Medicinals

shí hú / 石斛 / 石斛 / dendrobium

Latin pharmacognostic name: Dendrobii Herba

Alternate English names:

Alternate Chinese names:

Origin: Plant

Use: medicinal

Category: Supplementing agents / Yīn-supplementing agents

Properties: Sweet; slightly cold.

Channel entry: stomach and kidney channels.

Indications:

Dosage & Method:

Oral: 6–15g in decoctions. If the fresh form is used, the dose should be 15–30g.

Warning:

Shí hú is sweet and can constrain evil; it should not be used too early in febrile disease.

Product Description:

These are fine curved stems that are often split. Sometimes there are many stalks branching from one rhizome, with the stubble of fine roots. Stems vary from 8 to 12 cm in length and from 1 to 2 cm in diameter. The external surface is a golden yellow with conspicuous brown nodes at 1–2.5 cm intervals. The stems are supple, and when snapped reveal a loose fibrous interior. The decocting pieces are usually 2–4 cm lengths.

Quality:

The best quality is a bright golden color, and highly supple.

Product Area:

Sìchuān, Guìzhōu, Guǎngxī.

Etymology:

The name shí hú 石斛, literally ""stone dendrobium,"" reflects the plant's ability to grow on rock.

Help us to improve our content
You found an error?

Send us a feedback