Top Grade Huoshan Dendrobium (Iron-skin or Copper-skin Fengdou)
Huoshan Dendrobium (Dragon Head and Phoenix Tail) (2~4 spiral spring patterns)
Special Grade Huoshan Dendrobium (Promotes saliva production when chewed, with little residue)
3 Types of Huoshan Dendrobium
Genuine Huoshan Dendrobium (bottom), Fake Huoshan Dendrobium (top)
Fake Huoshan Dendrobium (Does not promote saliva production when chewed, with a lot of residue)
【Naming】
Huoshan Dendrobium
【Source】
Essentials of Materia Medica
【Common Usage Degree】
C
【Botanical Origin】
It is made from the young, tender stems of Dendrobium huoshanense C.Z. Tang et S.J. Cheng (Huoshan Dendrobium), D. officinsle K. Kimura et Migo (Iron-skin Dendrobium), and D. moniliforme (L.) Sw. (Thin-stem Dendrobium), which are curled into spirals or springs. It is mainly produced in Huoshan County, Anhui Province.
【Characteristics】
The stem is cylindrical, curved into a wavy shape, 1~1.5 cm long, and about 0.3 cm in diameter. The lower part of the stem has 2~3 fibrous roots, commonly known as “dragon head”, and the upper end has 2~3 leaves, commonly known as “phoenix tail”. Therefore, this product is also called “Dragon Head and Phoenix Tail Grass”. The surface is yellow-green with fine longitudinal lines, and the nodes are not obvious. It is firm and easy to break. The fracture surface is flat, powdery, and very sticky when chewed. It has a slight odor and a bland taste.
Earring Dendrobium: It is made by cutting off part of the fibrous roots of Iron-skin Dendrobium, stir-frying and twisting it into a spiral or spring shape, and then drying it. Generally, there are 2~4 spiral lines. After straightening the stem, it is 3.5~8 cm long and 0.2~0.3 cm in diameter. The surface is yellow-green with fine longitudinal wrinkles. A short fibrous root left by the base of the stem can be seen at one end. It is firm, easy to break, and has a flat fracture surface that is sticky when chewed. In Hong Kong and Taiwan, it is commonly known as Huoshan Dendrobium, Huo Dendrobium, and Earring Dendrobium.
Because this product is very expensive, there are many counterfeits, using Dendrobium loddigesii and Eriocaulon australe cut into short sections and wound into a spring shape. See below for differences.
【Identification】
The genuine product is slightly juicy, sticky to the teeth, and promotes saliva production when chewed, with less fibrous residue. The counterfeit product has cut ends on both sides, its surface has coarse longitudinal lines, and it has more fiber after chewing and does not promote saliva production in the mouth, which can be distinguished from the genuine product.
【Identification Terminology】
1. Claw Orchid Fengdou: It is a type of Xi Fengdou (Dendrobium). It is mostly processed from Dendrobium hercoglossum (Chicken Claw Orchid). The roots are thin and long, the spiral patterns are relatively coarse, the color is yellow and shiny, the taste is bitter, and it lacks stickiness.
2. Xi Fengdou: It is one of the commercial specifications of Dendrobium medicinal materials. That is, select old and strong fresh Dendrobium that are 4-7cm long and have short roots, and go through a series of special processing procedures such as cutting roots and removing leaves, and twisting them over a low heat. It is small in shape and curled into a spiral or spring shape, and it is best to have a “dragon head and phoenix tail”.
3. Copper-skin Fengdou: It is a type of Xi Fengdou. It is mostly processed from Dendrobium aduncum (Copper-skin Dendrobium). The roots and middle parts are similar in thickness, but the spiral patterns are shallower and thinner, the color is shiny and green, with yellow, and the stickiness is slightly worse than Iron-skin Fengdou.
4. Huoshan Dendrobium, Huo Dendrobium: Refers to a type of Dendrobium produced in Huoshan County, Anhui Province. It is an authentic Dendrobium medicinal material with good quality, and is praised by doctors of past dynasties as a treasure among Dendrobium. Its stem is round and thin, mostly coiled into a ball, the internodes are short, and the surface is bright with fine longitudinal lines.
5. Dragon Head and Phoenix Tail: Specifically refers to the Earring Dendrobium made from Iron-skin Dendrobium stems through special processing. The short fibrous roots left at the base of one end, with 2-3 roots resembling dragon whiskers, are shaped like a “dragon head”, and the thin and pointed end (stem tip) is shaped like a “phoenix tail”.
6. Huan Dendrobium: It is one of the commercial specifications of Dendrobium medicinal materials. The stems of Iron-skin Dendrobium, etc. are processed into small spirals, curled or spiral springs, generally 2-4 rings, like a woman’s earrings, and are extremely sticky.
7. Iron-skin Fengdou: It is a type of Xi Fengdou. It is processed from Iron-skin Dendrobium. Its roots are short and thick, with spiral patterns and wrinkles, the color is dark green, shiny, the smell is fragrant, and it is sticky.
【Category】
Whole Herb Category