Sha Shen Mai Men Dong Tang — Glehnia & Ophiopogon Decoction

On this page

1. Overview
2. TCM pattern
3. Key herbs
4. Formula actions
5. Conditions treated
6. Cautions

What is Sha Shen Mai Men Dong Tang?

Sha Shen Mai Men Dong Tang — Glehnia and Ophiopogon Decoction — is a classical formula from Wu Tang’s Wen Bing Tiao Bian (1798) for combined Lung and Stomach Yin deficiency. It is one of the most frequently prescribed formulas in Chinese herbal medicine for chronic dry cough, post-viral dryness and the kind of stubborn dry throat that develops after a febrile illness.

I prescribe Sha Shen Mai Men Dong Tang as part of bespoke herbal formulas from pharmaceutical-grade granules sourced from Sun Ten in Taiwan.

Sha Shen Mai Men Dong Tang TCM pattern

Prescribed for Lung and Stomach Yin deficiency with damaged fluids: dry cough with little or blood-streaked sputum, dry throat and mouth, thirst with desire for small sips, low-grade afternoon fever, dry red tongue with little coat and a thin rapid pulse.

Key herbs

1. Sha Shen — nourishes Lung and Stomach Yin
2. Mai Men Dong — nourishes Lung Yin and clears Lung Heat
3. Yu Zhu — nourishes Yin and generates fluids
4. Tian Hua Fen — clears heat and generates fluids
5. Sang Ye — clears mild Lung heat
6. Bian Dou (white hyacinth bean) — supports the Spleen so that Yin can be generated
7. Gan Cao — harmonises

Formula actions

1. Nourishes Lung and Stomach Yin
2. Generates fluids and moistens dryness
3. Clears residual lingering heat

Conditions treated

1. Chronic dry cough after a viral illness
2. Stubborn dry throat and hoarseness in singers, teachers and professional voice users
3. Atrophic gastritis with dry mouth and dry stools
4. Sjögren’s syndrome with dry mouth and dry cough
5. Radiotherapy-induced dry mouth and dry cough as adjunctive care under oncology supervision

Cautions

Contraindicated in acute productive cough with copious phlegm and exterior wind-cold colds. Generally very well tolerated long-term.

Always consult a qualified Chinese herbalist registered with the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM). Online herbal consultations are available.

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