According to traditional Chinese medicine, Cistanchis is a good tonic, and according to modern research, Cistanchis has the function of anti-cold, anti-fatigue, anti-aging, and improving memory ability.
Cistanchos are a kind of desert plant parasitized on the roots of the pike, which can grow to 40 to 160 centimeters, using part of the root, the fleshy stems are flat cylindrical in shape, fat and juicy, with a jade-white or yellowish luster, and the leaf scales are arranged in a spiral pattern.
The standard appearance of the best Cistanchis: yellow scales, like an ancient general with armor, yellow at the bottom, white in the middle, and purple at the top. The bottom is yellow, the middle is white and the top is purple. The center is thick and the ends are pointed.
Cistanchiak belongs to the species of medicine and food, and is also a rare savory Chinese medicine among plants. Besides being used as a valuable Chinese medicine for health care, it can also be used as a common ingredient for tea, wine, porridge, soup, etc.
Cistanchiak belongs to the species of medicine and food, and is also a rare savory Chinese medicine among plants.
The easiest way to consume Cistanchis is to drink it in water. You can cut Cistanchis into slices, boil it in water a little bit, and drink it as tea, not more than 10 grams per day.
In ancient times, Cistanchis were regarded as "immortal grass", and they were important medicinal herbs in the trade between the western region and the Central Plains, and were also the treasures of the western countries as tributes to the imperial court.
Cistanchis have been used as traditional Chinese medicine for a long time, and the ancient people noticed the medicinal value of Cistanchis from early times, and the records of Cistanchis can be found in the Compendium of Materia Medica and the Divine Husbandman's Classic of the Materia Medica.
In the Shennong's Classic of the Materia Medica of the Han Dynasty, Cistanchis was classified as a top quality product.
Li Shizhen wrote in Compendium of Materia Medica, "This substance is tonic but not harsh, so it has the name of submissive." That is to say, this medicine is very gentle, so it has the title of "relaxed".
Cistanchiakia is a perennial desert parasitic herb, the host of which is pike, tamarisk, pike tree has a strong vitality in the desert, and it is an excellent pioneer plant for windbreak and sand fixation.
Cistanchis is hosted in the roots of these plants, and its growth characteristics are unique and magical. It has no roots buried deep in the ground, and its leaves are degraded into scales with no chlorophyll, so it can't photosynthesize by itself, and it relies on sucking up the host's nutrients and water to maintain its growth.
In April and May every year, beside the pike trees in the desert, you will occasionally see a cluster of flowers shaped like a pagoda, with white and purple flowers drilling out of the ground, which is the flower of Cistanchis.
The fleshy stems of Cistanchis usually emerge within 4 years after planting, and once they emerge, they will soon bloom and bear fruits if they are not harvested in time. Once Cistanchis bloom, the nutrients in the fleshy stems will be rapidly consumed, hollow and withered, and the medicinal value will be lost.
After harvesting, Cistanchis have to be processed. Drying is the most critical step in the processing of Cistanchis, i.e., evaporating 90% of the water of Cistanchis through the baking of sunlight, and the whole process of drying lasts for at least one month. The whole drying process should last at least one month. After dehydration, Cistanchis will gradually turn from yellowish white to brownish brown.