Dendrobium

Dendrobium officinale · Dendrobium nobile

Snapshot

Indications	Contraindications
Sjögren's syndrome¹ Atopic dermatitis² Radiation oral mucositis³ Immune modulation⁴	Pregnancy or breastfeeding⁵ Cardiovascular conditions⁶

Dendrobium is an orchid genus whose stems, chiefly Dendrobium officinale and Dendrobium nobile, are used in traditional Chinese medicine to nourish yin⁷. Its polysaccharides act largely through immune modulation, and supplementation is used for Sjögren's syndrome, atopic dermatitis in children, and oral mucositis during radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal cancer.

Human research is limited to about seven small trials, mostly in dry eye, skin, and immune response. An uncontrolled pilot in children with recalcitrant atopic dermatitis found improved symptoms and lower cytokine levels². In mouse models, a 2021 study found erianin, a Dendrobium chrysotoxum compound, inhibited an inflammasome pathway and benefited diabetes models; no human trial has tested it. Products listing Dendrobium number 95 and are mostly multi-ingredient capsules and powders; see Form comparison.

A 2014 crossover safety study of a multi-ingredient pre-workout product containing a Dendrobium extract found raised blood pressure⁸. Health Canada lists pregnancy and breastfeeding as a contraindication on most licensed products and asks users on prescription medications to consult a health care practitioner⁵.

Last updated October 17, 2026. Read how we make monographs.

In the full monograph

30 sources, 30 studies

When to useThe situations practitioners use it for, each with the reason and the study behind it.
SafetyWho should avoid it, who needs extra care, and the side effects reported in studies.
InteractionsThe medicines and supplements it interacts with, the effect of each, and what labeling says to watch.
Protocol notesThe doses used in studies, how and when they were taken, and how the forms on the market compare.
How it worksWhat it is and how it works in the body, in plain terms.
Published studiesThe studies behind each use, popular claims checked against them, and trials still under way.
Clinical perspectiveA closing read of where the evidence is solid, where it is thin, and what has not been studied.

Snapshot

In the full monograph

Sources