Dactylorhiza vs Faidherbia Albida

Side-by-side comparison of medicinal herbs

Herb

Dactylorhiza

Dactylorhiza maculata

Nutritive

Faidherbia albida

Nutritive

Dactylorhiza

❌ Not recommended in pregnancy

❌ Not recommended while nursing

Faidherbia Albida

✅ Generally safe in pregnancy

✅ Generally safe while nursing

Description

European orchid whose tubers were historically used to make salep, a nutritive drink.

Remarkable nitrogen-fixing African tree that leafs in dry season; pods, bark, and gum used for nutritive and medicinal purposes across the Sahel.

Active Compounds

glucomannans, mucilage, starch, phenanthrenes

tannins, gallic acid, flavonoids, arabinose, protein-rich pods

Traditional Uses

Prepare salep drink for digestive health, Nutritive tonic, Respiratory conditions

Nutritive livestock and human use, Wound healing, Digestive disorders, Respiratory conditions

Modern Uses

Nutritive tonic, Demulcent for digestive tract

Nutritional support, Anti-inflammatory properties, Antimicrobial activity, Antioxidant effects

Adult Dosage

5-10 g tuber powder in hot milk

Pod flour: 10-20g daily in food; bark decoction 1 cup

Contraindications

Rare species - ethical concerns about wild harvesting

None known at food doses

Side Effects

None documented

Minimal effects at food doses

Drug Interactions

0 known interactions

Reviewed by: HerbAlly Editorial Team, Medical herbalists and healthcare professionals

Sources: WHO Monographs · NCCIH · PubMed · Commission E