Cynomorium
songaricum,Cynomorium coccineum subsp.
songaricum. 锁阳Suǒ yángCynomorium, Balanophera,
Lock Yang stem Family:
Cynomoriaceae
C. coccineum is used as a substitute in other countries, from Europe to Central
Asia, where it is the native species.
This is a parasitic perennial flowering plant. It is edible in China's Inner Mongolia
and Gansu areas, local people have the custom of digging Cynomorium cynomorium
and eating it, either fresh, dried, soaked in water, cooked in porridge, steamed,
etc. Cynomorium cynomorium is different from ordinary plants. It is afraid of
iron tools and will turn black when touched by things such as kitchen knives.
PART USED:Dry stalk-
harvested in spring or autumn. FLAVOR:
Sweet, pleasant CHANNELS: Large Intestine, Kidney, Liver FUNCTIONS GROUP: Tonify Yang
1. Tone up Kidney Yang.[2,4,5]
2. Strengthens the Kidneys and the male gonads (potency and seminal control).[1]
Tonifies the Kidneys, benefits Jing and marrow.[5]
Benefit semen.[2]
3. Moisturises dryness.[1] Lubricate
intestine.[2]
4. Strengthen the tendons, and nourish the blood to alleviate the Blood deficiency
type of constipation (typically occurring with old age).[4]
Nourishes Liver Yin and Blood and strengthens the sinews and bones.[5] INDICATIONS
1. Kidney Yang deficiency- impotence, infertility urinary frequency and spermatorrhea.[5]
2. Weak Kidneys and impotency, weak back and knees, seminal emission.[1,2]
Impotence and sore loins.[2,4]
3. Constipation due to dry intestines.[1,2] CONTRAINDICATIONS: Diarrhea from Spleen and Stomach deficiency.[5]
Deficient Kidney Yin with Heat signs or who are easily aroused sexually.[5]
Constipation from Excess Heat.[5] PREPARATIONS: Dry
stalk 4-9 g.[2] 4.5-16 g.[5]
Tincture: 2-4 ml.[5]
The inflorescence is removed and the stalk is buried half in the sand, and dried
in the sun and scalded by the very hot sand. It is then used raw and sliced. ORIGIN: In China it is mainly produced in Inner Mongolia, Gansu,
Qinghai, Xinjiang and Tibet. The best type with best healing properties is said
to be from Suoyang City, Guazhou County, Gansu Province. DESCRIPTION: The upper part is succulent and the lower dry. It
is covered with scales and resembles the penis. References
[1] Barefoot Doctor's Manual- 1977 Prepared by the Revolutionary Health Committee
of Hunan Province. Original Chinese manual- Victor W. Sidel. Originally published
by Dr Joseph Quin and the Fogarty International centre, Bethdesda (1974). Madrona
Publishers Seattle Washington ISBN 0-914842-52-8
[2] A Complete English Dictionary of Medicinal Terms in Chinese Acupuncture
and Herbalism 1981- Henry Lu Chinese Foundations of Natural Health- The Academy
of Oriental Heritage, Vancouver, Canada.
[3] chineseherbshealing.com
[4] itmonline.org
[5] americandragon.com
[6] Chinese Medicinal Herbs- Beatrice Bliss (1973) Compiled by Li Shi- Chen.
Translated and Researched by F. Porter Smith and G. A. Stuart. Geogetown Press,
San FranciscoISBN 0 914558005 Images
1. tcmnaturalhealth.com
2. [1]
3. youtube.com
4. baike.baidu.com
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the
use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally. Cultivation, Harvesting and Supply.
It can be harvested in both spring and autumn, with spring being the most suitable.
From March to May, when Cynomorium cynomorium has just been unearthed or is
about to push out of the sand, it has the best quality. After harvesting, remove
the inflorescences to avoid consuming nutrients and continue to grow and bloom.
Break them into sections and place them on the beach to dry in the sun. Turn
them once a day and dry them in the sun in about 20 days. Or half-buried in
the sand, blanched in the sun to make it dry. There are also a few areas where
they are sliced and dried while fresh. There is a lot of water when harvested
in autumn, so it is not easy to dry, and the texture is hard after drying.
Cynomorium contains anthocyanic glycosides, triterpenoid saponins, and lignans.[1] References
[1] ITM Online: CYNOMORIUM: Parasitic Plant Widely Used in Traditional Medicine,
by Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D., plus The Treasure of Tarthuth, by R.W. Lebling,
Jr. (accessed 19 April 2011, 22:24 GMT)
Research
Cynomorium songaricum induces spermatogenesis with glial
cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) enhancement in rat testes.
Yang WM, Kim HY, Park SY, Kim HM, Chang MS, Park SK. Abstract
AIM OF THE STUDY:
Cynomorium songaricum Ruprecht has been used in traditional Korean medicine
to treat male infertility, including sexual dysfunction, by improving kidney
function. Glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) produced by Sertoli
cells induces the proliferation of undifferentiated spermatogonia. We investigated
the effects of Cynomorium songaricum on sperm parameters and GDNF expression
in rat testes.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Sperm analysis, RT-PCR, and Western blotting assays were performed after administration
of CS to 8-week-old male Wistar rats for 56 consecutive days (1.0g/kg/day, p.o.),
the period of sperm formation in the rat.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS:
The CS-treated animals showed significant increases in epididymal sperm count
and absolute testes weights compared to the control group. CS also increased
the expression of GDNF at both the mRNA and protein levels. These results suggest
that CS may improve male fertility by enhancing spermatogenesis and GDNF expression.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2010 Apr 21;128(3):693-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2010.02.020.
Epub 2010 Feb 26. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
The Effects of Cynomorium songaricum on the Reproductive Activity in
Male Golden Hamsters
Jee Soo Lee, Hyun Ah Oh, Ji Young Kwon, Min Ho Jeong, Jong Seok Lee, Dong Won
Kang, and Donchan Choi† Abstract
Cynomorium songaricum (CS) has been used in traditional Korean medicine in treating
male impotence and sexual dysfunction. We investigated the effects of aqueous
CS extract on the reproductive activity of golden hamsters whose spermatogenetic
capacity is active in summer and inactive in winter. The animals were divided
into 5 groups: long photoperiod (LP) control, short photoperiod (SP) control,
and SP animals treated with low, middle, or high concentrations of CS. The animals
were orally ingested with low (0.5 g/kg), middle (1.0 g/kg), or high (2.5 g/kg)
concentrations of the aqueous extracts for 8 weeks on the daily basis. The control
animals received the vehicle. As results, the LP control animals showed active
testicular function but SP control animals displayed remarkably reduced testicular
weights. The outcomes of the reproductive activity from low and middle concentrations
of CS treatments were identical and marked as low dose. The consequences were
a partial blocking of regressing activity by SP. On the other hand, the animals
treated with high dose of CS extract showed remarkable significance in comparison
to the SP control, indicative of a complete blocking effect of the CS on the
regressing testes by SP. There were a dose-dependent effects of the CS on the
sexual function. These results suggest that the CS extract promotes the male
fertility by strengthening the spermatogenesis in the golden hamsters.
Dev Reprod. 2013 Mar; 17(1): 37–43. doi: 10.12717/DR.2013.17.1.037 PMCID: PMC4282217
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
FLAVOR:
Sweet, pleasant CHANNELS: Large Intestine, Kidney, Liver
