Ophiopogon Decoction (Cold chapter)

Maengmundong-tang

한글 맥문동탕 · Pinyin Mai Men Dong Tang

麥門冬湯

Registered with the chapter suffix to distinguish it from the 麥門冬湯 already on this site from another chapter.

Composition 構成

Maengmundong Mai Men Dong
麥門冬 맥문동 · Liriope

8 g
Chief 君
Gamcho Gan Cao
甘草 감초 · Licorice

8 g
Chief 君

roasted
Gaengmi Jing Mi
粳米 갱미 · Non-glutinous Rice

—
Deputy 臣

one hop, decocted first until done and the grains removed
Jugyeop Zhu Ye
竹葉 죽엽 · Bamboo Leaf

—
Assistant 佐

fifteen green leaves
Daejo Da Zao
大棗 대조 · Jujube

—
Envoy 使

two dates

Total 16 g per packet (첩) · representative dosage — verify against source texts. Excludes 3 ingredients measured by count or used as a vehicle, shown as —.

Received this formula from your practitioner? Amounts shown here are classical reference values — granule and prepared products differ. Always follow your prescribed dosage and directions.

Actions 效能

Restores the qi when it is on the point of failing
Moistens and supplements after relapse

Indications 主治

Pattern-based

Relapse from exertion with the qi about to be cut off
Fluid and qi exhausted after repeated fever

Biomedical correlates

Circulatory collapse in convalescence
Severe dehydration after relapsing fever

Source text 原文

Donguibogam 東醫寶鑑

治勞復, 氣欲絶, 能起死回生. 麥門冬二錢, 甘草(灸) 二錢, 粳米一合. 右水二盞, 先煎粳米令熟, 去米, 入二藥及棗二枚ㆍ靑竹葉十五片, 煎至一盞, 溫服. 加人參尤妙. 《海藏》

Translation

Treats relapse from exertion where the qi is on the point of being cut off; it can raise the dying and bring them back to life. Ophiopogon, 2 don; roasted licorice, 2 don; non-glutinous rice, 1 hop. Take two cups of water and first decoct the rice until done; remove the rice, add the two drugs together with two dates and fifteen green bamboo leaves, decoct down to one cup and take warm. Adding ginseng makes it still better. — Haejang 海藏 (Donguibogam · Han, lower)

Clinical commentary 臨床

The rice is decocted first and then thrown away, which is the detail that explains the formula: what is wanted is the starchy water, not the grain — a rice congee water that holds fluid in a patient who can no longer keep any. Ophiopogon and roasted licorice at equal full dose on top of that, with bamboo leaf for the residual heat and dates for the middle. The claim to raise the dying is the sort of thing the compilers usually trim, and its survival here suggests the formula had a reputation. The note to add ginseng is the Bogam pointing at Generate the Pulse Powder, which is where this pattern goes next. — Eui Young (Justin) Chung, L.Ac., Dipl. O.M.