Cistanche benefits are best known for strengthening the kidneys, boosting the immune system, fighting fatigue, hair loss, balancing hormones, and improving sexual drive. It is known as the ginseng of the desert and has been used as a remedy for centuries.
Cistanche Tubulosa is a parasitic flower that grows in the Taklimakan desert region of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in northwest China. The earliest practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) adopted the yellow flower as an integral part of their practice. It was used very similarly to ginseng in the desert regions where ginseng wasn’t locally available.
Cistanche benefits can be attributed to the unique processes of the plant. It can’t synthesize chlorophyll from the sun like most plants. Instead, it extracts water and the nutrients that it needs from the roots of a host plant. Cistanche is a rare plant with a multitude of benefits.
Cistanche Tubulosa is commonly referred to as an overall well-being medication. This is because it affects several systems in the body (such as the immune system, reproductive system, and neurological system). It is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treating kidney deficiency, impotence, female infertility, morbid leucorrhea, profuse metrorrhagia, and senile constipation (1).
Cistanche Benefits
1. Antioxidants
A 2016 pharmacological review of Cistanche named it a potent antioxidant, able to promote healthy cellular function (especially in mitochondria). Researchers found that it encouraged the body’s production of its own natural antioxidant stores—namely, glutathione.
Antioxidants, which are molecules that inhibit the oxidation of other molecules, are very much in vogue right now. Since oxidation can cause the growth of free radicals, a lot of research has gone into determining if antioxidants can actually fight cancer.
2. Immune System
Cistanche may strengthen the immune system in people with cancer and even enhance the effects of certain vaccinations. We need antioxidants to maintain basic healthy immunity. They curb free radical damage and oxidization, actions that both lead to chronic inflammation and a harmed immune system.
3. Reduce Signs of Aging
Aging can take on many forms: slowed immunity, more weakness, and a higher tendency for diseases are some examples. But it can also manifest in other ways: crepey skin, wrinkles, cognitive struggles, and even lower energy to boot. Glycosides present in Cistanche may play a role in the delay of aging and the prevention and treatment of senile dementia via anti-oxidation
Cistanche Tubulosa may even protect your brain against common degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. How? By increasing levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein found in the brain and spinal cord that plays a key role in keeping nerve cells (neurons) healthy, as well as regulating communication between nerve cells, which is critical for learning and memory.
4. Boost Energy and Mood
Cistanche has been shown to provide sustained energy throughout the day without the jittery crash of caffeine. It can help you feel more awake and energized so you’re able to appreciate each moment and focus on the things that matter. By maintaining positive energy levels throughout the day, Cistanche may also help improve mood.
5. Enhance Sex Drive and Support a Healthy Libido
Known as a prized aphrodisiac, Cistanche supports men’s health and optimizes healthy performance. Cistanche has been shown in clinical studies to support men’s reproductive health, including healthy sexual libido and function, and normal prostate and sperm function throughout many ages and stages of life.
Cistanche Tubulosa has the ability to increase a woman’s fertility. The major component of Cistanche extract, echinacoside, and acteoside is responsible for improving the sexual ability of both the genders. It increases the male hormone production by the action of enzymes.
6. Help Balance Hormone Levels
By nourishing and stimulating the adrenal glands, Cistanche can help balance hormone levels. As an adaptogenic herb, Cistanche supports normal hormone production and supports the body’s natural liver detoxification. Cistanche Tubulosa has been shown to help with hormonal issues, including PMS, menopause, and hot flashes.
7. Anti-Inflammatory
Cistanche benefits include its anti-inflammatory properties. As chronic inflammation contributes to many chronic diseases, Cistanche may help treat conditions like inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, and arthritis. Cistanche’s antioxidant activity also helps reduce oxidative stress, a process linked to low-grade inflammation.
An underground herb in Western society, Cistanche Tubulosa shows the potential for acting as the premier herb for restoring youthful energy and hormonal balance. Cistanche is a rare plant with a multitude of benefits. Studies have shown:
- Anti-Fatigue and Anti-Aging Benefits
- Neuroprotection and Improved Memory Function and Learning
- Stimulates Nitric Oxide production
- Hormone Regulation
- Boost Immune System
- Promotes Healthy Inflammatory Response
- Promotion of Bone Formation
- Stimulates ATP
- Antioxidant
Cistanche Tubulosa is called an adaptogen because of its unique ability to “adapt” their function according to the specific needs of the body. This may be physical, chemical, or biological needs. Adaptogens have been compared to a thermostat, moderating the body’s stress response like a thermostat controls temperature. They have special compounds that can possess opposing qualities, such as being relaxing or stimulating. The correct response is triggered according to the body’s specific needs.