Library

New shoots emerge in May. Flowers bloom in July. Fruits set in October. It grows in the valleys of Lu'an, as well as in Jingzhou, Xiangyang, Hanzhong, Luzhou in Jiangzuo (Jiangdong), and Taizhou in Zhejiang. Recently, those from Wenling and Taizhou are considered precious, said to resemble a gold hairpin. However, their odor is turbid and corrupt, unlike those produced in Sichuan, which have slender and clean shapes and clear, sparse aromas.

The taste is sweet, bland, and slightly salty. The nature is neutral. The flavor is strong while the aroma is thin; it belongs to Yin within Yang. It enters the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian and the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, and also the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian. It mainly treats internal injury (damage to Spleen and Stomach), removes Bi syndrome (obstruction causing pain/stiffness), directs rebellious Qi downward, harmonizes Stomach Qi, clears heat, clears and benefits Qi, tonifies the Kidney, warms the Water Organ (Kidney), strengthens sinews and bones, strengthens Yin and benefits Essence, and supplements deficiency-wasting conditions leading to emaciation in the Five Zang organs. It expels pathogenic heat and feiqi (heat rash) from the skin, treats cold pain and weakness in the legs and knees due to Bi syndrome, and is effective in treating empty-heat in the Stomach. (Zong: Refers to previous authorities or specific physicians.) Medical texts record its use for treating wind-stroke and deficiency-wasting, eliminating xiaodao (wasting-thirst/diabetes-like symptoms) and accumulations, and relieving deficiency vexation.

Steamed with wine in summer and drunk as tea, it can suddenly strengthen leg power. For conditions such as damp scrotum, scanty essence, and dribbling urine after voiding, it is suitable to add this herb. One method: take two qian each time, add one slice of fresh ginger... (Text here is fragmented/disordered, implying decoction or combination)... Source of Qi. Cannot descend essence to generate, Sweet can... function. (Zhongchun: Courtesy name of Chen Shigong). Herb, benefits Kidney and strengthens four limbs, benefits Essence, combined with Loquat Leaf (Pipaye) and Ophiopogon (Maidong), etc., and expelling pathogenic heat and feiqi from the skin.

[Discussion] Dendrobium produces shoots in May, enduring through autumn and winter. Nourished by water from the earth, its Qi becomes complete. Hanging it under the eaves and watering it frequently allows it to survive for a year without dying. (This is because it obtains the full Qi of Earth-water, thus removing Bi syndrome and directing Qi downward, thereby strengthening Yin and benefiting Essence. What Zhen Shi called "tonifying Kidney and benefiting strength," what Ri Hua Zi called "warming the Water Organ and strengthening sinews and bones," and what the *Shennong Bencao Jing* (*Bielu*) called "treating cold pain and weakness in legs and knees due to Bi," all fall under this principle.) However, its effect extending from Spleen and Stomach to the other four Zang organs is specifically because Spleen and Kidney communicate. To benefit the Yin Qi of the Five Zang organs, one must use this herb as a pivotal mechanism. It is not that its bland and neutral nature can solely bear the function of tonification. In the human body, Spleen and Kidney are mutually transformative origins. The Qi generated and transformed by Spleen and Kidney is abundant, becoming the transformative origin for the remaining Zang organs. Therefore, to tonify the Five Zang organs, one must first tonify the Spleen; and to benefit the Spleen, one cannot discard the Kidney. The world only knows to warm the Fire of Mingmen (Gate of Life) to generate Spleen Earth. Regarding supplementation through the mutual connection of Yin Qi of Stomach and Kidney, few examine it carefully. This is because they fail to recognize that Spleen Yin and Stomach Yang have their respective appropriate ascents and descents.

[Differentiation and Treatment] Those growing on rocks by streams are named Shihu (Dendrobium); when broken, they seem fleshy, with short bodies and solid centers. Those growing on oak trees are named Mujhu (Wood Dendrobium); when broken, they resemble wheat grains... (Text ends abruptly)