Dactylorhiza, Finger root

Marsh Orchid, Spotted Orchid
Salam Panja, Munjataka (Ayurveda)
Dbang lag  དབང་ལག  (Tibetan)
Hong Men Lan (China)
Picture Picture A species of Dactylorhiza, listed as ‘Female Orchid’ and used as Salep.
Herbarum Vivae Eicones, Otto Brunfels, 1530

Picture Wild Finger root (Dactylorhiza hatagirea)
(Photo by Manas Badge)

Picture Finger root, Chengdu Herbal Medicine Market (Adam, 2016)

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Botanical name:


Dactylorhiza spp.
  1. D. hatagirea (syn. Orchis latifolia var. indica, O. hatagirea)
  2. D. sambucina (collected in Greece)
  3. D. incarnata and D. romana (used in Turkey and Iran as Salep)
  4. D. salina (Tibet)
  5. D. umbrosa etc.

Parts used:


Root / Tuber; that with 5 tubers like a hand is considered best.
Widely distributed throughout the Himalayas, Western China, Tibet, Afghanistan, central Asia and Europe.

Temperature & Taste:


Neutral/Slightly Warm, moist. Sweet

Uses:


1. Strengthens Kidneys, Nourishes Yin, Benefits Yang: (Unani, Ayurveda, Tibet)
-viewed as an aphrodisiac
-Impotence, Infertility; enhances Libido and Fertility, increases testosterone
-chronic Kidney disease, Diabetes
-lower back pain
-premature ageing; regarded as a Longevity tonic

2. Benefits Spleen and Qi: (Unani, Ayurveda, Tibet)
-strengthening tonic; increases strength;
-useful after chronic illness and convalescence
-Nervous debility
-Fatigue, poor appetite
-lowered Immunity

3. Nourishes Yin, Clears Heat: (Unani, Ayurveda, Tibet)
-Chronic Fever, Weakness and Wasting
-Gout, Erysipelas
-also for Thirst

4. Clears Phlegm, Benefits Lungs:
-Cough, Hoarseness

5. Externally:
-paste of the roots are applied to Fractures in India
-root powder is applied to Wounds to stop bleeding (Nepal)


Dose:


As a nutritious tonic it is often prepared with Milk, as in Salep.
Powder: 1–4 grams

Comment:


… available in PRO version

Substitute:


… available in PRO version
Picture

Main Combinations:


1. As a Kidney tonic and Aphrodisiac:
i. Dactylorhiza with … available in PRO version
ii. to the above can be added … available in PRO version
iii. As with Salep, … available in PRO version
2. Chronic Cough, Breathlessness:
i. from Lung Qi deficiency, Dactylorhiza with … available in PRO version
ii. from Lung Qi and Yin deficiency, Dactylorhiza with … available in PRO version
iii. from severe deficiency, Dactylorhiza with … available in PRO version
3. To increase Qi:
i. Dactylorhiza with … available in PRO version
ii. Dactylorhiza with … available in PRO version
iii. Dactylorhiza with … available in PRO version
4. To nourish Yin, Dactylorhiza with … available in PRO version

Major Formulas:


Gso Byed 6 Pa

Cautions:


None noted

CITES listing
This medicine is endangered in the wild. However, it is now farmed.

Main Preparations used:



1. Aphrodisiac Activity of Dactylorhiza hatagirea
2. Improvement of penile erection, sperm count and seminal fructose levels in vivo and nitric oxide release in vitro by Ayurvedic herbs.