Cypripedium, Khu byug pa ཁུ་བྱུག་པ་

Himalayan Lady’s Slipper, Big Flower Lady’s Slipper (C. macranthos)
Shao Lan (TCM)
Da Hua Shao Lan (C. macranthos) (TCM)
Khu byug pa (Tibet)

Cypripedium macranthos
(“L’Illustration horticole“, Lemaire, 1857)

Cypripedium macranthos
Edwards’s Botanical Register, 1832

Cypripedium himalaicum
(Orchids of the Sikhim Himalaya, Robert, 1898)

Cypripedium tibeticum
(Photo by Orchi) (Wikimedia)

Botanical name:

Cypripedium spp.
A number of species have been identified as sources:
1. C. macranthos
2. C. tibeticum
3. C. himalaicum
4. C. guttatum
5. C. pubescens

It remains to be seen if the related American Lady’s Slipper is a similar or synonymous medicine.

Parts used:

Whole herb; Flower

Temperature & Taste:

Warm. Sweet, Bitter, Pungent (Cool according to some sources)

Classification:

Uses:

1. Clears Damp, Promotes Urine, Resolves Stones: (Tibet, Mogolia, TCM)

-Edema of the whole body
-Urinary retention or difficulty, Strangury
-Gravel, Stones of the Kidney, Bladder or Gall Bladder
-Leukorrhea

2. Move the Blood, Resolve Stasis, Settles Wind, Eases Pain: (Tibet, Mogolia, TCM)

-Joint pain from Wind-Damp with Blood stasis
–Rheumatism, Lower Back pain, Waist or Leg pain
-Obstruction of the channels
-Heart diseases, Chest pain
-Trauma, Bruising

3. Nourishes Yin: (Tibet)

-Cough from deficiency
-used in rejuvenation

Dose:

Powder: 1–3 grams

Substitute:

Equisetum arvense has been used as a substitute in Nepal.

Main Combinations:

1. Rejuvenation, Cypripedium macranthos flower is taken with rock sugar, honey and molasses (Tibet)

Cautions:

None noted

CITES listing:

This medicine is endangered in the wild. Only farmed herbs should be used, or substitutes should be used.

You must be logged in to view this content, please login. If you're not a member then Click this link to subscribe