The fire in the Stomach is often pathogenic fire, not righteous fire. Pathogenic fire should be drained, but righteous fire should be tonified. If taking Ophiopogon Radix causes Stomach coldness, it indicates the decline of righteous fire, which should indeed be tonified. One must not mistake righteous fire for pathogenic fire. (Commentary: One must distinguish clearly.)

Someone asks: "Ophiopogon Radix nourishes Lung Qi. Why is it sometimes ineffective? Is it not a Lung-nourishing herb?" If Ophiopogon Radix does not nourish Lung Qi, what herb does? However, ineffectiveness does not mean Ophiopogon Radix fails to nourish; it means the Lung is beyond nourishment. The Lung is a delicate organ; treating it directly with tonification is generally inappropriate. When the Lung reaches a state where Ophiopogon Radix cannot nourish it, it is because the Mother Qi of the Spleen-Stomach and the Son Qi of the Kidney Meridian have already ceased prior to the Lung's collapse. Trying to save terminal Lung failure with Ophiopogon Radix is impossible.

Someone suspects: "If Ophiopogon Radix cannot save terminal Lung Qi, is it useless? If we discard Ophiopogon Radix, what herb can save the patient?" I reply: If Spleen-Stomach Qi has ceased, Metal cannot be generated; if Kidney Mer Qi has ceased, Metal has nothing to nourish it. Truly, no herb can save such cases. Only if Stomach Qi remains intact is there hope. One can still use Ophiopogon Radix as the Sovereign herb, combined with Ginseng Root, Prepared Rehmannia Root (Shudihuang, 熟地黄), Chinese Yam Rhizome (Shanyao, 山药), and Cornus Fruit (Shanzhuyu, 山茱萸). This may preserve a thread of life, but without abstaining from desires and managing illness carefully, it is futile.

Someone asks: "Ophiopogon Radix is a Lung Meridian herb, suitable for Lung diseases. Besides treating the Lung, what other conditions is it suitable for?" Ophiopogon Radix treats more than just the Lung. It can descend Stomach Fire, generate Kidney Water, extinguish Heart Fire, nourish Liver Wood, moisten Gallbladder Wood, strengthen Pericardium Fire, calm Triple Burner Fire, and drain Bladder Water. It treats many diseases; why limit it to the Lung?

Someone asks: "I have heard Ophiopogon Radix succeeds in internal treatment, but do you know it can treat external lesions?" I reply: Ophiopogon Radix is uniquely divine in internal treatment, but it can also treat burns and scalds externally, though people rarely know this. For severe burns or scalds blistering skin and flesh with painful crying, use half a jin (approx. 500g) of Ophiopogon Radix, decocted in two bowls of water. Apply the juice with a goose feather brush. As it dries, reapply. Soon, pain ceases and tissue regenerates. It is extremely efficacious. Who says Ophiopogon Radix has no external applications? (Commentary: Transmitting external treatment methods.)