The use of orchids in Chinese medicine.
In this article, the therapeutic uses of five Chinese medicines that contain orchids are discussed, together with a brief report of some of the animal experimentation undertaken. The impression that these preparations have no therapeutic use may be incorrect. However, herbal preparations have not usually been subject to the rigorous characterization and standardization necessary for clinical study, and persuading practitioners that substances in use for many centuries still need to be tested in randomized controlled clinical trials is proving a significant challenge.
Bulpitt
Christopher J
CJ
Experimental Medicine Section, Care of the Elderly Department, Hammersmith Campus, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK. c.bulpitt@imperial.ac.uk
Li
Yan
Y
Bulpitt
Pauline F
PF
Wang
Jiguang
J
D000818:Animals; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D029595:Orchidaceae; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal