Medicinal Phaius of Asia

Geschenk

According to Eng Soon Teoh two Phaius species are known to be used as medicinal orchids in Asia: Phaius flavus and Phaius tankervilleae.

Phaius flavus is used in Taiwan to treat mouth ulcers and sores. Taiwanese collectors of herbs claim that stems of Phaius flavus can be used as an antipyretic. Furthermore they have the capacity to detoxificate.

Phaius flavus by Eike Jauch

Phaius tankervilleae is more widely used as an medicinal orchid. In southern China Phaius tankervilleae is cultivated. The pseudobulbs of cultivated plants are collected in spring and summer and dried in the sun for further use. The pseudobulbs are a little bit acrid in taste and somehow ‘warm’. It is known that Phaius tankervilleae is slightly toxic, therefore special precaution should be applied when it is used during pregnancy. They are used to suppress or relieve coughing. In addition, Phaius tankervilleae pseudobulbs contains drugs that promote blood circulation and help to stop bleedings. To stop bleedings, the dried pseudobulbs are crushed and applied to the wound. Poultice of Phaius tankervilleae can be used to treat sores and infected wounds and to relieve pain from abscesses.

Phaius Phajus tankervilleae 2 by Eike Jauch

To treat fever, a decoction is used. A decoction can also be used to prevent wet cough and for detoxification. In northeast India, pseudobulbs of Phaius tankervilleae are used to treat dysentery and fractions. Such a paste can in addition be used as a vermifuge and for treatment of abdominal disorders.

Mashed fresh pseudobulbs can be used as a poultice to heal infections of a lactating breast. A pseudobulb paste can also be used to treat hand and leg swellings.

Read more about Phaius flavus on my blog:

https://prachtorchideen.wordpress.com/2019/08/05/hybridization-programme-using-phaius-tankervilleae-and-phaius-flavus/

https://prachtorchideen.wordpress.com/2019/08/01/phaius-of-java/

https://prachtorchideen.wordpress.com/2019/06/10/white-leave-spots-of-phaius-flavus-var-maculatus-can-be-inhereted/

https://prachtorchideen.wordpress.com/2018/05/05/alte-samenkapsel-der-phaius-somai/