Shou Zhang Shen (Gymnadenia conopsea) — Tibetan Dried Hand-Palm Orchid Tubers, 4600m Nyingchi

Shou Zhang Shen (Gymnadenia conopsea), also known as Fo Shou Shen (佛手参) or Yin Yang Shen (阴阳参), is the dried tuber of a rare high-altitude orchid traditionally revered in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as a tonic and qi-nourishing herb. Grown in the Nyingchi region of Tibet at elevations around 4,600 meters, this hand-palm-shaped tuber has been prized for centuries as a gentle, lung-and-kidney-supporting food herb used in soups, decoctions, and longevity formulas. Its nature is sweet and neutral, making it a mild yet deeply nourishing ingredient for daily wellness.

Key Selling Points

• Wild high-altitude Tibetan orchid tuber from Nyingchi, 4600m
• Traditional TCM tonic herb known as Shou Zhang Shen
• Also called Fo Shou Shen and Yin Yang Shen
• Sun-dried whole tubers with distinctive hand-palm shape
• Food agricultural product suitable for soups and decoctions

Quality & Sensory

Each tuber is carefully sun-dried to preserve its pale yellowish-brown color, firm yet slightly spongy texture, and faint earthy-sweet aroma. The whole tubers retain their characteristic hand-palm shape with finger-like lobes. When decocted or simmered in soup, they soften gradually and release a mild, subtly sweet flavor with a gentle, nourishing mouthfeel that blends well with other tonic ingredients.

Technical Specifications

Usage Scenarios

• Chinese tonic soups and broths
• Herbal decoctions and daily teas
• Medicinal food congee
• Seasonal nourishing stews
• Longevity tonic formulas

Traditional Uses

In folk herbal practice, Shou Zhang Shen is decocted into tonic soups, congee, and longevity formulas to support vitality and daily nourishment. It is often paired with ingredients like goji berry, Chinese yam, and jujube in slow-simmered broths. As a daily tea, it is brewed alone or blended with other gentle tonic herbs for a mild, subtly sweet infusion. In Tibetan and high-altitude folk traditions, it has long been valued as a nourishing food herb for those living in cold, demanding environments.

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