Origin & tradition
Shihu (石斛) ranks among the top nine immortal herbs (九大仙草) in classical Chinese medicine, prized for nourishing yin, strengthening the stomach, and benefiting vision. Yunnan's iron-bark variety (铁皮石斛) commands the highest price.
Eastern tradition · Tonic Herbs
Dendrobium (Shihu) 石斛 · 铁皮石斛
One of TCM's nine sacred herbs — a premium Yunnan orchid with growing evidence on antioxidant, gut, and blood-glucose pathways.
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Why longevity buyers care
Key active: Dendrobine, polysaccharides, stilbenoids.
Dendrobium polysaccharides upregulate NRF2 and reduce oxidative stress markers. Alkaloids (dendrobine, nobiline) show neuroprotective activity. Human trials focus on blood glucose regulation and gastroprotection.
Effect summary
Studied health outcomes
Editorial summary — This table is curated by hand from published research consensus, not automatically calculated from our trial database. Grades reflect our interpretation of the literature. Treat as a starting point, not a definitive verdict. See the Evidence panel below for the underlying trial and paper counts sourced directly from ClinicalTrials.gov and PubMed.
| Health outcome | Effect | Magnitude | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blood glucose | Decreases | Minor | C |
| Antioxidant markers | Increases | Minor | C |
| Immune function | Increases | Minor | C |
| Eye health / retina protection — Preliminary animal and in vitro data | Increases | Minor | D |
Grade: A = robust RCTs · B = several RCTs / meta-analysis · C = limited or mixed RCTs · D = observational or early data
Dosage guidance
How Dendrobium (Shihu) is typically used
- Typical dose
- 500–1,500 mg/day extract
- Form
- capsule or as fresh stem in herbal tea
- Timing
- any time
Dendrobium nobile (石斛兰) is one of the most prized TCM tonics. Dendrobine and dendrobine alkaloids are key actives. High-quality Huangcao (霍山石斛) and Tiepi Fengdou (铁皮枫斗) are premium varieties.
Informational only — not a prescription or personalised medical advice. Consult a qualified clinician before starting any supplement or medication.
Evidence summary
What the research actually says
63Evidence confidence
Early / limited human trials4 randomized controlled trials · 9 meta-analyses / systematic reviews
Emerging human evidence (blood glucose, gastric function); strong preclinical antioxidant and neuro data
Dendrobium polysaccharides upregulate NRF2 and reduce oxidative stress markers. Alkaloids (dendrobine, nobiline) show neuroprotective activity. Human trials focus on blood glucose regulation and gastroprotection.
45registered clinical trials reference this intervention
2selected from 2+ PubMed papers (longevity / aging angle)
Key active: Dendrobine, polysaccharides, stilbenoids — a multi-compound botanical extract, so activity is not reducible to a single molecule.
According to PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov: trial counts from ClinicalTrials.gov, peer-reviewed literature from PubMed. Counts auto-refresh weekly; last checked 2026-06-12. They include trials across many endpoints, not only longevity.
Informational only — not medical advice, a treatment claim, or a substitute for a qualified clinician. Evidence strength varies; we show mixed and null results on purpose.
Evidence collections
Dendrobium (Shihu) appears in
Compare the evidence
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