Dendrobium (shi hu)
Dendrobium officinale · 石斛
Herbs & Roots. Chinese Medicine.
Also called Shi hu, Tie pi shi hu, Dendrobium nobile, Herba Dendrobii
Pinyin: Shí Hú
Wrong species can be toxicDendrobium is the stem of several orchids, used in Chinese medicine as a cooling herb that moistens a dry mouth and throat.
Did you know? Dendrobium appears in the Shennong Bencao Jing, a Chinese herb text from about 2,000 years ago, where it is listed among the top-grade herbs.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Sore throat & cough. Used in Chinese medicine for a dry mouth and dry throat. Only traditional use and lab work exist, and no good human trials were found.See the research: No trials in people found yetTraditional proof
- Eyes & vision. Chinese texts use it for blurred vision. This has not been tested in people.See the research: 2 studies in peopleTraditional proof
- Blood sugar. Studies in diabetic mice found lower blood sugar. No human trials were found.See the research: 4 studies in peopleTraditional proof
Parts of the body
Traditional use
In Chinese medicine, dendrobium is a yin tonic. Practitioners use it for a dry mouth and throat, a low fever that lingers after illness, and blurred vision.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Tonic, Demulcent, Antioxidant. Energy: cooling.
- Chinese medicine
- 石斛 Tonify yin. Nature: cool. Flavour: sweet. Enters the Stomach and Kidney channels.
How people take it
Dried stems are simmered as a tea or decoction, often with other yin herbs. Capsules and powders are also sold. No proven dose exists, so follow the label or ask a trained practitioner.
Decoction, tea, capsule and powder.
Where to get it
Grows on tree trunks and rocks in southern China and nearby mountain areas, and most supply now comes from cultivated plants. Sold as dried stems, powders, teas, capsules and extracts in herb shops and online. Look for the species name on the label.
Be careful
Usually well tolerated. Mild stomach upset or loose stools can happen, especially with weak digestion. Dendrobium nobile and some other species contain dendrobine, a toxic alkaloid. In animal studies, high doses caused seizures, slow breathing and heart rate, and a dangerous drop in blood pressure. Human data are thin, so buy from trusted sources that name the species. Some sports supplements contain dendrobium with no way to know the dendrobine content. Avoid it in pregnancy because safety data are missing.
Avoid if: pregnancy; breastfeeding; loose stools; low blood pressure; low blood sugar.
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
Both nourish yin and moisten dryness, so they are often combined in yin-tonic formulas.
- Works well together
Both are used for blurred vision and kidney yin in traditional Chinese texts.
- Use cautionDiabetes medicine (metformin, insulin, glipizide, Ozempic)
Animal studies suggest dendrobium can lower blood sugar. With diabetes medicines, blood sugar could drop too low.
- Worth knowingBlood pressure medicine (lisinopril, amlodipine, losartan)
Dendrobine can lower blood pressure in animals, so blood pressure medicines could add to that effect. This risk is theoretical at typical doses.
Adds up with others that may lower blood sugar: , , , , , , , , , , , , , and 54 more.
The honest take
Dendrobium has a long history in Chinese medicine as a moistening yin tonic, and it is sold as a tea. Most research so far is in test tubes and animals, and no good human trials were found. Some species contain dendrobine, a toxic alkaloid, so choose products that name the species on the label.
Sources
Each “See the research” link opens PubMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's index of medical studies, showing only trials and reviews done in people. The number tells you how much a use has been tested, not whether it worked. The proof rating tells you that.
Study counts checked October 2026.