Chinese: Mai Men Dong Tang
English: Ophiopogon Decoction
Source: Jinguiyaolue (Essentials from the Golden Cabinet)
Pulse: fine, rapid, weak
Tongue: red dry body, scanty fur
Abdomen: medium abdominal wall strength, shinkahiko
Indications: This herbal formula has been used for patients with following health conditions and symptoms:
- Shortness of breath
- Asthma
- Cough
- Laryngitis
- Dry mouth
- Dry throat
- Hoarse voice
- Belching
- Hiccups
- Vomiting
- Gastritis
There are many other health conditions that may respond well to this herbal formula, in particular patients exhibiting indicative traditional diagnostic signs and symptoms.
Herbs in This Formula
- Bakumondo (Ophiopogonis Radix), 10g
- Hange (Pinelliae Rhizoma) 5g
- Ninjin (Ginseng Radix), 2g
- Kobei (Oryzae Semen), 5g
- Taiso (Jujubae Fructus) 3g
- Shakanzo (Glycyrrhizae Radix preparata) 2g
Note: Suggested dosages of each herb in Kampo formulas are often smaller than those of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Individual dosages of herbs may be adjusted depending on each patient’s condition, constitutional patterns, quality of the herbs, and other factors involved.
Basic and Clinical Research on Bakumondoto – Updated on June 16, 2012
Mukaida K, Hattori N, Kondo K, Morita N, Murakami I, Haruta Y, et al. A pilot study of the multiherb Kampo medicine bakumondoto for cough in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology. 2011;18(8-9):625-9.
Irifune K, Hamada H, Ito R, Katayama H, Watanabe A, Kato A, et al. Antitussive effect of bakumondoto a fixed kampo medicine (six herbal components) for treatment of post-infectious prolonged cough: controlled clinical pilot study with 19 patients. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology. 2011;18(8-9):630-3.
Tsunezuka Y. The efficacy of bakumondoto on prolonged cough after lung cancer surgery. Kampo to Meneki Arerugi (Kampo and immuno-allergy) 2008; 22: 43-55
Watanabe N, Nakagawa T, Miyazawa T. Examination of effective antitussive against cough caused by mycoplasma bronchitis. Kampo to Meneki-Arerugi (Kampo and Immuno-Allergy) 2008; 22: 63-8
Watanabe N, Miyazawa T. Comparative study of the effect of bakumondoto and tipepidine hebinzate on cough in patients with mycoplasmal bronchitis. Kampo to Meneki-Arerugi (Kampo and Immuno-Allergy) 2007; 21: 31-6 (in Japanese).
Umemoto M, Nin T, Miuchi S, et al. Treatment of human dry mouth using various medicines. Jibiinkoka Rinsho (Practica otologica) 2007; 100: 145-52
Ohno S. The effect of Kampo medicine on salivary secretion in Sjogren’s syndrome. Kampo to Saishin-chiryo (Kampo & the Newest Therapy) 2006; 15: 134-40 (in Japanese).
Kamei J, Saitoh A, Asano T, Nakamura R, Ichiki H, Iiduka A, et al. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of the antitussive principles of Glycyrrhizae radix (licorice), a main component of the Kampo preparation Bakumondo-to (Mai-men-dong-tang). European journal of pharmacology. 2005;507(1-3):163-8.
Hsu CH, Lu CM, Chang TT. Efficacy and safety of modified Mai-Men-Dong-Tang for treatment of allergic asthma. Pediatric allergy and immunology : official publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. 2005;16(1):76-81.
Watanabe N, Gang C, Fukuda T. [The effects of bakumondo-to (mai-men-dong-tang) on asthmatic and non-asthmatic patients with increased cough sensitivity]. Nihon Kokyuki Gakkai zasshi = the journal of the Japanese Respiratory Society. 2004;42(1):49-55.
Saruwatari J, Hisaeda S, Higa Y, Tomiyasu Y, Nakagawa K, Ishizaki T. The in-vivo effect of bakumondo-to (TJ-29), a traditional Japanese medicine used for treatment of chronic airway disease, on cytochrome P450 1A2, xanthine oxidase and N-acetyltransferase 2 activity in man. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology. 2004;56(9):1171-7.
Nishizawa Y, Nishizawa Y, Yoshioka F, et al. Long-term effect of traditional Chinese herbal medicine, mai-men-don-tang on sicca syndrome, especially, salicary secretion in patients with primary Sjogren’s syndrome: a multicenter, randomized well controlled group-pararell double-blined study. Nihon Daekisen Gakkaishi (Journal of the Japan Salivary Gland Society) 2004; 45: 66-74.
Nishizawa Y, Nishizawa Y, Goto GH, et al. The Multicenter randomized comparative study of kampo herbal medicine, mai-men-dong-tang (Japanese name Bakumondo-to) compared with bromhexine on salivary secretion in secondary Sjogren’s syndrome. Itami to Kampo (Pain and Kampo Medicine) 2004; 14: 10-7
Saruwatari J, Hisaeda S, Higa Y, et al. The in-vivo effect of bakumondo-to (TJ-29), a traditional Japanese medicine used for treatment of chronic airway disease, on cytochrome P450 1A2, xanthine oxidase and N-acetyltransferase 2 activity in man. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 2004; 56: 1171-7.
Nishizawa Y, Nishizawa Y, Yoshioka F, et al. Improving effect of Chinese herb medicine mai-men-dong- tang (Japanese name: bakumondo-to) comparative with sicca syndrome in especial salivary patients with secondary Sjogren’s syndrome in multicenter, well controlled, long-term comparative study. Nihon Daekisen Gakkaishi (Journal of the Japan Salivary Gland Society) 2003; 44: 65-70.
Nishizawa Y, Nishizawa Y, Yoshioka F, et al. Beneficial effect of Chinese tracitional herbal medicine, Mai-Men-Don-Tang (Japanese name: bakumondo-to) on acute pain in patients with acute internalmedical disease: antitussive effect on elderly patients with post infectious persistent coughs, prospective, multicenter, randomized comparative trial between mai-men-dong-tang and forminoben hydrochloride. Itami to Kampo (Pain and Kampo Medicine) 2003; 12: 13-21
Aizawa H, Yoshida M, Inoue H, Hara N. Traditional oriental herbal medicine, Bakumondo-to, suppresses vagal neuro-effector transmission in guinea pig trachea. The Journal of asthma : official journal of the Association for the Care of Asthma. 2003;40(5):497-503.
Watanabe N, Cheng G, Fukuda T. [Effects of Bakumondo-to (Mai-Men-Dong-Tang) on cough sensitivity to capsaicin in asthmatic patients with cough hypersensitivity]. Arerugi = [Allergy]. 2003;52(5):485-91.
Kamei J, Nakamura R, Ichiki H, Kubo M. Antitussive principles of Glycyrrhizae radix, a main component of the Kampo preparations Bakumondo-to (Mai-men-dong-tang). European journal of pharmacology. 2003;469(1-3):159-63.
Nishizawa Y, Nishizawa Y, Yoshioka F, et al. Long-term effects of traditional Chinese herbal medicine, mai-men-dong-tang (Japanese name: bakumondo-to) compared with bromhexine, hydrochloride on sicca syndrome, especially, salivary secretion in patients with primary Sjogren’s syndrome: a multicenter, randomized well controlled group parallel comparative trial study with bromhexine. Nihon Daekisen Gakkaishi (Journal of the Japan Salivary Gland Society) 2002; 43: 62-6.
Fujimori K, Suzuki E, Gejyo F. [Effect of Bakumondo-to on increased sensitivity of the cough reflex in a Sjogren syndrome patient with interstitial lung disease]. Arerugi = [Allergy]. 2001;50(4):407-13.
Fujimori K, Suzuki E, Simojo F. Comparison between bakumondoto (mai men dong tang) and dextromethorphan hydrobromide in terms of effect on postinfectious cough: a pilot study. Nihon Toyo Igaku Zasshi (Japanese Journal of Oriental Medicine) 2000; 51: 725-32
Aizawa H, Shigyo M, Nakano H, Matsumoto K, Inoue H, Hara N. Effect of the Chinese herbal medicine, Bakumondo-to, on airway hyperresponsiveness induced by ozone exposure in guinea-pigs. Respirology. 1999;4(4):349-54.
Fujimori K, Shimatsu Y, Suzuki E, Arakawa M. [A pilot phase II study of combination therapy with oxatomide, an antihistamine, plus dextromethoraphan and bakumondo-to, an herbal drug, in patients with postinfectious persistent cough]. Nihon Kokyuki Gakkai zasshi = the journal of the Japanese Respiratory Society. 1998;36(4):338-42.
Isohama Y, Kai H, Miyata T. [Bakumondo-to, a traditional herbal medicine, stimulates phosphatidylcholine secretion, through the synergistic cross-talk between different signal transduction systems in alveolar type II cells]. Nihon yakurigaku zasshi Folia pharmacologica Japonica. 1997;110 Suppl 1:120P-5P.
Mizushima Y, Hirata A, Hori T, Sawazaki S, Sugiyama E, Kobayashi M. Antitussive effect of herbal medicine bakumondo-to: a case report. The American journal of Chinese medicine. 1996;24(3-4):321-5.
Kagami H, Horie K, Nishiguchi H, Shigetomi T, Ueda M. Effect of ‘bakumondo-to’, a Chinese-Japanese herbal medicine, on cultured and dispersed salivary gland cells. Journal of ethnopharmacology. 1996;53(2):89-95.
Fujimori K, Sakurai K, Yoshizumi A. [A case of postinfectious chronic cough improved with bakumondo-to not with antihistamine and dextromethorphan hydrobromide]. Arerugi = [Allergy]. 1995;44(12):1418-21.
Tamaoki J, Chiyotani A, Takeyama K, Kanemura T, Sakai N, Konno K. Potentiation of beta-adrenergic function by saiboku-to and bakumondo-to in canine bronchial smooth muscle. Japanese journal of pharmacology. 1993;62(2):155-9.
Sasaki H, Satou K, Sasaki M, et al. Usefulness of Bakumondo-to in senile chronic respiratory disease patients having difficulty in expectoration: comparison with bromhexine hydrochloride preparations. Kampo to Meneki-Arerugi (Kampo and Immuno-allergy) 1993; 7: 139-45 (in Japanese with English abstract).
Ohno S, Suzuki T, Dohi Y. [The effect of bakumondo-to on salivary secretion in Sjogren syndrome]. Ryumachi [Rheumatism]. 1990;30(1):10-6.
Miyata T, Fuchikami J, Kai H, Takahama K. [Antitussive effects of Bakumondo-to and codeine in bronchitic guinea-pigs]. Nihon Kyobu Shikkan Gakkai zasshi. 1989;27(10):1157-62.