Witnessed by: TCM
Chinese asparagus (Asparagus cochinchinensis), of the Asparagaceae family. Climbing perennial vine with fine needle-like cladodes; native range: warm thickets and hillsides of central and southern China. Globally recognized as tian men dong (天门冬) in Chinese, and shiny asparagus, asparagus tuber in English. The part used is tuberous root. Translucent amber spindle-shaped tubers, sweet and cloying with a cool bitter finish, mucilaginous when chewed.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
CHINESE ASPARAGUS
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Chinese asparagus
- Scientific name
- Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr.
- Family
- Asparagaceae
Form
- Part used
- tuberous root
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- sweet · bitter
Temperature
- TCM
- cold
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Lung · Kidney
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- nourishes yin, moistens dryness, clears Lung heat, generates fluids, drains fire
Cautions
- Contraindications
- contraindicated in Spleen and Stomach deficiency-cold with diarrhea, and in cough from wind-cold
- Toxicity
- non-toxic; its cold cloying nature can burden a weak digestion
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