Dendrobium Officinale Stem (Fengdou)

1. Nourish Yin and Promote Fluid Production (滋阴生津): This is its core efficacy.
2. Benefits the stomach and nourishes stomach yin: It is effective for stomach yin deficiency and helps relieve symptoms such as gastric discomfort, dull pain, hunger without desire to eat, dry heaving, and a red tongue with little coating.
3. Nourish Yin and Clear Heat (滋阴清热): Suitable for deficiency heat after illness or yin deficiency with effulgent fire. It can relieve symptoms of "deficiency fire" such as low-grade fever, heat in the palms and soles, tidal fever and night sweats, and dry mouth and throat.
4. Improve Vision and Strengthen the Lower Back (明目强腰): Dendrobium enters the kidney channel and can nourish kidney yin. It helps improve symptoms caused by kidney yin deficiency, such as blurred vision, early-stage cataracts, soreness and weakness of the waist and knees, and fatigue.
5. Enhance Immunity (增强免疫): Modern pharmacological research has found that Dendrobium officinale (Tiepi Shihu) is rich in polysaccharides, alkaloids, and other components, possessing effects such as enhancing immune function, anti-fatigue, anti-oxidation, and lowering blood sugar.

Usage:

1. Decoction (煎煮): Take 3-5 pieces and soak for 4 hours. Then, pour the water and pieces together into a clay pot and boil for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
2. Steep in Alcohol (泡酒): Can be steeped in wine or spirits.
3. Medicinal Cuisine (药膳): Can be added when preparing meat-based soups.