2. Compound Formulas with Asparagus Cochinchinensis with five or fewer ingredients

2. Compound Formulas with Asparagus Cochinchinensis (with five or fewer ingredients)

(1) Formula for Treating Small Intestinal Prolapse (from “Mirror of the Living Heart”)

Take three qian of Asparagus cochinchinensis and five qian of Black Plum. Boil in water and take.

(2) Three Talents Pill (from “Ruminations of the Confucian Gate”)

Indications: Yin-blood deficiency and weak lower energie; also treats weakness-related cough.

Take two liang each of Asparagus cochinchinensis (core removed) and Rehmannia, plus one liang of Ginseng.

Sprinkle wine on Asparagus cochinchinensis and Rehmannia, steam nine times, sun-dry nine times, let them dry, then grind together with Ginseng into powder, mix with jujube pulp and knead into pills the size of a paulownia seed. Take 30–50 pills each time, mixed with warm wine before meals, three times a day.

(3) Three Talents Soup (from “Differentiation of Warm Diseases”)

Indications: Prolonged summer heat, loss of appetite and sleep, confusion, damage to both yin fluids and vital energy.

Take three qian of Ginseng, two qian of Asparagus cochinchinensis, and five qian of Dried Rehmannia. Boil five cups of water down to two cups, drink twice while warm.

(4) Yellow Ginger Pill (from “Comprehensive Record of Sacred Remedies”)

Effects: Prolongs life, benefits health, cures all ailments.

Take one jin of Yellow Ginger, one jin of Asparagus cochinchinensis (core removed, steamed until soft), three jin of White Honey, and three jin of Asparagus cochinchinensis (core removed, steamed until soft).

Mix the three ingredients thoroughly, pound them extremely finely in a stone mortar, divide into four portions, pound again until extremely fine, form pills the size of a paulownia seed, take 30 pills each time, mixed with warm wine, anytime, three times a day.

II. Formulas Featuring Ophiopogon Japonicus

Formulas using Ophiopogon japonicus alone are relatively rare. “Lan Shi Jin Jian” records that boiling Ophiopogon japonicus in water and using the decoction to rinse the mouth can treat bleeding between teeth. “Taiping Shenghui Fang” includes a “Ophiopogon Decoction” formula, which “treats qi stagnation, fullness in the abdomen, blockage of stomach meridians, emaciation and shortness of breath, heaviness and yellow eyes, fullness under the heart, weakness-related fever, dry mouth and thirst, restlessness and vomiting; heals emaciation and fatigue, strengthens yin and nourishes essence, regulates digestion, stabilizes spirit and qi, protects the five organs, makes one healthy and strong, improves complexion, and enables one to have children...” The formula uses five jin of fresh Ophiopogon japonicus (core removed), pounds it until soft, squeezes out the juice, mixes with half a jin of white honey, cooks in a silver pot over high heat, stirring constantly, until it becomes like candy, then stores it in a porcelain container. Take half a spoonful mixed with warm wine two to three times a day.

As for compound formulas, Zhang Zhongjing’s “Golden Cabinet Summary” already included an Ophiopogon Decoction, used to treat reversed fire causing upper qi and throat discomfort. The formula uses Ophiopogon japonicus, Pinellia ternata, Ginseng, Licorice, Japonica rice, and Jujubes. Qing Dynasty’s Wang Zi Jie’s “Selection of Ancient Prescriptions for the Three Departments” described this formula as “a remedy that generates fluids in the stomach to relieve dryness, treating virtual fire causing upper qi.” Later generations have developed many formulas involving Ophiopogon japonicus and other ingredients. Below, we introduce compound formulas with two to five ingredients, for clinical reference.