Can Ophiopogon japonicus (McDoor) be cooked in soup together with red dates?

Apr 27, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Yu Yongchao

Introduction

Ophiopogon has a slightly cold nature, a sweet and slightly bitter taste, and enters the heart, lung, and stomach meridians. It functions to nourish yin, promote body fluid production, moisten the lungs, and clear the heart. Jujube has a warm nature, a sweet taste, and enters the spleen, stomach, and heart meridians. It serves to replenish the middle jiao, benefit qi, nourish the blood, and calm the spirit. When used together, they can exert a synergistic and enhancing effect, effectively relieving symptoms such as dry cough due to lung dryness, irritability with insomnia, and dry mouth and throat.

Generally, Ophiopogon japonicus (McDoor) can be cooked together with red dates to make soup, but intake should be controlled when consuming. Detailed analysis is as follows:

Ophiopogon japonicus is slightly cold in nature, with a sweet and slightly bitter taste, and enters the heart, lung, and stomach meridians. It has the functions of nourishing yin, promoting body fluid production, moistening the lungs, and clearing the heart. Red dates are warm in nature, sweet in taste, and enter the spleen, stomach, and heart meridians. They have the effects of strengthening the middle jiao, replenishing qi, nourishing blood, and calming the mind. When used together, they can produce a synergistic effect and effectively alleviate symptoms such as dry cough due to lung dryness, irritability and insomnia, and dry mouth and throat.

However, pregnant women and patients with hypertension should avoid excessive consumption of Ophiopogon japonicus. Additionally, excessive consumption of red dates may increase dampness in the body, causing gastrointestinal discomfort. When there is a yellowish greasy tongue coating, bitter taste in the mouth, or oral odor, the rich and sticky nature of red dates may exacerbate damp-heat, making them unsuitable for consumption.

At the same time, in daily diet, one should maintain a balanced diet and diverse food intake, avoiding excessive consumption of any single food item to promote overall health.

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