Source
Dendrobium Stem us the dried stem of Dendrobium nobile Lindi., D. chrysanthum Wall. Ex LinL, D. loddigesli Rolfe and Ephemerantha fimbriata (BI.) Hunt et Summerh., Fam. Orchidaceae).
Producing Areas
Sichuan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Anhui, Yunnan, etc.
Properties
Sweet, Slighty Cold
Channels
Stomach, Kidney
Action
-Nourishes yin, slears away heat, benefits the stomach and promotes the production of body fluid
-For febrile diseases with consumption of yin manifested as dry throat, thirst, asthenic-heat, and vexation; insufficiency of stomach-yin and flaming0up of asthenic fire manifested as epigastric pain, thirst, retching, red tongue with little coating or uncoated and smooth tongue.
-For deficiency of the liver and kidney causing weakness in feet and loins.
-For insufficient yin of the liver and spleen causing blurred vision.
Notes
Contraindication : For loose stools due to asthenic coldness of the spleen and stomach, think-coated tongue not suitable for seasonal febrile disease, wet-warm syndrome without consumption of body fluids.
Usage and Dosage
6 – 15g is used in decoction for oral use. The fresh crude herb, 15 – 30g, is used for thirst due to seasonal febrile disease. The dried should be decocted for longer than the fresh.
Characteristics of Herb
Dried Shihu
1. Jinchai Shihu : The surface is golden or green yellow and glossy. Jinchai is brittle and loose. The flavour is bitter.
2. Erhuan Shihu : It is spiral-shaped with yellow surface. It is solid.
3. Da Shihu : It is cone-shaped, 30 – 150cm long. The surface is yellow to dark yellow with deep longitudinal grooves. It is loose, with fibrous broken surface. The flavour is slightly bitter.
4. Xiao Shihu : Including Huancao Shihu and Huangcao Shihu. Huancao is shaped like a slender sylinder, 15 – 35cm long. Its surface is golden and glossy. It is soft, tough and solid. Huancao is 30 – 80cm long. The surface is golden to light yellow brown. It is solid and light in weight.
Storage
Keep the dried product in dry and well-ventilated place. Protect from moisture. Bury the fresh product in cool wet sand, and prevent it from freezing.
Fresh Shihu
It is cylindrical and bends in a slight zigzag shape towards the top, 18 – 42cm long, 0.4 – 0.8cm in diameter. The base is round and tapers to thinness. The surface is yellow green, glossy, with apparent dark coloured joints. It is fleshy and easily broken. The flavour is slightly bitter with a sticky texture when chewed. It is light in nature.
Description of Quality Herb
Good dried Shihu is golden in colour, glossy, soft and tough.
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