Shi Hu (Dendrobium Stem)

Herb 11 of 15 in Herbs that Tonify Yin

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

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:

• Di Huang Yin Zi (Rehmannia Decoction)
  Category: Formulas that Extinguish Internal Wind
• Qing Shu Yi Qi Tang (Clear Summerheat and Augment the Qi Decoction)
  Category: Formulas that Relieve Summerheat