INDIVIDUAL HERBS
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Herba Dendrobii |
| Common English: | Dendrobium Stonebushel Stem |
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
Sweet Slightly Salty Bland |
Slightly Cold (Cool) |
Kidney Stomach (Lung) |
6-20g Tincture: 2-4ml |
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Nourishes Yin, clears Heat and generates fluids |
Parched mouth, severe thirst or intractable fever associated with Yin Deficiency, most commonly when the Fluids are injured during a warm pathogen disease |
Enriches Kidney Yin and reduces Heat from Deficiency |
Yin Deficiency Heat and depleted Fluids with a recalcitrant low-grade fever, dry and painful throat and a red tongue with no coat |
Tonifies the Kidneys, augments Jing, brightens the eyes, strengthens the tendons and bones and strengthens the low back |
Dull vision, dizziness and low back weakness and pain associated with Kidney and Liver Deficiency |
Nourishes Stomach and Lung Yin |
Stomach and Lung Yin Deficiency with Empty Fire Rising |
CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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INCOMPATIBILITIES |
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Rx. Glehniae/Adenophorae |
Tub. Ophiopogonis |
Rz. Polygonati Odorati |
Insufficiency of Stomach Yin with anorexia, indefinable epigastric discomfort, dry heaves, mild pain or burning in the epigastrium and a stripped tongue. |
Abdominal discomfort, vomiting, dry heaves and a shiny tongue due to Stomach Yin Deficiency and wasting and thirsting disorder. |
Abdominal discomfort, vomiting, dry heaves and a shiny tongue due to Stomach Yin Deficiency and wasting and thirsting disorder. |
Rx. Rehmanniae |
Rx. Rehmanniae |
Tub. Asparagi |
Low grade fever, thirst, blurred vision and muscular aches and pains from injured fluids due to Heat, as in late stage febrile disease. |
Low grade fever, thirst, blurred vision and muscular aches and pains from injured fluids due to Heat, as in late stage febrile disease with Qi Deficiency manifested as fatigue and irritability. |
Enlarged pupils, blurred vision, photophobia, excessive tearing, and vertigo due to Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency with Fire and Internal Wind. |
Fr. Lycii |
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Lower back soreness and weakness due to Kidney Yin Deficiency. |
Gradual onset of blurred vision and dizziness. |
Weakness and soreness of the low back and leg. |
Hb. Epimedii |
Rx. Achyranthis Bidentatae |
Ramus Lonicerae |
Poor night vision with normal daytime vision due to Liver and Kidney Deficiency with Dampness. Spots in front of the eyes. |
Postpartum lower back and leg soreness. |
Wind-Damp-Heat painful obstruction. |
Caul. Bambusae in Taeniam |
Rx. Trichosanthis |
Rx. Ginseng |
Harmonizes the Stomach by descending Qi and replenishing Yin Fluids to treat hunger with no desire to eat with recurrent nausea, vomiting or dry heaves, thirst and dry mouth due to Stomach Yin Deficiency. |
Severe Heat with extreme thirst, irritability and a dry tongue with a black coating. |
Post-febrile disorder with Qi and Yin Deficiency manifesting as fatigue, no desire to speak, dry lips and in severe cases, incoherence. |
Gypsum Fibrosum |
Rx. Glehniae/Adenophorae |
Rx. Rehmanniae |
Wasting and thirsting syndrome. (Xiao Ke) |
Moderate cases of Stomach Yin Deficiency. |
Unremitting low-grade fever. |
Rx. Rehmanniae |
Fr. Lycii |
Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata |
Chronic dry cough, low-grade fever, night sweats and a dry mouth. |
Blurred vision, dilated pupils, and dizziness due to Yin Deficiency. |
Soreness, weakness and pain of the back and knees. |
Rx. Achyranthis Bidentatae |
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Numbness of the extremities. Wei (atrophy) syndrome. |
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- Because this herb is greasy, aids dampness, generates Heat and readily induces fullness in the middle Jiao, see contraindications.
- Because it retains pathogenic influences see contraindications.
- It clears Heat from Heart Ying.
- It is primarily used in formulas for Stomach Heat.
- For mild cases of Stomach Yin Deficiency, drink Shi Hu as a tea daily.
- This herb has a reputation for prolonging life. It is nicknamed "honeymooners tea" because of its ability to quickly replace Jing or sexual fluids.
- Both Shi Hu and Rx. Trichosanthis Tian Hua Fen generate fluids, alleviate thirst, nourish the Yin, clear Heat and enrich the Stomach. They are often used together, however Tian Hua Fen is sweet and cold, primarily enters the Lungs and Stomach, more strongly generates fluids, descends Phlegm-Fire, expels pus and reduces swellings. Shi Hu is sweet, bland, slightly salty, and cold. It enters the Kidneys and Stomach, enriches Kidney Jing, and has a superior ability to cool Heat from Deficiency.
- Shi Hu, Rx. Glehniae/Adenophorae Sha Shen and Rz. Polygonati Odorati Yu Zhu enter the Stomach channel, clear Heat, nourish the Yin, generate fluids and are used to treat Stomach Yin and Fluid insufficiency with dry mouth, thirst and wasting and thirsting disorder. Sha Shen and Yu Zhu also enter the Lung channel to treat coughs due to Lung Yin Deficiency. Sha Shen is best at clearing the Lungs and moistening Dryness and is most effective for dry coughs with little sputum or Blood-streaked sputum. Yu Zhu is better at enriching and moistening and is used for those with underlying Yin Deficiency who also have an Externally-contracted disease. Shi Hu is better at clearing Heat and is frequently used when a febrile disease has injured the Fluids, and to reduce Yin Deficiency Heat. It can also be used to treat visual disorders, dizziness and weakness in the lower back and legs.
- Earring Dendrobium Er Huan Shi Hu generates Fluids but is not cool in nature and can be taken as a tea.