Introduction of Rou Cong Rong:Desert-living Cistanche or Herba Cistanchis.
✵The article gives records of the herb Desert-living Cistanche, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source one plant species, ①.Cistanche deserticola Y.C.Ma., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of this plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, the features of the herb Desert-living Cistanche, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Herba Cistanchis(Desert-living Cistanche).
Pin Yin Name: Ròu Cōnɡ Rónɡ.
English Name: Desert-living Cistanche.
Latin Name: Herba Cistanchis.
Property and flavor: warm nature, tastes sweet, salty.
Brief introduction: The herb Herba Cistanchis is the dried succulent stem with scales of Cistanche deserticola Y.C. Ma, used (1).to reinforce kidney Yang for the treatment of impotence and premature ejaculation, and (2).as a mild laxative for treating chronic constipation in the aged. The herb is commonly known as Herba Cistanchis, Desert-living Cistanche, Ròu Cōnɡ Rónɡ.
Botanical source: Herbal classic book defined the herb Herba Cistanches (Rou Cong Rong) as the succulent stem of the Orobanchaceae family (broomrape family) plant (1).Cistanche deserticola Y.C.Ma. Other species (2).Cistanche salsa (C.A.Mey.)G.Beck, or (3).Cistanche ambigua (Bge.) G.Beck. are also used. This most commonly used species is introduced:
(1).Cistanche deserticola Y.C.Ma.
Botanical description: The plant, Cistanche deserticola Y.C.Ma is a plant of the Orobanchaceae family (broomrape family) and Cistanche genus, it is commonly known as Cistanche deserticola, or Ròu Cōnɡ Rónɡ, or Shā Mò Rén Shēn (means desert ginseng), Dà Yún. A perennial parasitical herb, grows 40–160 cm high. Stems are succulent, single, or ramified to 2 or 3 branches from the base, the lower part is 5~15 cm wide, and the upper part is attenuated, 2~5 cm wide. Leaves are many, scaly, in spiral arrangement, yellowish-white, and sessile; lower leaves are arranged densely, broad-ovate (broadly ovate) or triangular-ovate, 0.5~1 cm long, 1~2 cm wide, leaves on the upper part are sparse, linear-lanceolate, 1-4 cm long, 0.5~1 cm wide, or 1~2 cm wide, both surfaces are glabrous.
Spica (spike),15-50 cm long; 1 bract, linear-lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 2~4 cm long, 0.5~0.8 cm wide, covered with sparse woolly hairs or glabrate (glabrescent); 2 bracteoles, ovate-lanceolate, equal length as calyx or slightly longer, covered with sparse woolly hairs or glabrous; the calyx is campanulate (bell-shaped), 1~1.5 cm long, shallowly 5-lobed, lobes are orbicular; corolla is tubular-campanulate, 3-4 cm long, 5 lobes, expanded, nearly semicircle (semicircular); flowers are yellowish white, mauve (lilac), turns tan (chocolate brown) when it is dried, there are 2 vertical canary-yellow protrusions inside the tube; 4 stamens, didynamous, nearly inbuilt, the upper part of the filament is slightly curved, the base is covered with buckling pilose, anthers are arrow-shaped, villous; the ovary is superior, the base has yellowish nectarium (nectar gland), style is thin and long, tip is inflexed, stigma is subsphaeroidal.
Capsularfruit is oval (egg-shaped), 2-lobed, brown. Many seeds, are tiny, and elliptic-ovate, and the surface is reticulated, and glossy. Its flowering period is from May to June, the fruiting period is from June to July.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows in desert areas at altitudes of 225–1,150 meters above sea level, is parasitic, and grows on the roots of the Chenopodiaceae Haloxylon amd., Haloxylon ammodendron plants. It is distributed in the northern and northwest areas of China.
Growth characteristics: The plant is parasitic, its host plants are Haloxylon ammodendron (C.A.Mey.) Bunge, Haloxylon PersicumBunge ex Boiss. Et Buhse, etc. It is adaptable to grow in a desert environment. Soil is middle-fine sandy loam, neutral or alkalescent, and contains higher salinity. Many seeds, small and light.
Characters of herbs: The stems are succulent, long cylindrical, sometimes slightly flat and slightly curved, with a length of 3~15 cm, and 5~15 cm in diameter, attenuating (tapering) upward, 2~5 cm in diameter, and some of them are cut into segments, with similar diameters at upper and lower parts. The surface is taupe (grayish-brown) or tan (chocolate-brown), has vertical grooves, is densely covered with succulent scales arranged in imbricate shape, and the scale leaves are rhombus or triangular, 0.5–1.5 cm wide, and about 2 mm thick. The meniscus folial trace (leaf trace) left after the scales fall off is visible. The texture of the herb is firm and farctate, not easily broken. The fracture surface is brown, has hazel (pale brown) vascular bundle dots, and is annular arranged and undulated or serrated. The xylem (wood part) accounts for about 4/5, sometimes hollow. Sometimes there are crystal-like small bright spots that can be seen on the surface and cross-section in the light. The herb has a slight odor, it tastes sweet and slightly bitter. The herb of a better grade has thick and strong stripes, and dense scaly leaves, and the texture of the herb is delicate (soft and smooth).
The dried pulpy stem with scales of Cistanche salsa (C.A.Mey) G.Beck., an annual parasitic plant, growing from the base of the broom plant and some other plants, of the family Orobanchaceae (broomrape family). It is native to East Asia and North America, it grows on sandy soils in northwest China, and California in the USA (the United States of America).
Cistanche ambigua (Bge.) G.Beck. is a perennial parasitic herb. The stem base is especially hypertrophic, the diameter is 30–45 cm, scaly leaves are ovate-lanceolate; the stems are thinner, 15–25 cm in diameter, scale-shaped leaves are long-lined lanceolate. Spikes are oblong or cylindric; bract margins are densely woolly; and corolla lobes are covered with fine hairs. It grows on sandy land.
In China, the cistanche herb is produced chiefly in northwest areas. It is dug out in spring when its seedling still does not come out of the earth. After removing the inflorescence, it is cut into segments and dried in the sun, which is known as "sweet cistanche." Those herbs collected in autumn are soaked in saltwater, and known as "salty cistanche"; after getting rid of the salt, they are sliced, dried in the sun, or steamed with water and wine and dried in the air.
It is also called Broomrape, Desert Broomrape, or Desert Living Cistanche. The stem is flattened and cylindrical, slightly curved; it is usually 3~15 cm long, 2~8 cm in diameter. The outer surface is reddish-brown or greyish-brown, densely covered with imbricate (overlapping like tiles on a roof) succulent scales; the apex of the scales is usually broken. Heavy; hard, fairly pliable, does not break easily; when broken, the surface is reddish-brown, with pale brown punctiform (dot-like) vascular bundles arranged in undulate (wavy) annulations. Odor: faint; taste: sweet and slightly bitter.
Cistanches is a tonic herb that increases blood circulation. It has a reputation for increasing energy and maintaining youthfulness. It acts as a tonic for the kidneys, helps improve bowel function, and increases vitality. The Latin name is Herba Cistanche and the Pinyin name is Rou Cong Rong.
Cistanche is a hardy, shrub-like plant native to the desert regions of northwest China. It is shaped somewhat like a cross between a pine cone and a pineapple, with thick, succulent stems and large, yellow flowers that grow smaller as the plant's apex. The stems are gathered in the spring, dried in the sun, and cut into slices for herbal use.
In traditional Chinese medicine, cistanche is used to replenish blood and strengthen kidney yang. It is most commonly used to treat impotence and premature ejaculation, pain in the lower back and knees, and constipation. Some studies suggest cistanche can be used to treat some cases of infertility and lower blood pressure.
Pharmacological actions: ①.immune enhancement effects; ②.effect on the digestive system; ③.enhance bowel movements; ④.counteract defecation inhibition from atropine; ⑤.inhibit the moisture absorption of the large intestine, etc.
Medicinal efficacy: Tonifying kidney (invigorate kidney Yang), boost essence (replenish essence and blood), moistening dryness, relaxing bowel. It is indicated for insufficiency of kidney-Yang (deficiency and decline of kidney-Yang), deficiency and decline of essence and blood, asynodia (impotentia due to deficiency of essence and blood), sexual impotence and infertility, infertility of woman (cold uterus and infertility), morbid leukorrhea, metrorrhagia, retarded menstruation, white tubidity, aching softness of waist and knees, cold and pain of waist and knees, osphyalgia and flaccidity of lower limbs (lumbago, backache, flaccidity or feebleness of feet), weakness of tendons and bones (lack in the strength of tendons and bones), frequent urination and dripping urine, blood depletion and constipation (blood exhaustion, constipation), tinnitus and giddiness (ringing in ears, dim eyesight or blurred vision), etc.
Administration of Herba Cistanchis (Ròu Cōnɡ Rónɡ):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Herba Cistanchis (Ròu Cōnɡ Rónɡ)
TCM Books:
①.Internally: 6~10 grams; ②.Internally:water decoction, 2~3 qian (about 6~9 grams), or prepare to pill; ③.Internally:water decoction, 10~15 grams; or prepared to pill, powder;or infusing in wine.
Contraindications,Precautions and Adverse Reactions: should avoid preparing the herb Herba Cistanchis with ironware. Should avoid using ironware and copperware.
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1.Introduction of Rou Cong Rong:Desert-living Cistanche or Herba Cistanchis.
✵The article gives records of the herb Desert-living Cistanche, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source one plant species, ①.Cistanche deserticola Y.C.Ma., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of this plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, the features of the herb Desert-living Cistanche, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Pin Yin Name: Ròu Cōnɡ Rónɡ.
Botanical description: The plant, Cistanche deserticola Y.C.Ma is a plant of the Orobanchaceae family (broomrape family) and Cistanche genus, it is commonly known as Cistanche deserticola, or Ròu Cōnɡ Rónɡ, or Shā Mò Rén Shēn (means desert ginseng), Dà Yún. A perennial parasitical herb, grows 40–160 cm high. Stems are succulent, single, or ramified to 2 or 3 branches from the base, the lower part is 5~15 cm wide, and the upper part is attenuated, 2~5 cm wide. Leaves are many, scaly, in spiral arrangement, yellowish-white, and sessile; lower leaves are arranged densely, broad-ovate (broadly ovate) or triangular-ovate, 0.5~1 cm long, 1~2 cm wide, leaves on the upper part are sparse, linear-lanceolate, 1-4 cm long, 0.5~1 cm wide, or 1~2 cm wide, both surfaces are glabrous.
In China, the cistanche herb is produced chiefly in northwest areas. It is dug out in spring when its seedling still does not come out of the earth. After removing the inflorescence, it is cut into segments and dried in the sun, which is known as "sweet cistanche." Those herbs collected in autumn are soaked in saltwater, and known as "salty cistanche"; after getting rid of the salt, they are sliced, dried in the sun, or steamed with water and wine and dried in the air.
Cistanche is a hardy, shrub-like plant native to the desert regions of northwest China. It is shaped somewhat like a cross between a pine cone and a pineapple, with thick, succulent stems and large, yellow flowers that grow smaller as the plant's apex. The stems are gathered in the spring, dried in the sun, and cut into slices for herbal use.
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