Dactylorhiza, Finger root
Marsh Orchid, Spotted Orchid
Salam Panja, Munjataka (Ayurveda)
Dbang lag དབང་ལག (Tibetan)
Hong Men Lan (China)
A species of Dactylorhiza, listed as ‘Female Orchid’ and used as Salep.
Herbarum Vivae Eicones, Otto Brunfels, 1530
Wild Finger root (Dactylorhiza hatagirea)
(Photo by Manas Badge)
Finger root, Chengdu Herbal Medicine Market (Adam, 2016)
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:
Substitute:
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.
