INDIVIDUAL HERBS

Pharmaceutical Latin: Herba Dendrobii
Common English: Dendrobium
Stonebushel Stem
Herbs that Tonify the Yin
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
  • Contraindicated for those with without Yin Deficiency Heat.
  • Contraindicated for those with Excess Heat.
  • Contraindicated during the early stage of Warm Febrile disease, especially Damp-Warmth that has not yet transformed into Dry Heat.
  • Contraindicated for those with loose stools due to Spleen Deficiency.
  • Contraindicated for those with abdominal distention with a thick, greasy tongue coat.
INCOMPATIBILITIES
  • Antagonizes Sm. Crotonis Ba Dou.
  • Counteracts Scl. Omphalia Lei Wan.
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

Rx. Glehniae/Adenophorae
Sha Shen
Sm. Lablab
Bai Bian Dou
Rx. Ophiopogonis
Mai Men Dong

Tub. Ophiopogonis
Mai Men Dong
Rx. Trichosanthis
Tian Hua Fen

Rz. Polygonati Odorati
Yu Zhu
Rx. Adenophorae
Nan Sha Shen
Rx. Trichosanthis
Tian Hua Fen

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
Sheng Di Huang
Rx. Scrophulariae
Xuan Shen
(Rx. Adenophorae/Glehniae)
(Sha Shen
)

Rx. Rehmanniae
Sheng Di Huang
Rx. Scrophulariae
Xuan Shen

(Rx. Adenophorae/Glehniae)
(Sha Shen
)
Rx. Astragali
Huang Qi

Tub. Asparagi
Tian Men Dong
Sm. Cuscutae
Tu Si Zi
Flos Chrysanthemi
Ju Hua

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
Gou Qi Zi
Rx. Achyranthis Bidentatae
Niu Xi

Fr. Lycii
Gou Qi Zi
Flos Chrysanthemi
Ju Hua
Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata
Shu Di Huang

Rx. Achyranthis Bidentatae
Niu Xi
Cx. Eucommiae
Du Zhong
Cx. Acanthopanacis
Wu Jia Pi

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
Yin Yang Huo
Rz. Atractylodis
Cang Zhu

Rx. Achyranthis Bidentatae
Niu Xi
Fr. Chaenomelis
Mu Gua
Rx. Paeoniae Alba
Bai Shao

Ramus Lonicerae
Ren Dong Teng
Rx. Cynanchi
Bai Wei

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
Zhu Ru

Rx. Trichosanthis
Tian Hua Fen
Rx. Rehmanniae
Sheng Di Huang
Tub. Ophiopogonis
Mai Men Dong
Fr. Forsythiae
Lian Qiao

Rx. Ginseng
Ren Shen
(Rx. Panacis Quinquifolii)
(Xi Yang Shen)
Tub. Ophiopogonis
Mai Men Dong
Fr. Chaenomelis
Mu Gua
Sm. Nelumbinis
Lian Zi

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
Shi Gao
Rx. Trichosanthis
Tian Hua Fen
Rz. Dioscoreae
Shan Yao

Rx. Glehniae/Adenophorae
Sha Shen
Tub. Ophiopogonis
Mai Men Dong
Rz. Polygoni Odorati
Yu Zhu
Fr. Chaenomelis
Mu Gua
Fr. Setariae Germinatus
Gu Ya
Rx. Stellariae
Yin Chai Hu
Cx. Lycii
Di Gu Pi

Rx. Rehmanniae
Sheng Di Huang
Tub. Ophiopogonis
Mai Men Dong
Rx. Cynanchi
Bai Wei

Hb. Artemisiae Annuae
Qing Hao

Wasting and thirsting syndrome. (Xiao Ke)

Moderate cases of Stomach Yin Deficiency.

Unremitting low-grade fever.

Rx. Rehmanniae
Sheng Di Huang
Tub. Ophiopogonis
Mai Men Dong
Bul. Lilii
Bai He
Rx. Gentianae Macrophyllae
Qin Jiao
Rx. Stellariae
Yin Chai Hu
Cx. Lycii
Di Gu Pi

Fr. Lycii
Gou Qi Zi
Flos Chrysanthemi
Ju Hua
Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata
Shu Di Huang

Rx. Asparagi
Tian Men Dong
Sm. Astragali Complanati
Sha Yuan Zi
Sm. Cassiae
Jue Ming Zi

Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata
Shu Di Huang

Rx. Achyranthis Bidentatae
Niu Xi
Hb. Taxilli
Sang Ji Sheng
Fr. Rubi
Fu Pen Zi

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
Niu Xi
Cx. Phellodendri
Huang Bai
Rx. Dipsaci
Xu Duan
Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata
Shu Di Huang

Rz. Dioscoreae
Shan Yao

Rx. Gentianae Macrophyllae
Qin Jiao
Fr. Chaenomelis
Mu Gua

 

 

Numbness of the extremities.

Wei (atrophy) syndrome.

 

 

  1. Because this herb is greasy, aids dampness, generates Heat and readily induces fullness in the middle Jiao, see contraindications.
  2. Because it retains pathogenic influences see contraindications.
  3. It clears Heat from Heart Ying.
  4. It is primarily used in formulas for Stomach Heat.
  5. For mild cases of Stomach Yin Deficiency, drink Shi Hu as a tea daily.
  6. This herb has a reputation for prolonging life. It is nicknamed "honeymooners tea" because of its ability to quickly replace Jing or sexual fluids.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. Earring Dendrobium Er Huan Shi Hu generates Fluids but is not cool in nature and can be taken as a tea.