Cistanche (Light Cistanche, flat and round, densely covered with thick fleshy scales, imbricated, brownish-brown, heavy and hard)

Cistanche (Inner Mongolia Yangling)

Inner Mongolia Cistanche (Salt Cistanche, dark brown, with salt frost on the outside)

Cistanche slices (The cortex and medulla are dark brown, with brown floral spots and radially arranged vascular bundles in a patterned shape.)

Wine-processed Cistanche slices

Salt Cistanche slices

【Naming】

Cistanche

【Source】

Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic, Superior Class

【Commonly Used Level】

C

【Botanical Origin】

The dried fleshy stems with scaly leaves of Cistanche salsa (C.A.Mey.) G.Beck, from the Orobanchaceae family.

【Characteristics】

(1) Light Cistanche is cylindrical and slightly flattened, slightly curved, 10~30㎝ long, 3~6㎝ in diameter, the surface is grayish-brown or brown, densely covered with fleshy scales arranged in an imbricated pattern, the texture is firm, slightly tough, fleshy and oily, not easily broken, the cross-section is brown, with white spots or fissures, the odor is weak, and the taste is slightly sweet.
(2) Salt Cistanche has a more irregular shape, dark brown in color, softer in texture, with salt frost on the outside, a black cross-section, a slight odor, and a salty taste.
Prepared slices are transversely cut into thin slices of varying shapes and sizes, about 2㎜ thick, with dark brown edges and irregular bumps. Transverse section: The cortex and medulla of Light Cistanche are dark brown, and the vascular bundle groups of the xylem are light brownish-white. Radially arranged in a patterned shape; the cortex and medulla of Salt Cistanche are light brown, and the vascular bundle groups are also radially arranged.

【Processing】

1. Light Cistanche 2. Salt Cistanche 3. Wine-processed Cistanche

【Identification】

《Essential Compendium of Materia Medica》: “The root is more than a foot long, but the one from Western Qiang has thick flesh and tight strength is the best”, “The root that is fat and moist is good”. 《Essentials of Materia Medica》: “As large as an arm, weighing up to a catty, with pine nut scales armor is good”. 《Brief Prescriptions of Materia Medica》: “The one produced in Hetao is good”. 《Identification of Good and Bad》: “The one that is fat and soft is the best”.
1. Light Cistanche: The best are those with large and full bodies, fine scales, grayish-brown to dark brown color, large oiliness, and fleshy and soft stems. Commodities are divided into 1~2 grades according to size.
2. Salt Cistanche: The best are those with black and glutinous texture, fine scales and thick strips, and a flat and round body.

【Category】

Whole Herb