Ophiopogon, known as "Mai Men Dong" in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has a long history of use to support the health of mucus membranes, particularly those of the respiratory and digestive tracts. In TCM, Ophiopogon tuber is believed to "nourish yin" and "moisten dryness," making it a common remedy for symptoms such as dry cough, dry throat, and constipation, which are understood as signs of "yin deficiency" affecting the body's fluids and mucosal surfaces. These traditional uses are documented in classic texts such as the “Shennong Bencao Jing” (Divine Farmer’s Materia Medica Classic) and are still recognized in modern TCM practice.

Scientifically, there is limited but emerging evidence to support these historical claims. Some pharmacological studies have shown that Ophiopogon tuber extracts contain saponins, polysaccharides, and homoisoflavonoids, which may possess anti-inflammatory and mucoprotective activities in vitro and in animal models. However, robust clinical trials in humans are scarce, and the evidence is not yet strong enough to conclusively validate its efficacy for mucus membrane support in a biomedical context. Therefore, the use of Ophiopogon for supporting mucus membranes is primarily justified by traditional usage with moderate supporting evidence from preclinical studies.