What is cistanche?

Cistanche deserticola (scientific name: Cistanche deserticola Ma), also known as Xinjiang Yun, Cun Yun, Cistanche, and Chagan Gaoya (Mongolian), is an endangered species. It is high and big,the height is 40-160cm, It almost grow underground. In China, it comes from Xinjiang, Neimenggu, Gansu, Ningxia.

Cistanche is a plant that grows on the roots of the desert tree Haloxylon ammodendron, extracting nutrients and water from its host. Cistanche Tea is known as the "Ginseng of the Desert," it possesses extremely high medicinal value and is a precious traditional Chinese medicinal herb. Historically, Cistanche was a precious tribute presented to the imperial court by the Western Regions. It is also one of the best used tonic herbs in kidney-tonifying and yang-strengthening prescriptions throughout history.

The leaves appearance are broadly ovate or triangular-ovate, length is 0.5-1.5 cm and Width is 1-2 cm , it is densely distributed at the base and sparsely and narrowly distributed at the top. They are lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate, Length is 2-4 cm and width is 0.5-1 cm, and the glabrous on both surfaces. The inflorescence is spike-shaped, Length is 15-50 cm and 4-7 cm in diameter. The bracts of the lower half or all of the inflorescence are elongated, it is equal to or slightly longer than the corolla, ovate-lanceolate, lanceolate, or linear-lanceolate, and sparsely pubescent or nearly glabrous on the outer surface and margins of the bracteoles and corolla lobes. The bracteoles are two, ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate, equal to or slightly longer than the calyx.

The calyx is campanulate, length is 1-1.5 cm , with five shallow lobes at the apex. The lobes are nearly rounded, length is 2.5-4 mm and width is 3-5 mm . The corolla is tubular-campanulate, length is 3-4 cm, with five lobes at the apex. The lobes are nearly semicircular, length is 4-6 mm and width is 0.6-1 cm, often with slightly involute margins. The color varies, ranging from pale yellowish-white to lavender, often turning brownish-brown upon drying. There are four stanebs. The filaments are inserted 5-6 mm from the base of the tube, length is 1.5-2.5 cm, and covered with wrinkled, long villous hairs at the base. The anthers are oblong, length is 3.5-4.5 mm, densely villous, and cusp-shaped at the base.

The ovary is elliptical, about 1 cm long, with nectaries at the base. The style is slightly longer than the stamens, glabrous, and the stigma is nearly globose. The capsule is ovoid, 1.5-2.7 cm long and 1.3-1.4 cm in diameter, with a persistent style at the top and two petals. The seeds are elliptical or nearly ovoid, about 0.6-1 mm long, with a reticulate, shiny surface. Flowering period is May-June, and fruiting period is June-August.

What is Cistanche Tea?

Cistanche tea is start recording “Sheng Nong's herbal classic”, it is used as the upper class drink, After, there are many records in classical works such as "Commentary on the Classic of Materia Medica", "Compendium of Materia Medica", and "Materia Medica of Yuehua Zi". Cisrtanche has the character of sweet and salty in taste, warm in nature, and has the functions of tonifying the kidney and strengthening Yang, replenishing essence and marrow, nourishing blood and moistening dryness, improving complexion and prolonging life. It always make the cistanche into dry and grind into powder, and it can be soluble in the water.

What is the Cistanche tea good for ?

Cistanche is known as the "desert ginseng,"it is a highly prized Chinese medicinal herb widely used in medicine. More and more people use it as a food ingredient, hoping to strengthen and nourish the body. So What are the benefits of Cistanche tea?

1. Boosting Immunity

Cistanche tea can stimulate the adrenal cortex, it can effectively promoting the secretion of adrenal cortical hormones. Therefore, the moderate consumption can effectively enhance the body's immune system. Meanwhile, the polysaccharides of the cistanche are indispensability for boosting immunity.

The cistanche polysaccharides can effectively promote the formation of lymphocytes and increase their activity. For the Long-term to see, moderate use can effectively enhance the responsiveness of lymphocytes, thereby strengthening the body's immunity against various diseases.

2. Anti-Aging

Many Studies have found that always use of Cistanche can prolong life, it is also good in treating many medical conditions. In particular, patients with hypertension and stomach problems can experience significant improvement with appropriate consumption of Cistanche deserticola. The phenylalanose contained in Cistanche can delay aging and effectively inhibit aging of the thymus, gonads, and pituitary gland.

3. Strengthening Physical Fitness

Cistanche is contain full of alkaloids, neutral substances, vitamins, trace elements, and amino acids. Drinking Cistanche tea in water has beneficial effects, most notably replenishing essence and blood, and tonifying kidney yang. Cistanche is also effective in treating kidney deficiency in men and menstrual disorders and amenorrhea in women.

4. Protecting the Liver

Cistanche is very good for the treatment of diseases occurring among middle-aged and older people such as hyperlipidemia, myocardial ischemia, atherosclerotic thrombosis, and fatty liver. When ingested by the human body, it is able to regulate the circulatory system well, thereby avoiding myocardial hemorrhage, vasodilation, low blood pressure, etc.

Who can not drink Cistanche Tea?

For persons who are Yin deficient and have excess fire: Cistanche deserticola is warming in nature and has the potential to nourish kidneys and boost yang. Ingestion by persons with Yin deficiency and excess fire can worsen their condition.

For persons who are Yin deficient and have excess fire: Cistanche deserticola is warming in nature and has the potential to nourish kidneys and boost yang. Ingestion by persons with Yin deficiency and excess fire can worsen their condition.

For persons prone to diarrhea: Cistanche possesses a laxative attribute, but ingestion by diarrheal persons can worsen their diarrheal condition.

For pregnant and lactating women: Cistanche deserticola has some nutritional properties, but consumption by pregnant and lactating women can have a negative impact on the infant or fetus.

For people with frequent diarrhea: Cistanche deserticola has moistening and purgative property. But consumption by people with excessive diarrhea will worsen their original condition.

For patients with excess interior heat: Cistanche deserticola is a warming tonic which can warm and nourish the kidney yang. But if used by patients who have excess interior heat, the symptoms like dry mouth, headache, red eyes, restlessness, and flashes of heat would become more severe.

Premature ejaculation patients: Premature ejaculation is caused by strong yang easily excited but essence weak. Cistanche is used to tonify the kidney and nourish yang. Patients with premature ejaculation will have excessive kidney yang if they take Cistanche, which will further aggravate the manifestations of yin-yang disharmony.