What Is Cistanche? A Detailed Explanation of the Four Major Differences from Songaria Cynomorium

Cistanche is also called Dayun, Cunyun, Congrong, Dijing, Chagan Gaoya, and so on. It lives in deserts and was historically regarded by the various countries of the Western Regions as a precious tribute to the imperial court; due to extensive harvesting, its numbers have declined sharply, and it is now listed as an endangered species. So, what is Cistanche?

1. What is Cistanche?

1. Cistanche is a parasitic plant that parasitizes the roots of Haloxylon plants of the Chenopodiaceae family. It grows 40-160 cm tall, with broadly ovate or triangular-ovate leaves. Its flowering period is from May to June, with bell-shaped calyxes and pale yellowish-white or pale purple flowers. Its fruiting period is from June to August, with ovoid capsules and elliptical or nearly ovoid seeds.

2. Cistanche is a plant that lives in deserts. In China, it is mainly produced in Xinjiang and the Alxa League of Inner Mongolia. It prefers to grow on mildly salinized soft sandy land, with soils mainly consisting of gray-brown desert soil and brown desert soil, and generally grows in sandy areas or semi-fixed sand dunes, dried-up old riverbeds, low-lying lake basins, and so on.

3. Cistanche is a parasitic plant whose hosts are Haloxylon, red willow, saltcedar, and so on. Its suitable living conditions are desert hills with ample sunlight, low rainfall, good drainage, and large day-night temperature differences. Natural Haloxylon and red willow can be used, or artificially planted Haloxylon and red willow can be inoculated with Cistanche after 2-3 years.

4. Cistanche is a precious Chinese medicinal herb, long known as the “desert ginseng.” It has effects such as tonifying the kidneys and strengthening yang, replenishing essence and marrow, nourishing blood and moistening dryness, and improving complexion and prolonging life. It can also treat cold womb infertility in women, resist oxidation, resist aging, improve immunity, enhance memory, and protect the liver, among other effects.

2. What is the difference between Cistanche and Songaria Cynomorium?

Difference one, different hosts: Cistanche is a perennial parasitic herbaceous plant of the Orobanchaceae family and the genus Cistanche, parasitizing the roots of plants of the Chenopodiaceae family such as Haloxylon ammodendron and Haloxylon persicum; Songaria Cynomorium is a perennial fleshy parasitic herb of the Cynomoriaceae family and the genus Cynomorium, parasitizing the roots of Nitraria tangutorum of the Zygophyllaceae family.

Difference two, different appearance: the fleshy stem of Cistanche is long cylindrical, or slightly flattened and slightly curved at the lower part, and grayish-brown or brownish-brown in color; the fleshy stem of Songaria Cynomorium is elliptical or long columnar, and dark purplish-red in color.

Difference three, different distribution: Cistanche is mainly produced in Xinjiang and the Alxa League of Inner Mongolia, and is also distributed in Gansu and Ningxia, with a relatively small distribution range; Songaria Cynomorium is distributed in Xinjiang, Qinghai, Gansu, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, and other provinces and regions, with a wide distribution range.

Difference four, different effects: both are excellent tonics for nourishing the body, but Cistanche is more nourishing and mild, does not damage yin, can be taken for a long time, and is superior to Songaria Cynomorium in moistening the intestines and nourishing blood; Songaria Cynomorium has stronger tonic effects and a greater ability to boost essence, but it cannot be taken for a long time, and eating too much easily causes internal heat.

Summary: Cistanche is a parasitic plant that parasitizes the roots of Haloxylon plants of the Chenopodiaceae family, is a plant that lives in deserts, and is one of the most frequently used tonic medicines in prescriptions for tonifying the kidneys and strengthening yang throughout past dynasties; it resembles Songaria Cynomorium in appearance and shares some similarities in effects, but there are still differences. The four major differences between the two have been introduced above, and we hope they are useful to everyone.