Chishui Golden Hairpin Dendrobium

Chishui Golden Hairpin Dendrobium

Chishui Golden Hairpin Dendrobium is a geographically protected product.

Chishui Golden Hairpin Dendrobium is an agro-product geographical indication.

　　The use of Golden Hairpin Dendrobium in Chishui folk medicine dates back to the Qianlong era when Sichuan salt was transported into Guizhou. Locals began using the locally grown dendrobium for medicinal soups. With its slender ends and thick middle, golden-yellow stem resembling the ancient "golden hairpin" used to secure hair—shaped like a crescent—it was thus named "Golden Hairpin." Coupled with the "Chishui" locality, it is called Chishui Golden Hairpin Dendrobium. The growth environment for Golden Hairpin Dendrobium is extremely demanding, requiring specific geographical conditions for cultivation. It thrives in warm, humid climates and prefers areas with high-potassium, nutrient- and moisture-retentive soil. With nearly 200 years of history, Chishui Golden Hairpin Dendrobium has formed a native habitat for Chinese dendrobium medicinal herbs and is among the earliest regions for dendrobium development in China. Coupled with its unique dendrobine content, it is considered a premium variety of dendrobium and now serves as a key source of the herb, earning the reputation of "celestial herb." Chishui Golden Hairpin Dendrobium is beneficial for invigorating the stomach and promoting body fluids, nourishing yin and clearing heat, stimulating saliva and quenching thirst, strengthening the stomach, cleansing the liver, improving vision, regulating blood lipids, and lowering blood sugar. It has special efficacy for the cardiovascular system, digestive and respiratory systems, and ophthalmology.

　　Golden Hairpin Dendrobium

　　Nourishes yin and clears heat, stimulates saliva and quenches thirst. Used for febrile diseases damaging fluids, dry mouth and tongue, post-illness deficiency heat, stomach disorders, dry heaving, glossy tongue with little coating. The name "dendrobium" first appeared in the "Shennong Bencao Jing" (The Divine Farmer’s Materia Medica). According to Ma Jixing's commentary: "Dendrobium, also called Linlan. Sweet in taste, neutral in nature, non-toxic. Treats injury to the center, dispels numbness, regulates qi, supplements deficiencies and emaciation of the five organs, strengthens yin. Long-term use strengthens the intestines and stomach, lightens the body, and prolongs life." These descriptions provide some information on the taste, properties, functions, and indications of dendrobium, but no descriptions of its morphology or characteristics, making it impossible to verify which plant is referred to.

　　The "Mingyi Bielu" (quoted from "Compendium of Materia Medica") states: "Dendrobium grows on rocks beside water in the valleys of Lu'an..." This is the first recorded mention of the origin and growing environment of dendrobium. Also known as earring dendrobium, Huoshan dendrobium, golden Huo dendrobium, xian dou, feng dou, xi feng dou, Huo dou, and dendrobium; now commonly refers to various dendrobium products, including iron skin feng dou, copper skin feng dou, and yellow grass. Its main health benefits include nourishing yin and moisturizing lungs, benefiting the stomach and kidneys, improving brain function and vision, being an effective anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agent, as well as stimulating saliva and quenching thirst, supplementing deficiencies of the five organs, clearing lungs and relieving cough, preventing colds, and combating fatigue.

　　The "Compendium of Materia Medica" claims it has the effects of "strengthening yin and benefiting essence, enriching the intestines and stomach, supplementing internal deficiencies, lightening the body, and prolonging life." Historically, physicians described "Huoshan dendrobium" as not becoming brittle when dried, leaving no residue when chewed, having a rich taste without greasiness, nourishing the stomach and benefiting fluids without the concern of being overly cooling or harming the spleen—truly a supreme delicacy. Used as a tea, it stimulates saliva and moistens the throat, maintaining vocal strength. When refined, it offers antibacterial and anti-cancer properties, as well as anti-aging benefits. Due to its extraordinary efficacy, market scarcity, and reputation, it is known as the "thousand-gold herb" or "soft gold," revered as one of China’s foremost celestial herbs.

　　Dendrobium is one of the commonly used traditional Chinese herbs, recorded early in the "Shennong Bencao Jing" and classified as a top-grade herb. It has functions such as nourishing the stomach and promoting body fluids, nourishing yin and clearing heat, and improving vision. It is used for yin injury and fluid depletion, dry mouth and irritability, poor appetite and dry heaving, post-illness deficiency heat, and dim or unclear vision.

　　After Chishui Golden Hairpin Dendrobium obtained national geographical indication product protection in March 2006, quality inspection authorities have legally implemented protection over it. They conduct routine supervision and management over aspects such as the product’s origin scope, product name, standardized cultivation, quality characteristics, quality grades, quantity, packaging, labeling, printing, distribution, quantity, and usage of the product’s dedicated mark, as well as the product’s production environment, equipment, and compliance with standards. Protected by national law, it has gained a green pass to the EU market. This will greatly promote the branding, visibility, and added value of Chishui Golden Hairpin Dendrobium, and has profound significance for advancing the development of Chishui’s planting and traditional Chinese medicine industries.