What is Ophiopogon japonicus?

Ophiopogon japonicus is also a Chinese herbal medicine that everyone is relatively familiar with, but many people actually don’t know what Ophiopogon japonicus is. Let’s introduce what Ophiopogon japonicus is like.

1. What does Ophiopogon japonicus look like?

The root is relatively thick, and the middle or near the end often expands into an oval or spindle-shaped tuber; the tuber is 1-1.5 cm long, or longer, 5-10 mm wide, light brown or yellow; the underground runners are slender, 1-2 mm in diameter, with membranous sheaths on the nodes. The stem is very short, with leaves in clusters at the base, branched, 10-50 cm long, rarely longer, 1.5-3.5 mm wide, with 3-7 veins, and serrated edges.

The pedicel is 6-15(-27)cm long, usually much shorter than the leaves. The raceme is 2-5cm long, or sometimes longer, with several to a dozen carnations. The flowers are solitary or in pairs in the axils of bracts. The bracts are lanceolate, acuminate at the apex, and the length of the lowest reaches 7-8mm. The pedicel is 3-4mm long, with the joint located above or near the middle. The tepals are often slightly loose and not progressive, lanceolate, about 5mm long, creamy white or light purple. The anthers are triangular-lanceolate, 2.5-3mm long. The style is about 4mm long, relatively thick, about 1mm wide, with a wide tip and gradually narrowing upwards. Seeds are ball-shaped, 7-8mm in diameter.

The flowering period is from May to August, and the fruiting period is from August to September. Therefore, the plant's body shape varies greatly, such as the density of the leaves, the width and length of the leaves, etc., which sometimes have obvious differences; but the structure of the flowers does not change much, especially the tepals are only slightly extended when the flowers bloom, the tip of the style is wide, generally slightly thick and short, and slightly conical, etc. These characteristics are very consistent and are the key characteristics for identifying this species.

2. Can Ophiopogon japonicus be soaked in water and drunk for a long time?

Can't.

Ophiopogon japonicus has comprehensive functions and can be used to treat lung dryness and dry cough, consumptive cough, dryness of body fluid, palpitations and insomnia, quenching thirst due to internal heat, and constipation due to dry intestines. However, "all medicines are poisonous to some extent", and all medicines have biases. If you take too much Ophiopogon japonicus soaked in water or take it for a long time, it will cause dampness and phlegm, and cause side effects such as coughing, phlegm, dry mouth, and poor appetite.

<<: How much is a pound of Poria cocos

>>: Effects of Tianma Xuanyunning Mixture