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(Xi Cao, i.e., Ophiopogonis Radix) Clears Heart and Lung Fire.
Ophiopogonis Radix (Maidong, 麦冬) specifically enters the Heart and Lung meridians. It resembles Asparagi Radix (Tian Dong, 天冬). However, Maidong has a stronger sweet flavor and slightly less cold nature. Tian Dong primarily governs the Lung, whereas Maidong’s governance extends to both the Lung and the Heart. Therefore, texts record its functions as eliminating phlegm and stopping cough. (Treating cough requires distinguishing between exterior contraction and interior injury: if exterior, the voice is loud and turbid, starting mild then becoming severe, without pause day or night, with thick sticky saliva and rapid panting; if interior, the voice is timid and dry, starting severe then becoming mild, or worse in the morning or evening, with clear thin phlegm, shortness of breath, and panting fatigue. Exterior onset is sudden, possibly manifesting as alternating chills and fever, or rebellious Qi, or nasal congestion with heavy voice and headache; mild cases show a relaxed pulse, severe cases show a wiry and large pulse. Interior onset develops gradually, often due to chronic overwork accumulation causing deficiency damage, worsening day by day; symptoms may include alternating chills and fever or tidal fever, emaciation, persistent redness on both malar eminences, shortness of breath and dry throat; light cases show a faint and rapid pulse, heavy cases show a fine, rapid, wiry, and tight pulse.) It resolves heat and removes vexation, eliminates flaccidity syndrome and stops vomiting. (Regarding flaccidity syndrome, according to classics, Lung heat causes leaf scorching, skin and hair become weak, thin, and tight, leading to weakness in the legs unable to walk; Heart fire blazing downward leads to laxity in the shins unable to bear weight; Liver heat with bitter taste and dried blood leads to spasms and sinew flaccidity; Spleen heat with dry stomach and thirst leads to insensate muscles, manifesting as flesh flaccidity; Kidney heat with inability to raise waist and spine, with withered bones and reduced marrow, manifests as bone flaccidity. Only Lung heat causing leaf scorching cuts off the high source transformation, preventing other organs from receiving Lung irrigation; thus, flaccidity is attributed to the Lung, and treatment focuses on the Yangming meridian.) Furthermore, it is recorded that combined with Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen, 人参), it can restore the pulse and generate fluids (known as Shengmai San / Generating Pulse Powder). Does this not treat both Heart and Lung? The Lung faces all vessels, and vessels belong to the Heart; Heart dryness causes Lung loss of nourishment and pulse cessation, while Heart clarity allows Qi to fill and pulse to recover. Maidong inherits clear and descending Qi, removing vexation in the Heart. (Lung clarity generates Water, so the Heart is not vexed.) Just as in midsummer, when burning discomfort prevails, the arrival of autumn wind instantly resolves the heat, eliminating unbearable dryness and stagnation! (Li Dongyuan stated: Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma is sweet and cold, draining fierce heat and benefiting primal Qi; Maidong is bitter and cold, moistening dry Metal and clearing the water source; Schisandrae Fructus (Wuweizi, 五味子) is sour and warm, draining Bing Fire and supplementing Geng Metal, benefiting the Qi of the five Zang organs.) Regarding blocked lactation, using this herb promotes flow; regarding reckless bleeding of hot blood, using this herb stops it immediately. Other conditions such as thick phlegm above the diaphragm are eliminated by it; epigastric fullness below the heart is removed by it; accumulated heat in the Spleen is transformed by it; vomiting caused by Stomach fire is stopped by it; complexion due to blood depletion is moistened by it; prolonged cough is cured by it. Indeed, it is the bridge for preserving Lung fluids and the compass for clearing the Heart. However, due to its cold nature, it is contraindicated for those with deficiency. Those that are plump are of good quality. Use after removing the heart. Soak in medicinal wine for tonifying formulas. It acts as an assistant with Rehmanniae Radix (Dihuang, 地黄) and Plantaginis Semen (Cheqianzi, 车前子). It is incompatible with Adenophorae Radix (Kuandouhua, 款冬花 - *Note: Text says Kuantong, likely referring to Adenophorae or similar, but standard incompatibility lists vary; sticking to text 'Kuantong'*). It fears Sophorae Flavescentis Radix (Kushen, 苦参), Celosiae Semen (Qingxiang, 青葙子), and Auricularia Judae (Mu'er, 木耳).