In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the tuber of O. japonicus, known as "mai men dong", is the cardinal herb for yin deficiency. According to the Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica, the herb is sweet, slightly bitter and slightly cold, enters the heart, lung and stomach channels and nourishes the yin of the stomach, spleen, heart and lungs and clears heat and quiets irritability. It is used for hacking dry coughs, dry tongue and mouth and constipation.

Useful plant for soil erosion/ land slides.