气味苦、平，无毒。主诸暴风湿偏痹，强骨髓，杀三虫，去伏尸。久服轻身
、益气、延年、不饥。
【参】 天门冬禀寒水之气，而上通于天，故有天冬之名。主治诸暴风湿偏痹者，言风
湿之邪暴中于人身，而成半身不遂之偏痹。天冬禀水天之气，环转营运，故可治也。强骨髓
者，得寒水之精也。三虫伏尸皆湿热所化，天冬味苦可以祛湿，气平可以清热，湿热下逐，
三尸伏虫皆去也。太阳为诸阳主气，故久服轻身，益气。天气通贯于地中，故延年不饥。
张隐庵曰∶天、麦门冬，皆禀少阴水精之气。麦门冬，禀水精而上通于阳明；天门冬，
禀水精而上通于太阳。夫冬主闭藏，门主开转，咸名门冬者，咸能开转闭藏而上达也。后人
有天门冬补中有泻，麦门冬泻中有补之说，不知何处引来，良可叹也。
气味甘、平，无毒。主心腹结气，伤中伤饥，胃脉绝，羸瘦短气。久服轻身不
老，不饥。
张隐庵曰∶麦冬，本横生，根颗联系。有十二枚者，有十四枚者，有十五、六枚者，盖
合于人身十二络。加任之屏翳，督之长强，为十四络；又加脾之大络名大包，共十五络；又
加胃之大络名虚里，共十六络。唯圣人能体察之，用之以通脉络，并无“去心”二字。后人
不详经义，不穷物理，相沿去心久矣，今特表正之。《经》云∶主心腹结气，伤中伤饥，胃
络脉绝者，以麦冬根颗联系不断，能通达上下四旁，令结者解，伤者复，绝者续，皆借中心
之贯通也。又主羸瘦短气者，补胃自能生肌，补肾自能纳气也。久服轻身不老、不饥者，先
天与后天俱足，斯体健而耐饥矣。（《崇原》曰∶“麦冬气味甘平，质性柔润，凌冬青翠，
盖禀少阴冬水之精，与阳明胃土相合。）”又曰∶凡物之凉者，其心必热，热者阴中之阳也。
人但知去热，而不知用阳，得其阳而后能通阴中之气。
[Tianmendong / Asparagi Radix]
Flavor and Nature: Bitter, Neutral, Non-toxic. It primarily treats various sudden rheumatic hemiplegia (Pianbi), strengthens the bone marrow, kills the three parasites, and eliminates Fu Shi (hidden corpses/parasitic diseases). Long-term consumption makes the body light, benefits Qi, prolongs life, and prevents hunger.
[Commentary] Tianmendong inherits the Qi of Cold Water and communicates upward to Heaven, hence its name "Tian" (Heaven) Dong. Its primary treatment of sudden rheumatic Pianbi refers to wind-dampness pathogens suddenly attacking the human body, resulting in hemiplegic Bi syndrome. Tianmendong inherits the Qi of Water and Heaven, circulating and operating in a ring, thus it can treat this condition. Strengthening the bone marrow is achieved by obtaining the essence of Cold Water. The Three Parasites and Fu Shi are all transformed from Damp-Heat; Tianmendong's bitter flavor can dispel Dampness, and its neutral nature can clear Heat. As Damp-Heat is driven downward, the Three Corpses and hidden parasites are all eliminated. The Taiyang (Greater Yang) meridian is the master Qi of all Yang meridians; therefore, long-term consumption makes the body light and benefits Qi. Heavenly Qi penetrates into the Earth; therefore, it prolongs life and prevents hunger.
Zhang Yin'an stated: Both Tianmendong and Maidong inherit the essence of Shaoyin (Lesser Yin) Kidney Water. Maidong inherits the essence of Water and communicates upward to the Yangming (Yang Brightness) meridian; Tianmendong inherits the essence of Water and communicates upward to the Taiyang (Greater Yang) meridian. Winter governs storage and closure, while "Men" (Door) governs opening and rotation. Both are named "Dong" (Winter Door) because they can open and rotate the stored and closed Qi to ascend. Later generations have theories that Tianmendong has "dispersing within tonifying" and Maidong has "tonifying within dispersing," but it is unknown where these were derived from, which is truly lamentable.
[Maidong / Ophiopogonis Radix]
Flavor and Nature: Sweet, Neutral, Non-toxic. It primarily treats knotting Qi in the heart and abdomen, internal injury due to malnutrition or hunger, exhaustion of the Stomach pulse, emaciation, and shortness of breath. Long-term consumption makes the body light, prevents aging, and prevents hunger.
Zhang Yin'an stated: Maidong originally grows horizontally, with root tubers connected to each other. Some have twelve tubers, some fourteen, some fifteen or sixteen. This likely corresponds to the twelve Luo (Connecting) vessels of the human body. Adding the Pingyi point of the Ren (Conception) vessel and the Changqiang point of the Du (Governing) vessel makes fourteen Luo vessels; adding the large Luo vessel of the Spleen, named Dabao, makes fifteen; and adding the large Luo vessel of the Stomach, named Xuli, makes sixteen. Only sages can perceive this. Using it to unblock the Luo vessels does not involve the instruction to "remove the heart." Later generations, failing to understand the scriptural meaning and not exploring the physical principles, have followed the practice of removing the heart for a long time. I hereby specifically correct this. The Classic states: It treats knotting Qi in the heart and abdomen, internal injury due to malnutrition or hunger, and exhaustion of the Stomach Luo vessels. This is because Maidong's root tubers are continuously connected, capable of communicating up, down, and to the four sides, allowing knots to untie, injuries to heal, and severed connections to resume, all relying on the central penetration. Furthermore, treating emaciation and shortness of breath works because tonifying the Stomach naturally generates flesh, and tonifying the Kidney naturally grasps Qi. Long-term consumption making the body light, preventing aging, and preventing hunger occurs because both the Congenital Foundation (Xiantian) and the Acquired Foundation (Houtian) are sufficient, resulting in a robust body capable of enduring hunger. (Chongyuan stated: "Maidong has a sweet and neutral flavor, a soft and moist nature, remains green through winter, inheriting the essence of Shaoyin Winter Water, combining with Yangming Stomach Earth.") He also said: For all things that are cool, their hearts must be hot; heat belongs to Yang within Yin. People only know how to use drugs to remove heat, but do not know how to utilize Yang. Only by obtaining its Yang can one penetrate the Qi within Yin.