TCM monkey grass used to increase white blood cell counts

What is monkey grass(Mondo Grass, Mai Men Dong)?
There are a few different types of monkey grass but medicinally it mainly refers to the dried tuberous root of Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb.) Ker-Gawl., which is a member of the Liliaceae (Lily) Family. Therefore, other names include Dwarf Lilyturf Tuber, Ophiopogon Tuber, Mai Dong, Radix Ophiopogonis, Ophiopogon japonicus tuber, etc. In China it is mainly produced in Sichuan, Zhejiang, Jiangsu and other places. It is usually dug in summer. And then it needs to be exposed under the blazing sun for quite a long time until it’s at least 70 or 80 percent dry, stacked, had the fibrous roots removed, dried, and used raw and smashed.

Mondo grass is a perennial evergreen herb, which has luxuriant green linear foliage that grows thickly. It blooms in the middle of October. Flowers are lilac and racemose. Pedicels grow out from the leaf, with 10 to 20 light purple and beautiful florets each bunch. The pea-shaped fruits are bore after the flowers die. Fruits become purple or blue-black when ripe and inside there are strings of spherical monkey grass seeds.

Monkey grass health benefits
This herb was first recorded in the "Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic", the oldest and well-kept ancient pharmacology book found in China by far. Also known as "the elixir", it has long been regarded as one of top-grade tonics. Monkey grass roots contain a variety of steroidal saponins, carotenoids, mucilage, sugars, stigmasterol, and other ingredients. Pharmacological experiments show that it can increase white blood cell counts, extend the lifespan of antibodies, improve immune function and DNA synthesis rate, and promote the production of antibody, complement, interferon, lysozyme, and other immune substances. In addition, it is also found with ability to improve myocardial contractility and protect myocardial cells. As a result, it becomes one of main ingredient in Shengmai powders, which, to a certain extent, can help to activate and restore the pulse. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), it can enhance the vital Qi, strengthen the body resistance to pathogenic factors, and then reduce the incidence rate of diseases. Put it in the words from Ben Cao Gang Mu (Compendium of Materia Medica) – long term use of ophiopogon tuber can help people become healthier, lighter in weight, forever young, and full all the time.