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INDIVIDUAL HERBS

NAME: ROU CONG RONG - 肉苁蓉 - HERBA CISTANCHES

Pharmaceutical Latin:	Herba Cistanches
Common English:	Broomrape Stem Fleshy Broomrape Herb Cistanche Desert-Living Cistanche

PROPERTIES:

Taste	Temperature	Entering Meridians	Dosage
Sweet Salty	Warm	Large Intestine Kidney (Ren) (Dai)	6-21g Tincture: 2-4ml

ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS

Actions

Indications/Syndromes

Tonifies the Kidneys, strengthens Yang,
benefits Jing and marrow and warms the Womb

Kidney Yang Deficiency with impotence, spermatorrhea, urinary incontinence, post-urinary dripping and Cold pain in the lower back and knees

Cold from Deficiency of the Womb with infertility, excessive uterine bleeding or vaginal discharge

Moistens the Intestines and facilitates the passage of stool

Constipation due to dry Intestines from inadequate fluids in elderly or debilitated people or people with Deficient Qi or Blood (with a large dosage, it can be used as a stand-alone herb)

CONTRAINDICATIONS, INCOMPATIBILITIES AND HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Contraindicated for those with diarrhea from Spleen and Stomach Deficiency.
Contraindicated for those with Deficient Yin with Heat signs or those easily aroused with premature ejaculation.
Contraindicated for those with Excess heat.

INCOMPATIBILITIES

HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

This herb increases the activities of neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin in the hypothalamus and may interact with sympathomimetics, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants.

MAJOR COMBINATIONS

Hb. Cynomorii Suo Yang	Fr. Corni Shan Zhu Yu Sm. Cuscutae Chinensis Tu Si Zi Fr. Schisandrae Wu Wei Zi	Cx. Eucommiae Du Zhong Rx. Morindae Officinalis Ba Ji Tian
Impotence, Cold and discomfort in the low back.	Impotence, spermatorrhea, and weakness in the lower back and lower extremities from severely Deficient Kidneys.	Deficient Kidney induced pain and weakness in the lower back with a feeling of weakness in the sinews and bones.
Colla Cervi Cornu Lu Jiao Jiao Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui Placenta Hominis Zi He Che	Sm. Cannabis Huo Ma Ren Lignum Aquilariae Chen Xiang	Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui Rx. Achyranthis Bidentatae Niu Xi
Infertility due to exhaustion of Jing and Blood.	Constipation especially in the elderly from Qi and Blood Deficiency.	Constipation due to Kidney Qi and Yang Deficiency with clear, copious urine and a cold sensation in the back.
Cx. Eucommiae Du Zhong	Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui	Rx. Morindae Officinalis Ba Ji Tian
High blood pressure.	Constipation due to Dryness of the Intestines Blood Deficiency failing to supply the sinews of the Intestines, interfering with peristalsis. Constipation in the elderly with insufficiency of Yin and Blood. (caution with Yin Deficiency Heat)	Tonifies Yang without injuring Yin. Constipation in the elderly.
Cornu Cervi Pantotrichum Lu Rong Rz. Dioscoreae Shan Yao Poria Fu Ling	Hb. Epimedii Yin Yang Huo	Rx. Dipsaci Xu Duan Cornu Cervi Pantotrichum Lu Rong
Forgetfulness and loss of hearing. Impotence, spermatorrhea and infertility. (use a large dose of Rou Cong Rong)	Decreased sexual desire.	Soreness and weakness of the joints.
Sm. Cannabis Huo Ma Ren Sm. Sesame Nigrum Hei Zhi Ma
Constipation.

NOTES

It tonifies Yang but is not drying.
It is slow acting and gentle.
It does not have the stagnating properties of other tonics.
It is one of the most commonly used herbs in the treatment of impotence.
The stem is used not the tops.
Both Rou Cong Rong and Hb. Cynomorii Suo Yang tonify Yang, moisten the Intestines, unblock the bowels and are sweet, salty and warm. Rou Cong Rong is better able to augment Jing and Blood and is better to treat infertility but is less warming of the Kidney Yang. Suo Yang moistens Dryness and nourishes the sinews and treats impotence and is used for impotence and atrophy of the sinews and bones.
Both Rou Cong Rong and Testes et Penis Callorhini Hai Gou Shen are salty, augment the Jing and tonify the Kidney Yang to treat impotence. Rou Cong Rong enters the large Intestine and treats constipation. Hai Gou Shen strengthens the lower back and knees and is more warming but less nourishing for the Jing and Blood.
Wine-prepared Cistanches Jiu Cong Rong is better able to tonify the Kidney Yang but less moistening for the Intestines.