Herb Profile

Cistanche

Cistanche deserticola

Cistanche (Cistanche deserticola) carries a Grade C rating — limited evidence.

Last reviewed: •5 sources citedReport a correctionProfile-wide ·C Limited

Use extra caution — Limited human safety data; use conservative preparation specific framing and avoid pregnancy/breastfeeding or medication stacking without clinician review. Details

Evidence
Limited Evidence
Typical onset
Varies by prep
Safety rating
High caution
Best for
Sleep, Cognitive function
Avoid / review if
Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Without Guidance, Diarrhea Prone Conditions, Limited Clinical Interaction Data
Cistanche monograph visual
Generated profile category visual

At a glance

From this profile's structured data
Evidence
Grade C
Safety
Limited human safety data; use conservative preparation-specific framing and avoid pregnancy/breastfeeding or medication stacking without clinician review.
Profile context
sleep
Next steps

Continue reading

Safety

Safety & Cautions

Limited human safety data; use conservative preparation specific framing and avoid pregnancy/breastfeeding or medication stacking without clinician review.

High caution

Caution level: High. Multiple caution categories apply, or the record uses avoid/contraindication language.

  • Interaction-AwareMedication or interaction context is explicitly noted.
  • Pregnancy/Breastfeeding CautionPregnancy or breastfeeding caution language is present.
Detailed safety fields

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and contraindications

  • Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Without Guidance
  • Diarrhea Prone Conditions
  • Limited Clinical Interaction Data
  • Caution With Laxatives And Glucose Lowering Therapies.

Safety classifications

  • Interaction-Aware: Medication or interaction context is explicitly noted.
  • Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Caution: Pregnancy or breastfeeding caution language is present.

Full safety note

  • Limited human safety data; use conservative preparation specific framing and avoid pregnancy/breastfeeding or medication stacking without clinician review.

Safety labels

  • Interaction-Aware
  • Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Caution

Evidence-based safety

Caution when combined

Severity and certainty are shown separately. A high-priority caution can still be theoretical: these pairings are screened from shared contraindication mechanisms and are not automatically documented clinical interactions. Provenance identifies the source fields that produced each flag; it does not upgrade the certainty of the pairwise claim.

Moderate Caution

110 flagged pairings

Blood-sugar lowering

Representative pairings are shown below. Large mechanism groups are intentionally summarized to keep profiles focused and crawl-efficient.

Blood-sugar loweringCertainty: Theoretical

Data provenance recorded for 110 of 110 pairings in this mechanism group.

+98 more pairings share this mechanism. Use the Safety Checker to review a specific combination.

Evidence

Evidence Summary

Evidence lens

Read as directional context, not settled clinical proof.

LimitedLimited Evidence

Human clinical evidence: Not the primary signal

Mechanistic / preclinical: Mechanism mapped — Neuroprotective Activity

Research maturity: Theoretical / mechanistic research — Mechanistic or unresolved evidence is kept separate from established human outcomes.

Safety boundary: Safety note available — Limited human safety data; use conservative preparation specific framing and avoid pregnancy/breastfeeding or medication stacking without clinician review.

This profile cites 5 human studies.

Study design details
Evidence Grade

Grade C: Limited Evidence

Evaluation of methodological rigor, population reach, and evidence alignment.

Design Match
Narrative review
Risk of Bias
High
Consistency
Not assessed
Strongest recorded design is a narrative review, drawn from 2 recorded studies, none of which measured an outcome in people.
How evidence grades work

Each grade reflects the strength and consistency of published human evidence — not marketing claims. Grades are based on study count, design quality, effect size, consistency, and recency.

Strong
Multiple RCTs, consistent direction, adequate effect size
Moderate
Some RCTs or consistent observational data in humans
Preliminary / Mixed
Animal or in-vitro only, or conflicting human data
Traditional / Theoretical
Traditional use only; no controlled human trials
Clinical Study Summaries (3)0 human evidence sources · 0 human trials · Participant totals not consistently reported · Consistency not yet classifiable

Filter by study class

Showing 3 of 3 studies.

What the evidence actually shows

This table contains 3 structured sources, including 0 human evidence sources; 0 are human trials.

StudyDesignNDoseDurationPopulationOutcomeResult & magnitudeSource

Herba Cistanches: Anti-aging

Wang N et al. · Aging Dis · 2017

Background
Narrative review

Summarizes selected literature without the full prespecified search and selection methods of a systematic review.

——————PubMed →

Anti-ageing active ingredients from herbs and nutraceuticals used in traditional Chinese medicine: pharmacological mechanisms and implications for drug discovery

Shen CY et al. · Br J Pharmacol · 2017

Background
Narrative review

Summarizes selected literature without the full prespecified search and selection methods of a systematic review.

——————PubMed →

Cistanche deserticola extract and its active components, echinacoside, ameliorate sarcopenia by activating the IGF-1/PI3K-AKT pathway to modulate ferroptosis

Wang X et al. · Phytomedicine · 2025

Background
Other / unclear

The study design is not yet classified clearly enough to infer its place in the evidence hierarchy.

——————PubMed →

Dosing & Timing

No standardized dose
Preparation specific; use standardized product label for Stem decoction and require source backed dosage review before therapeutic claims.
How Cistanche works

Simplified mechanism pathway based on preclinical and pharmacological evidence. Does not confirm clinical efficacy.

Mechanism Pathway — How Cistanche Works

How Cistanche WorksCistanche acts on biological target pathways via neuroprotective (activity), leading to sleep quality.CistancheBiological TargetBiological pathwayNeuroprotectiveActivitySleep Quality ↑Onset + depthGlucoseRegulation
CompoundTarget / ReceptorMechanismEffect / Outcome
Mechanisms & biological pathways (preclinical)
  • Neuroprotective Activity

Active Compounds

Key constituents studied in Cistanche, with full pharmacology and safety profiles.

Compare related active botanicals

Explore botanicals with similar chemistry, effects, or safety considerations in the Botanical Activity Atlas.

Guides that use Cistanche

Condition guides

Compare & Sourcing

Compare side-by-side tradeoffs or verify active marker guidelines.

Safety first · Harm reduction

This information is educational and not medical advice. Start low, avoid risky combinations, and consult a licensed clinician before making health decisions—especially if you use medications, have diagnosed conditions, or are pregnant/breastfeeding.

Learn how we evaluate confidence, safety, and intensity on the methodology page.

Editorial Review

Checked against primary sources, cited evidence, and contraindication language before publication. Evidence claims, safety language, and affiliate modules are reviewed independently. Not personal medical advice.

Editorial Standards →

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