Library

Dendrobium (Shihu)
Sweet in flavor, neutral in nature, non-toxic. It primarily treats damage to the middle jiao (middle energizer), eliminates bi syndrome (painful obstruction), directs rebellious qi downward, tonifies the five zang organs, treats deficiency exhaustion and emaciation, strengthens yin and essence, supplements internal insufficiency, harmonizes stomach qi, promotes muscle growth, expels pathogenic heat and fei qi (heat rash) from the skin, and treats pain, cold-bi, and weakness in the legs and knees. Long-term consumption thickens the intestines and stomach, lightens the body, prolongs life, stabilizes the mind, and eliminates fright. Also known as Linlan, Jinsheng, Dulan, or Shi (pronounced 'zhu'). Grows on rocks by water in the valleys of Lu'an. The stems are harvested in July and August and dried in the shade. (Lu Ying serves as its assistant; it is incompatible with Ning Shui Shi and Ba Dou, and fears Jiang Can and Lei Wan.)

Tao Hongjing states: The Dendrobium currently used comes from Shixing. It grows on rocks, has small fruits, and when soaked in mulch ash water, turns golden in color and resembles the thigh of a grasshopper; this is considered the best quality. It is also found in nearby regions, specifically growing on oak trees in the Xuancheng area, known as Mu Hu (Wood Dendrobium). Its stems are large but pale in color. Lu'an belongs to Lujiang Commandery; now Shian also produces Mu Hu, which is very hollow and long, unsuitable for pills and powders, and can only be used for wine infusion or decoction. Popular prescriptions most often use it to tonify deficiency and treat leg and knee ailments.

The Commentary on the Tang Materia Medica notes: To prepare dried Dendrobium, first wash with wine, rub, steam, and roast; do not use ash water. In Jingxiang, Hanzhong, and Jiangzuo, there are two types: one resembles barley, linked together, with a single leaf at the tip and a cold nature; the other is as large as a sparrow's thigh, named Que Bi Hu (Sparrow Thigh Dendrobium), grown in wine-infused form, said to surpass the dried variety. Like Mai Hu (Wheat Dendrobium), it has leaves at the stem tips, while other Dendrobiums resemble bamboo with leaves growing between the nodes. Minister Yuxi et al. carefully note according to *Xing Ming Lun* (Treatise on Drug Properties): Dendrobium is the sovereign drug. It benefits qi and clears heat, mainly treating weak waist and limbs in men, strengthening yang, expelling wind-bi from skin and muscles, chronic cold and deficiency in bones, tonifying the kidney, accumulating essence, treating lower back pain, nourishing kidney qi, and increasing strength. Ri Huazi states: It treats deficiency and weakness, strengthens sinews and bones, warms the water organ (kidney/bladder), lightens the body and enhances intelligence, harmonizes stomach qi, and expels deficient pathogens.

The Illustrated Classic states: Dendrobium grows on rocks by water in the valleys of Lu'an. It is now found in Jing, Hu, Chuan, Guang commanderies, as well as Wen and Taizhou, with those from Guangnan being the best. It mostly grows in valleys. Seedlings emerge in May; the stem resembles bamboo joints, with small leaves emerging between each joint. Flowers bloom in July, fruit sets in October, and the roots are slender and yellow. Stems are harvested in July and August. Soaked in mulch ash water, they turn golden and are dried in the shade. Some say they are washed in wine, rubbed, steamed, and roasted, without using ash water. Those growing in Jiangnan come in two types: one resembles barley, linked together, with a single leaf at the head, named Mai Hu (Wheat Dendrobium). The other is as large as a sparrow's thigh, named Que Bi Hu (Sparrow Thigh Dendrobium); only those growing on rocks are superior. There are also those growing on oak wood, named Mu Hu (Wood Dendrobium), which are unsuitable for use.

Lei Gong states: When processing, first remove the soil from the head, soak in wine overnight, drain and dry in the sun, then steam with butter from Si hour to You hour, and slowly bake dry for use. Dendrobium locks saliva and astringes male yuan qi. If processed thus and consumed up to one yi (a unit of weight), bone pain will never occur.

Yan Yi states: Dendrobium is thin like small grass, three to four cun long, flexible, and breaks like meat but is solid inside. Nowadays, people often confuse it with Mu Hu, and medical practitioners cannot clearly distinguish them. The world also calls it Jinchai Shihu (Gold Hairpin Dendrobium), likely because later generations described it based on its shape. However, this is highly inappropriate. When breaking Mu Hu, the center is hollow like grain stalks, over a chi long, merely dark yellow and glossy. True Dendrobium is effective in treating empty heat in the stomach.