The dried and cut stems were simmered in water for an extended period, sometimes combined with other tonic plants according to regional recipes. This preparation requires a prolonged cooking time to extract the characteristic mucilages of the plant. Consultation with a practitioner trained in Chinese pharmacopeia is advised to determine an appropriate preparation. Dosage should be validated with a healthcare professional or recognized pharmacopeia before use.
The dried stem was sometimes ground into a fine powder, intended to be incorporated into compound preparations rather than used alone. This concentrated form requires great caution regarding the quantities used. Dosage should be validated with a healthcare professional or recognized pharmacopeia before use.
Dendrobium plicatile is found in the wild on trees in humid forests of Southeast Asia and Southern China; it is also sometimes cultivated as an ornamental orchid or offered dried by certain herbalists specializing in Chinese pharmacopeia.
The stems are traditionally harvested at maturity, generally in late summer or autumn, then dried before use.