Dendrobium

The medicinal uses of dendrobium have been recorded in a few famous ancient medical writings, such as Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (the Divine Farmer’s Materia Medica), Ben Cao Gang Mu (The Compendium of Materia Medica), Zhong Yao Da Ci Dian (The Dictionary of Medicinal Plant), and so on. What’s more, its modern pharmacology also confirms its amazing health benefits.

1) It can promote the secretion of gastric juice to aid digestion and result in hyperperistalsis to free movement of the bowels;
2) In large doses it leads to intestinal muscle paralysis;
3) It has some certain analgesic and antipyretic effect, which resembles to phenacetin but has a weaker effect;
4) It can enhance the macrophage phagocytosis in mice;
5) Dendrobium polysaccharides can restore the inhibited immune function in mice that is induced by hydrocortisone;
6) Its decoction can stop and correct the dissimilation in crystalline lens;
7) It has both delayed and therapeutic effects to the galactose-induced cataract in rats.

Dendrobium nobile benefits
For thousands of years, people in south China will risk their lives to pick the “immortality herb” grown in the edge of cliffs for saving patients in critical condition. You might have guessed by now that the herb mentioned is called dendrobium. In the legends, the juice of it can resurrect the dead. Of course, this is just a legendary saying but can offer another perspective on reviews of its rarity and efficacy. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be called as “gold in medicine”. Besides, it is highly regarded as the No. 1 of the 9 “Chinese immortality herbs”, which refers to Tie Pi Shi Hu (dendrobium candidum), Tian Shan Xue Lian (Saussurea involucrate from Tian Shan Mountain), San Liang Zhong Ren Shen (three liang of ginseng), one-hundred-and-twenty-year He Shou Wu, Fu Ling (Poria of a cycle of sixty years), Cong Rong (Cistanche), Shen Shan Ling Zhi (Ganoderma in remote mountains), Hai Di Zhen Zhu (seabed pearls), and Dong Chong Xia Cao (Cordyceps Sinensis). And its top 10 main health benefits are as follows:

1) Nourishing Yin and body fluid. The “China Pharmaceutical Dictionary” claims that it is specialized at nourishing qi and fluid in lung and stomach. Hence, it treats a variety of diseases caused by deficiency of yin and body fluid;

2) Enhancing physical fitness. Yao Xing Lun (A book on pharmacological nature of drugs) argues that it can tonify kidney essence, nourish the stomach Yin, and increase strength. And it is rich in polysaccharides that enhance immune function;

3) Replenishing spleen and stomach. It is a commonly used drug for stomachache and epigastric pain. And modern medical experiments confirmed that it has a better inhibition on the pathogen Helicobacter pylori that is frequently found in spleen and stomach diseases, such as atrophic gastritis, superficial gastritis, duodenal ulcer, and more;

4) Protecting liver and gallbladder. It has a good choleretic effect, which has been praised highly by many herbalists. As a result, it is often used as a major medicine for the treatment of hepatobiliary diseases, such as hepatitis, cholecystitis, gallstones and others;

5) Strengthening tendons and lowering lipid. The secretion of Yin fluid and function of bone and muscle would begin to gradually decrease during the middle ages. Since it can nourish Yin fluid and lubricate joints, it helps to strengthen tendons and bones, relieve joint pain, and reduce rheumatism. And modern pharmacological research also showed that it can improve stress ability, prevent or stop fatigue, increase hypoxia tolerance, promote circulation, dilate blood vessels, and lower blood cholesterol and triglycerides;

6) Lowing blood sugar. It has long been used as the specific drug for diabetes since ancient times thanks to its ability of nourishing yin, clearing heat, and moistening dryness. Clinical studies have shown that it cannot only enhance activity of insulin, but also significantly reduce and change blood sugar levels back to normal;

7) Inhibiting tumor. It kills some certain cells of malignancies, such as lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and promyelocytic leukemia. Since it has strong anti-tumor activity, clinically it is often used as the adjuvant treatment of malignant tumors. In other words, it can improve symptoms of cancer patients, reduce side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, enhance immunity, improve quality of life, and prolong survival time;

8) Improving eyesight. It was also viewed as one of the best eye tonics in the eyes of ancient physicians because of its yin-nourishing and eyesight-improving properties. And modern pharmacological studies confirmed that it could make a difference on the prevention and treatment of senile cataract and children’s eyesight;

9) Nourishing the skin. Due to dwindling Yin fluid in body, the aging of skin speeds up in people in middle age. Therefore, the skin begins to turn black and become wrinkle. This is where the dendrobium gets in since the mucus it contains can moisturize and provide nutrition to the skin;

10) Prolonging life. The “Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic” reviews that it is an effective medicine that can help weight loss and longevity. Modern pharmacological studies confirmed that it contains many trace elements, which are closely related to human health and longevity. Hence, it has more comprehensive anti-aging effect compared to other herbs.