Shihu (Dendrobii Caulis) has the effects of nourishing the stomach, promoting fluid production, and nourishing yin to clear heat. With its significant characteristics of being both a medicinal and food resource, its industrial chain spans multiple sectors including medicinal herbs, food, health products, daily chemicals, and cultural tourism wellness. It holds important strategic value in promoting the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine, fostering regional economic development, and driving rural revitalization. Although the industry has currently reached a scale of billions, it still faces practical challenges such as an incomplete supply system for authentic medicinal herbs, a singular product structure and insufficient deep-processing capabilities, weak fundamental and applied research, limited influence of regional public brands, and inadequate cultural empowerment. This study systematically reviews the original species of Dendrobii Caulis, resource distribution patterns, industrial status, and research progress from three dimensions—historical origins, current industrial conditions, and development strategies. It conducts an in-depth analysis of developmental bottlenecks, drawing on exemplary practices such as the protection and high-end development of “Mihu” germplasm resources in Huoshan, Anhui, large-scale cultivation of “Purple-Skin Dendrobii Caulis” in Longling, Yunnan, and rock wall near-wild cultivation in Longhu mountain, Jiangxi. Based on these cases, it proposes strategies including strengthening standardized base construction, improving comprehensive quality control systems, deepening technology-driven innovation, diversifying product pathways, shaping regional specialty brands, and promoting integrated development across primary, secondary, and tertiary industries. These measures aim to achieve a win-win scenario of ecological and economic benefits for Dendrobii Caulis industry, providing theoretical references and practical pathways for serving the inheritance, innovation of traditional Chinese medicine, and comprehensive rural revitalization.

Dendrobii Caulis  /  homology of medicine and food  /  industrial development  /  quality control  /  brand building  /  rural revitalization