Objective:To perform textual researches on name, origin and distribution of Maidong to clarify the medicinal varieties and history recorded in ancient literatures and provide evidence for clinical use. Methods:Ancient herbal works were performed textual research, and the resource investigation and modern data were analyzed. Results:According to the ancient herbal records and modern researches, Maidong had lots of alias, while only Maimendong and Maidong were used as the medicine common names. According to the records of main origin, original plant morphological and medicinal characteristics of Maimendong, it was preliminarily concluded that Maidong recorded in the ancient herbal records was mainly produced in Jiande of Zhejiang province, Mianyang of Sichuan prov-ince, Xiangyang of Hubei province and the surrounding areas. The chemical compositions and pharmacological activities of Maidong and Shanmaidong were similar;therefore, they both could be used as the medicines. Conclusion:In the light of the ancient and mod-ern medicinal customs, modern chemistry and pharmacology researches and clinical practice of TCM, it deserves further discussion on whether Maidong and Shanmaidong can be used as multi source varieties of traditional Chinese medicines just like Polygonaceae plants palmatum L. , Rheum tanguticum Maxim, ex Balf. and Rheum officinale Baill. , and Ranunculaceae plants Coptis chinensis Franch. , Coptis deltoidea C. Y. Cheng et Hsiao and Coptisteeta Wall.