Shi Hu (Dendrobium Stem)

Shi Hu (Dendrobium Stem)

Herb 11 of 15 in Herbs that Tonify Yin

Cold Shi Hu (Herba Dendrobii)
Photo Note:
Substitute Shown (You Gua Shi Hu)
Channels:
KI, ST
Properties:
Sweet, Slightly Salty, Bland, Cold
Latin:
Herba Dendrobii
Chinese:
石斛
Tone Marks:
shí hú
Translation:
Bushel of Stone
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Chinese Herb Actions

  • Nourishes Stomach Yin, Generates Body Fluids and Clears Heat
    For thirst, dry/parched mouth and throat, irritability and perspiration due to a warm febrile disease injuring Body Fluids
  • Nourishes Kidney Yin and Clears Deficiency Heat
    For unremitting low grade fever, dry and painful throat, and red tongue with no coat. Also used for chronic dry cough with low grade fever, night sweats and dry mouth in conjunction with other herbs.
  • Tonifies Kidneys, Brightens the Eyes
    Strengthens weak back, tendons and bones. Improves visual acuity, dizziness, and platycoria (spots in front of the eyes). Also used for numbness of extremities or Wei atrophy syndrome.

Chinese Herb Contraindications & Cautions

  • Do not use during initial stage of Warm-febrile disease, especially damp-heat
  • Do not use in cases with loose stools due to Spleen deficiency or with a thick, greasy tongue coating
  • Do not use during the exterior stage of a disease, excess febrile diseases or damp and phlegm accumulation

Herb-Drug Interactions

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Chinese Herb Toxicity & Overdose

  • Seizures have been reported with gross over dosage
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Chinese Herb Dosage

  • 6-15 grams dried in decoction, 15-30 grams fresh herb precooked in decoction (Chen)
  • 6-12 grams in decoction (Bensky)

This Herb Appears in the Following Formulas:

References Used

The TCM information presented here has been referenced from numerous sources; including teachers, practitioners, class notes from Five Branches University, the following books, as well as other sources. If you have benefited from this information, please consider supporting the authors and their works by purchasing the books below.

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