Rou Cong Rong - 肉苁蓉 - Herba Cistanches
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Herba Cistanches |
| Common English: | Broomrape Stem Cistanche Desert-Living Cistanche Fleshy Broomrape Herb |
Category
Herbs that Tonify the YangProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Sweet Salty | Warm | Large Intestine Kidney (Ren) (Dai) | 6-21g Tincture: 2-4ml |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Tonifies the Kidneys, strengthens Yang, | Kidney Yang Deficiency with impotence, spermatorrhea, urinary incontinence, post-urinary dripping and Cold pain in the lower back and knees Cold from Deficiency of the Womb with infertility, excessive uterine bleeding or vaginal discharge |
Moistens the Intestines and facilitates the passage of stool | Constipation due to dry Intestines from inadequate fluids in elderly or debilitated people or people with Deficient Qi or Blood (with a large dosage, it can be used as a stand-alone herb) |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
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Major Combinations
| Hb. Cynomorii | Fr. Corni | Cx. Eucommiae |
Impotence, Cold and discomfort in the low back. | Impotence, spermatorrhea, and weakness in the lower back and lower extremities from severely Deficient Kidneys. | Deficient Kidney induced pain and weakness in the lower back with a feeling of weakness in the sinews and bones. |
| Colla Cervi Cornu | Sm. Cannabis | Rx. Angelicae Sinensis |
Infertility due to exhaustion of Jing and Blood. | Constipation especially in the elderly from Qi and Blood Deficiency. | Constipation due to Kidney Qi and Yang Deficiency with clear, copious urine and a cold sensation in the back. |
| Cx. Eucommiae | Rx. Angelicae Sinensis | Rx. Morindae Officinalis |
High blood pressure. | Constipation due to Dryness of the Intestines Blood Deficiency failing to supply the sinews of the Intestines, interfering with peristalsis. Constipation in the elderly with insufficiency of Yin and Blood. (caution with Yin Deficiency Heat) | Tonifies Yang without injuring Yin. Constipation in the elderly. |
Cornu Cervi Pantotrichum | Hb. Epimedii | Rx. Dipsaci |
Forgetfulness and loss of hearing. Impotence, spermatorrhea and infertility. (use a large dose of Rou Cong Rong) | Decreased sexual desire. | Soreness and weakness of the joints. |
Sm. Cannabis | ||
Constipation. |
Notes
- It tonifies Yang without causing dryness.
- Its action is gentle and slow.
- Unlike other tonics, it does not cause stagnation.
- It ranks among the herbs most often used for impotence.
- The stem, rather than the tops, is the part used.
- Rou Cong Rong and Hb. Cynomorii Suo Yang are both sweet, salty and warm, and both tonify Yang, moisten the Intestines and unblock the bowels. Rou Cong Rong is more effective at augmenting Jing and Blood and at treating infertility, but it warms Kidney Yang less. Suo Yang moistens Dryness, nourishes the sinews and treats impotence, and is used for impotence and for atrophy of the sinews and bones.
- Rou Cong Rong and Testes et Penis Callorhini Hai Gou Shen are both salty; they augment the Jing and tonify Kidney Yang to treat impotence. Rou Cong Rong enters the large Intestine and relieves constipation. Hai Gou Shen strengthens the lower back and knees and is warmer, but it nourishes the Jing and Blood less.
- Wine-prepared Cistanches Jiu Cong Rong tonifies Kidney Yang more effectively but moistens the Intestines less.
- Dosage: 9-21g (Secondary source)