Cochinchinese Asparagus Root

Traditional Use

Primary Actions

• Nourishes Yin and moistens dryness - Tian Dong is used for depletion of Lung and Kidney Yin with dry throat, chronic dryness, and internal heat from fluid damage.
• Clears Lung heat and stops dry cough - it is especially relevant when cough is dry, sticky, irritating, or blood-streaked because heat and dryness are injuring the Lung.
• Generates fluids and addresses wasting-thirst patterns - traditional use includes thirst, dry mouth, and fluid depletion associated with diabetes-like presentations.
• Moistens the Intestines and relieves dry constipation - its moistening nature extends beyond the Lung into dry bowel patterns.

Secondary Actions

• This record represents Tian Men Dong under the shorter import name Tian Dong; the Latin, source plant, and core clinical identity are the same Radix Asparagi medicinal.
• Its cold and cloying Yin-nourishing quality is exactly why it helps dryness but can burden weak digestion if misused.

Classic Formulas

• Er Dong Tang - Tian Dong with Mai Men Dong for severe Yin dryness, thirst, and Lung depletion.
• Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan - Tian Dong serves as one of the Yin-nourishing herbs that moisten and calm deficiency-heat agitation.
• San Cai Tang - Tian Dong with Ren Shen and Sheng Di Huang for combined Qi-Yin depletion after chronic illness.

Classical References

• Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing places Tian Men Dong among superior herbs and later materia medica preserve its identity as a major Lung-Kidney Yin medicinal.
• Traditional summaries describe it as bitter, sweet, and cold, entering the Lung and Kidney to nourish Yin, clear heat, moisten dryness, generate fluids, and unblock the bowels.
• IDENTITY NOTE: this file uses the shorter pinyin Tian Dong, but the medicinal corresponds to the same Radix Asparagi already known in the library as Tian Men Dong.