Cistanche deserticola- Cistanche
Cistanche deserticola 肉苁蓉 Ròu cōng róng   Desert broomrape, Cistanche   Family: Orobanchaceae       
The plant lacks chlorophyll and obtains all its nutrients and water in a parasitic fashion from the Black saxaul (Haloxylon ammodendron) and White saxaul (Haloxylon persicum).
PART USED: Dried fleshy stalk
Nature- warm    FLAVOR: Sweet, salted.
FUNCTIONS
 GROUP: Tonify- Yang
1. Benefit semen and Blood, lubricate intestine.[1]
INDICATIONS
1. Weak loins and knees, impotence, infertility in women, dry intestine with constipation.[1]
PREPARATIONS: Dried fleshy stalk with squama 6-9 g.[1]
              
ORIGIN: Cistanche deserticola is widely distributed in China's deserts including the provinces of Gansu, Shaanxi, and Qinghai, and the Autonomous Regions of Xinjiang, Ningxia, and Inner Mongolia.
References
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.
Research

Effects of Cistanche deserticola extract on penis erectile response in castrated rats.
Gu L, Xiong WT, Zhuang YL, Zhang JS, Liu X.
Author information
Abstract
Cistanche deserticola (CD) has been considered as a tonic agent on reproductive function for thousands of years. The effects of CD extract on penis erectile response were investigated in present study. After castration surgery, rats were treated intragastrically with CD extract (0.45, 0.90 and 1.8 g/kg) daily for four weeks. Penis erectile response was measured and the serum hormones were assayed at the end of the experiment. It was evaluated that the erectile latency became longer and the erectile duration shorter significantly in castrated rats compared to sham operated controls. However, CD extract shortened the erectile latency and prolonged the erectile duration to minimize the negative effects of castration. At the dosage of 0.9 g/kg, CD extract regulated the serum luteinizing hormone concentration approach to normal level in castrated rats. These findings indicated that CD facilitated the penis erectile response and modulated the serum hormone level to some extent.
PMID: 27087079 Pak J Pharm Sci. 2016 Mar;29(2):557-62. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov