Shi Hu - 石斛 - Herba Dendrobii
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Herba Dendrobii |
| Common English: | Dendrobium Stonebushel Stem |
Category
Herbs that Tonify the YinProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Sweet Slightly Salty Bland | Slightly Cold (Cool) | Kidney Stomach (Lung) | 6-20g Tincture: 2-4ml 6-12g (Secondary source) |
Actions And Indications
| 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 |
Augments Jing, Brightens the eyes, Strengthens the low back, Strengthens the tendons and bones, Tonifies the Kidneys | 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, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
|
| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
|
| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Major Combinations
| 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 | Fr. Lycii | Rx. Achyranthis Bidentatae |
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 | ||
Numbness of the extremities. Wei (atrophy) syndrome. |
Notes
- This herb is greasy, aids dampness, generates Heat and easily causes fullness in the middle Jiao, so refer to the contraindications.
- It retains pathogenic influences, so refer to the contraindications.
- It clears Heat from the Heart Ying.
- Its main use is in formulas for Stomach Heat.
- In mild Stomach Yin Deficiency, Shi Hu can be drunk daily as a tea.
- It is reputed to prolong life, and its nickname "honeymooners tea" comes from its ability to rapidly replenish Jing or sexual fluids.
- Shi Hu and Rx. Trichosanthis Tian Hua Fen both generate fluids, relieve thirst, nourish the Yin, clear Heat and enrich the Stomach, and they are often combined. Tian Hua Fen, however, is sweet and cold, enters mainly the Lungs and Stomach, generates fluids more strongly, 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 is superior at cooling Heat from Deficiency.
- Shi Hu, Rx. Glehniae/Adenophorae Sha Shen and Rz. Polygonati Odorati Yu Zhu all enter the Stomach channel, clear Heat, nourish the Yin and generate fluids, and are used for insufficiency of Stomach Yin and Fluids with dry mouth, thirst and wasting and thirsting disorder. Sha Shen and Yu Zhu additionally enter the Lung channel to treat coughs from Lung Yin Deficiency. Sha Shen excels at clearing the Lungs and moistening Dryness, and works best for dry coughs with scanty or Blood-streaked sputum. Yu Zhu is stronger at enriching and moistening, and is used for people with underlying Yin Deficiency who have also contracted an External disease. Shi Hu is stronger at clearing Heat and is often chosen when a febrile disease has damaged the Fluids and to reduce Yin Deficiency Heat. It is also used for visual disorders, dizziness, and weakness of the lower back and legs.
- Earring Dendrobium, Er Huan Shi Hu, generates Fluids without being cool in nature, and may be taken as a tea.
From Class
- Mu Dan Pi / Chi Shao / Di Gu Pi / Sheng Di / Xuan Shen / Shi Hu: Bitter-cold blood-cooling herbs; Mu Dan Pi and Chi Shao go to the pericardium. (Gioioso)