This product is the fleshy stem with scale leaves of the annual herbaceous plant Desertliving Cistanche (Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma) from the family Orobanchaceae. It is mainly produced in Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Xinjiang, Qinghai, and other regions. It is usually harvested in spring when the seedlings have not yet emerged or have just emerged, with the inflorescence removed and then dried. It is used in thick slices either raw or processed with wine.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Sweet and salty, warm. act on kidney and large intestine channels.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Tonify kidney yang, benefit essence and blood, moisten intestines to relieve constipation.

bubble_chart Indications

1. is used for impotence and infertility due to kidney yang deficiency and depletion of essence and blood, soreness and weakness of the waist and knees, and weakness of the tendons and bones. It can tonify kidney yang, replenish essence and blood, and warm the waist and knees. For treating impotence and infertility, it is often combined with Prepared Rehmannia Root, Dodder Seed, Schisandra Fruit, etc., such as in Desertliving Cistanche Pill; for treating uterine cold infertility, it is often combined with Cervi Deer-Horn Glue, Chinese Angelica, human placenta, etc.; for treating soreness and weakness of the waist and knees and weakness of the tendons and bones, it is often combined with Morinda, Eucommia Bark, etc., such as in Jingang Pill.
2. is used for intestinal dryness and constipation. It can moisten dryness and lubricate the intestines, especially suitable for the elderly with kidney yang deficiency and depletion of essence and blood. It is often combined with Chinese Angelica, Submature Bitter Orange, etc., such as in Jingyue Quanshu Fluid-Replenishing Decoction.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Benjing: "Main five strains and seven injuries, tonify the middle, eliminate stem cold in the middle heat pain, nourish five zang-organs, strengthen yin, benefit essential qi, promote fertility, for women."
2. Bencao Huiyan: "Nourish life gate, enrich kidney qi, a medicine to tonify essence and blood. For men with cold dan yuan and long-standing yang deficiency, and women with disharmony of chong ren and untreatable yin qi, this is a mild tonic, warm but not hot, tonifying but not harsh, warming but not drying, smooth but not leaking, hence the name 'cong rong' (gentle and unhurried)."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

Decoct and take 10-15g; for single use in large doses, decoct and take up to 30g.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

This product contains trace amounts of alkaloids and crystalline neutral substances. The aqueous extract has been shown to lower blood pressure in experimental animals and promote saliva secretion in mice. It also exhibits anti-atherosclerotic effects in rabbits, demonstrates a certain degree of anti-aging properties, significantly enhances small intestine propulsion in mice, shortens defecation time, and markedly inhibits water absorption in the large intestine. Research has found that Desertliving Cistanche contains effective laxative substances, including inorganic salts and hydrophilic polysaccharides.