What does Ophiopogon japonicus look like?

Ophiopogon japonicus is a perennial evergreen woody plant of the genus Ophiopogon in the Liliaceae family. It has a relatively thick root, which often grows into a small oval or spindle-shaped tuber in the middle or near the end. The stem is very short, and the leaf base is clustered. The bracts are lanceolate and gradually pointed at the apex. The seeds are ball-shaped. The flowering period is May to August, and the fruiting period is August to September. Ophiopogon japonicus is native to my country and is also distributed in Japan, Vietnam, and Indonesia. It is grown in southern my country and other places. It grows in moist places on hillsides below 2000 meters above sea level, under forests or beside streams.

"Shennong's Herbal Classic" lists Ophiopogon japonicus as an excellent product for nourishing yin and moistening the lungs, saying that "long-term consumption is beneficial to the body, keeping one young and youthful and free from hunger."

"Bencao Fenjing" says that Ophiopogon japonicus is "sweet, slightly bitter, and cold in nature. It moistens the lungs, relieves coughs, purifies the mind, clears away heat, promotes fluid production, quenches thirst, relieves coughs, resolves phlegm, stops vomiting, and cures coughs and promotes diuresis."

"Medical Records of Chinese and Western Medicine" says: "It can enter the stomach to nourish gastric acid, strengthen the spleen and stimulate appetite, and can also enter the spleen to help the spleen disperse to the lungs, clear the throat and relieve cough." Chinese medicine believes that Ophiopogon japonicus is sweet and slightly bitter, and is cold in nature. It enters the stomach, lung, and heart meridians. It has the effects of nourishing yin and moistening the lungs, benefiting the stomach, promoting fluid and quenching thirst, purifying the heart and removing troubles. It is used for dry cough due to lung dryness, tuberculosis cough due to kidney yin deficiency, sore throat due to throat numbness, dryness of body fluid, thirst due to internal fire, palpitations and insomnia, and dry intestines and constipation.

Modern pharmacological research also shows that Ophiopogon japonicus mainly contains ginsenosides, steroidal ginsenosides, flavonoids, sitosterol, glucose, amino acids, vitamins, etc., which have the effects of relieving fatigue, lowering cholesterol, enhancing immune cell function and lowering blood lipids. In addition, Ophiopogon japonicus has sedative, hypnotic, anti-myocardial ischemia, anti-arrhythmia, anti-tumor effects, especially in improving the health of the elderly has all-round role.

In addition, Ophiopogon japonicus also has the effect of promoting the repair of pancreatic islet cell function, increasing liver glycogen, and lowering blood sugar. It is a common ingredient in the prescription of diabetic patients. Ophiopogon japonicus can be used as tea. Add appropriate amount of Ophiopogon japonicus, soak in boiling water, and take it several times a day, which can effectively relieve the symptoms of thirst. Some diabetics suffer from deficiency of both Qi and Yin, so when drinking Ophiopogon japonicus water, they can add a little Codonopsis pilosula to better replenish Qi and blood.

Ophiopogon japonicus is not suitable for long-term use, especially without the specific guidance of a doctor, otherwise it may cause phlegm and dampness, which is not worth the loss. In addition, Ophiopogon japonicus is not suitable for everyone. People with weak spleen and stomach, fever and colds should not take Ophiopogon japonicus casually, otherwise it will aggravate the condition.