Cistanche (Rou Cong Rong) is a popular herb in traditional Chinese medicine, where it’s used to treat kidney disease, infertility, constipation, erectile dysfunction, and abnormal vaginal discharge and bleeding.
Although more research is needed to better understand the benefits of cistanche, it’s currently sold as a dietary supplement that may help your physical and mental health. Knowing all the potential benefits of cistanche can help you decide if it’s a good option for you.
Your immune system protects your body from infection and disease. Cistanche may support immune function because it:
- Contains beneficial ingredients: One ingredient is phenylethanoid glycoside (PhG), which has potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-boosting properties.
- Supports white blood cells: Cistanche may promote the growth of white blood cells (lymphocytes), which fend off harmful invaders.
- Activates immune cells: Some researchers have also linked the immune-regulating properties of cistanche to its ability to activate dendritic cells (a type of immune cell that helps the body fight infections and diseases).
Supplementing with cistanche may protect nerve cells. It may promote the recovery and regeneration of the nervous system, including its cells (brain neurons), structure, and function. This can help enhance learning and memory.
Research shows that cistanche can prevent permanent damage to brain neurons, which can help improve how well you:
- Learn new information
- Store memory
- Recall memorized information
In one older study, researchers suggest that cistanche could be effective and safe in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. However, more studies and larger trials are necessary to confirm this.
In traditional Chinese medicine, people have used cistanche for centuries to treat fatigue caused by kidney yang deficiency, a condition where you feel cold and have low energy.
Modern research also found that cistanche helps improve physical and mental fatigue in people with chronic fatigue syndrome, which is a condition that causes continuous tiredness. However, this study mixed cistanche extract with the herb ginkgo biloba, so it’s unclear if cistanche alone would have the same effect.
Cistanche extract may be able to treat infertility because it may:
- Improve premature ovarian failure, which causes permanent damage to the ovaries
- Regulate sex hormones
- Work as an aphrodisiac (a substance that increases sexual desire)
- Help improve testosterone levels
- Treat erectile dysfunction, a condition that makes it harder to get and keep an erection.
However, few studies on the effect of cistanche on fertility and sexual performance were conducted in humans. More high-quality research is needed to validate the effectiveness of cistanche for these benefits.
Cistanche may help relieve constipation by moistening and easing the passage of stool. In traditional Chinese medicine, providers use it to treat constipation in older adults.
While cistanche has been shown as possibly improving bowel movements, this effect from taking the supplement isn’t fully understood yet.
Cistanche may be able to regulate bone metabolism, reduce bone loss, and prevent osteoporosis, a condition that causes weakened bones, in people who have gone through menopause.
While cistanche was found to reduce bone loss with low toxicity and without significant side effects, more research is necessary.
Cistanche is mainly available in capsule form in the United States and comes in 400-600 milligram doses. Many manufacturers recommend taking one or two capsules daily with food. However, you may also get it as a tea bag or a raw herb that should be ground before use.
Cistanche is available in the following forms:
- Cistanche deserticola
- Cistanche lanzhouensis
- Cistanche mongolica
- Cistanche tubulosa
- Cistanche sinensis
Cistanche deserticola and tubulosa are the two most common forms in dietary supplements, which is likely because they’re well-documented in China’s official collection of medication literature.
Dosage
In many studies, the daily dose used was between 600-1000 milligrams. However, in one study, cistanche extract was used at 300 milligrams daily for about 48 hours to improve cognition (thinking and learning) in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Cistanche is generally regarded as safe. There have been no reports of toxicity when using it in traditional Chinese medicine. Its use is also well documented in both China and Japan’s official medical literature.
Researchers have found no serious side effects from using cistanche up to doses of 1,800 milligrams when used daily for three months.
There are currently no known drug interactions between cistanche and other medications. However, that doesn’t mean that none exist. Always talk to your doctor before using this herbal supplement, particularly if you have other underlying health conditions or are taking any medication.
Side effects: While Cistanche is generally regarded as safe, especially for short-term use, you may have some mild side effects such as:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Dizziness
Unlike medications, herbal supplements aren’t regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The National Institutes of Health recommends purchasing supplements that have been independently tested by reputable organizations such as NSF International, USP (United States Pharmacopeia), or ConsumerLab. These organizations confirm that the supplements contain the ingredients listed on the label and are free from harmful contaminants.
