shi hu

石斛·Caulis Dendrobii

Dendrobium

About shi hu

Shi Hu (石斛) is the stem of dendrobium, an orchid, recorded as Caulis Dendrobii. It is sweet, slightly salty and bland in flavour, slightly cold, and enters the Stomach and Kidney channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that tonify Yin.

Names

Pinyinshi hu
Chinese石斛
Latin NameCaulis Dendrobii·Herba Dendrobii
English NameDendrobium
Japanesesekkoku
Koreanseokgok

Classification

Category
Tonify Yin
Channels
Stomach, Kidney
Flavour
Sweet, Bland, Slightly Salty
Temperature
Slightly Cold
Family
Orchidaceae
Tags
Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Nourishes Stomach Yin, generates fluids and clears Heat

  • Fluids injured in a warm-pathogen disease: a parched mouth and throat, severe thirst, irritability, sweating, or fever that will not settle

Enriches Kidney Yin and clears Deficiency Heat

  • Deficiency Heat with depleted fluids: stubborn low-grade fever, a dry sore throat and a red tongue without coat
  • Long-standing unproductive cough accompanied by mild fever and night sweating, combined with further Yin tonics

Tonifies the Kidneys, augments Jing, brightens the eyes and strengthens the sinews, bones and lower back

  • Kidney and Liver deficiency with dim or blurred vision, spots before the eyes, dizziness, and a weak, painful lower back
  • Numbness of the limbs, or Wei (atrophy) syndrome

Nourishes Stomach and Lung Yin

  • Empty Fire flaring up from deficient Yin of the Stomach and Lungs

Combinations

Dosage

AgeRawGranuleTinctureConcentrateFrequency
Any 6-20g; Tincture: 2-4ml6-20 g2-4 ml

Cautions

Interactions

Antagonistic with