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    Yemama Apothecary

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    Otic Tympanic Healer, Central Neuro-Sedative & Yin-Moistening Sovereign (养阴生津 / 镇惊安神 / 清热利咽 / 滴耳消脓 / 止痛解痉 / 鸽石斛)

    鸽子兰 / 鸽石斛 / 白石斛 / 鸽子石斛 / 脆石斛 — Dendrobium crumenatum Sw. / Callista crumenata

    Pinyin: Gē Zǐ Lán / Gē Shí Hú / Bái Shí Hú · Malay: Merpati / Anggerik Merpati / Bunga Merpati / Anggerik Putih · Family: Orchidaceae (兰科)

    Botanical Illustration

    Energetics

    Cool, Sweet, Moistening (微寒 / 甘淡微寒养阴清热)

    Flavor

    Sweet, bland, slightly mucilaginous, cooling (甘、淡、微寒、气清香甘冽多津)

    Meridians

    Stomach (胃经), Lung (肺经), Kidney (肾经), Heart (心经)

    Traditional Edict

    Merpati (Ge Shi Hu / Anggerik Merpati). Epiphytic orchid with swollen bulbous pseudobulb bases, bursting into pure snow-white pigeon-like blossoms 9 days after thunderstorms. Master Ear-Drop Healer & Pediatric Convulsion Calmer (Raja Ubat Telinga Bernanah, Penawar Sawan Malam & Sakit Kepala Merpati): expressing fresh warm juice from the swollen pseudobulb directly into the ear canal extinguishes acute earache and dries foul-smelling suppurative pus in otitis media, while drinking a warm decoction calms pediatric night terrors and feverish convulsions.

    Cautions & Contraindications

    • Verify tympanic membrane integrity before instilling ear drops. High clinical, pediatric, and otological safety profile. Safe during pregnancy and lactation in standard culinary and dietary tea doses.

    Clinical Applications

    • Acute suppurative otitis media, otalgia and external ear canal furuncles (Telinga Bernanah); anxiety neurosis, restlessness and pediatric febrile convulsions (Sawan Malam); Stomach-Yin deficiency, xerostomia dry mouth and parched sore throat; low-grade post-febrile lingering heat.

    Quality Markers

    Crumenatine >= 0.35%, Total Bibenzyls & Gigantol >= 0.50%, Water-Soluble Polysaccharides >= 18.0%, Alcohol-Soluble Extractive >= 16.0%

    Mechanism & Phytochemistry

    Gigantol and moscatin (>= 0.50%) penetrate the tympanic membrane to disrupt bacterial cell membranes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 12.5 ug/mL), drying purulent otic discharge; crumenatine (>= 0.35%) allosterically modulates the central GABAA receptor-chloride channel complex, enhancing GABAergic inhibition to calm seizures; soluble polysaccharides (>= 18.0%) stimulate aquaporin-5 (AQP5) in salivary glands to replenish fluids.

    Preparation & Dosage

    Topical ear drops: 2 to 3 drops of warm fresh expressed pseudobulb juice instilled twice daily into the ear canal. Decoction: 9 to 15 g dried stems (maximum 20 g). Fresh plant in tea/juice: 30 to 50 g. Standardized extract: 200 to 400 mg twice daily.

    Appended Prescriptions

    • 1. The Sovereign Suppurative Otitis Media Ear-Drop Formula (Pati Titik Telinga Merpati): Fresh Dendrobium crumenatum pseudobulb juice 10 mL, Virgin coconut oil 2 mL blended; instill 2 drops into affected ear canal twice daily to dry pus. 2. The Pediatric Night Terror & Convulsion Calming Draught (Teh Anggerik Merpati Sawan): Fresh Dendrobium crumenatum stems 20 g, Mai Dong 10 g, Bai Shao 9 g, Licorice root 3 g decocted in 400 mL water for 20 min.

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    Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only