Strength From the Desert.
A treasured Taoist tonic for energy, stamina and vitality, extracted into a fine powder that's easy to add to your day.
Strength From the Desert.
A treasured Taoist tonic for energy, stamina and vitality, extracted into a fine powder that's easy to add to your day.
THE GINSENG OF THE DESERT
Cistanche is a remarkable plant. It has no green leaves of its own. Instead, it grows beneath the desert sand, attached to the roots of hardy shrubs, and only pushes a tall golden flower spike above the surface in spring. Herbalists harvest the fleshy stem, which is rich in compounds called phenylethanoid glycosides, including echinacoside and acteoside.¹
In traditional Chinese herbalism, cistanche is one of the great Yang tonics, used to warm and strengthen the body, support stamina and drive, and nourish healthy aging. Modern research is still young, but early studies are exploring its role in energy, vitality and cognitive health.¹ ²
A CONCENTRATED DESERT TONIC
Cistanche grows slowly in some of the harshest conditions on earth, which is part of why it has always been so valued. Ours is tested and packaged here in the USA.
We use a 10:1 hot water extract rather than simple ground root, so every half teaspoon delivers more of what makes this plant special. It's spray-dried into a fine, medium brown powder with a mild, slightly sweet, earthy taste that disappears into a warm mug of cocoa or chai.
THE BENEFITS OF CISTANCHE
In this short video, we walk through the story of cistanche, from the deserts of China and Mongolia to its reputation as a favorite herb of Genghis Khan, and why it has been prized for centuries for vitality and healthy drive.
We also cover what early research is exploring about its role in healthy circulation, gut health and healthy blood sugar balance.
YANG TONIC
In traditional Chinese herbalism, cistanche warms and strengthens. It has long been used to support energy, stamina and endurance, especially when life asks a lot of you.
NEARLY 2,000 YEARS
Cistanche is recorded in Shen Nong's Materia Medica, one of the oldest herbal texts in China, where it was praised as a tonic that nourishes vitality and supports a long life.
FOR MEN AND WOMEN
Cistanche has traditionally been used by both men and women to support healthy drive and romantic wellness. In one small human study, a blend made with cistanche supported energy and quality of life.² ³
Frequently Asked Questions
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Half a teaspoon a day is a good place to start. Each pouch holds about 28 servings.
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Gu C, Yang X, Huang L. Cistanches Herba: A Neuropharmacology Review. Front Pharmacol. 2016;7:289. doi:10.3389/fphar.2016.00289
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Kan J, Cheng J, Hu C, et al. A Botanical Product Containing Cistanche and Ginkgo Extracts Potentially Improves Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms in Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Study. Front Nutr. 2021;8:658630. doi:10.3389/fnut.2021.658630
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Jiang Z, Zhou B, Li X, et al. Echinacoside Increases Sperm Quantity in Rats by Targeting the Hypothalamic Androgen Receptor. Sci Rep. 2018;8:3839. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-22211-1
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Liu X, Jian C, Li M, Wei F, Liu H, Qin X. Microbiome-metabolomics deciphers the effects of Cistanche deserticola polysaccharides on aged constipated rats. Food Funct. 2022;13:3993-4008. doi:10.1039/D2FO00008C