Cistanchis, (scientific name: Cistanche deserticola? Ma), alias Xinjiang Yun, inch Yun, Cistanchis, Chagan Gueya (in Mongolian). Tall herbs, 40-160 cm tall, mostly underground. Flowering May-June, fruiting June-August.

Known as "desert ginseng", it has high medicinal value and is a traditional Chinese precious Chinese medicine. Cistanchis are sweet in taste and warm in nature, and have the effects of tonifying the kidney and strengthening the yang, filling up the essence and tonifying the marrow, nourishing the blood and moistening the dryness, and pleasing the color and prolonging the life. Cistanchis can be used for both medicinal and food purposes. Long-term consumption of Cistanchis can increase physical strength, enhance endurance and resistance to fatigue, and at the same time, it can enhance the sexual ability and fertility of humans and animals. Historically, Cistanchis has been used as a tribute to the imperial court by countries in the western region, and has been one of the most frequently used tonic drugs in the kidney tonic and aphrodisiac prescriptions throughout the ages. It is an endangered species,

Preferring to be born on soft sandy land with mild salinization, it usually grows in sandy or semi-fixed dunes, dry old river beds, lake basin lowlands, etc., and the habitat conditions are very poor. The climate of the suitable growing area is arid, with low rainfall, high evaporation, long sunshine hours and large temperature difference between day and night. Soil is dominated by gray brown desert soil and brown desert soil. The host pike is a strong early-growing plant. Cistanche mostly parasitizes on its 30-100 cm deep lateral roots. Born in the desert at an altitude of 225-1150m, it is parasitized on the roots of pike, white pike and other plants of the quinoa family.