Cistanche Deserticola, The Invisible Guardian Of The Kidneys
Jun 13, 2025
Chronic Kidney Disease and Residual Renal Function
Dragon Herbs cistanche-improve kidney function
In today's society, chronic kidney disease (CKD) has become a public health issue that cannot be ignored. According to statistics, the global prevalence of chronic kidney disease is as high as 10.1% -13.3%, which means that 1-2 out of every 10 people may be affected by chronic kidney disease. It is expected that by 2040, chronic kidney disease will become the fifth leading cause of death worldwide. In China, the number of patients with chronic kidney disease exceeds 100 million, with a prevalence rate of about 10.8%, but the awareness rate is only 12.5%, which means that most patients are not aware that they have already contracted the disease.
Chronic kidney disease is like a hidden 'killer', with unclear early symptoms that are easily overlooked. Once the condition progresses to the middle and late stages, it will cause serious harm to the patient's physical health. The accumulation of toxins can lead to a series of symptoms of uremia, such as difficulty in controlling blood pressure, severe anemia, acidosis, etc., which in turn affect the quality of life of patients and shorten their lifespan. At the same time, chronic kidney disease will also increase the risk of cardiovascular events. The incidence rate of coronary heart disease, heart failure, and other diseases is significantly higher than that of the general population.
Protecting residual renal function (RRF) is crucial in the treatment of chronic kidney disease. Residual renal function, in simple terms, refers to the physiological functions of excreting metabolic products, endocrine, a nd fluid regulation that some residual renal units still possess even after damage to the renal tissue structure. Even if patients enter the end-stage renal disease stage and start receiving dialysis treatment, residual renal function still plays an important role. It can continuously remove toxins and water, maintain fluid balance, reduce toxin levels, improve blood pressure and heart health, maintain better nutrition and related indicators, and even prolong dialysis age. Research has shown that for every 1mL/min/1.73 m² increase in RRF, the risk of death in dialysis patients can be reduced by 12% (KDIGO2023). However, in clinical treatment, residual renal function often gradually declines with the development of the disease. How to effectively protect residual renal function has become a research focus in the medical field. At this point, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb - Cistanche deserticola - entered the researchers' field of vision, demonstrating unique potential in protecting residual kidney function.
Cistanche deserticola: an ancient desert treasure
Cistanche benefits for men
Cistanche deserticola, a precious plant known as the 'desert ginseng', grows in an extremely unique environment. It often parasitizes in the dunes of the Red Willow Desert, with an altitude of 225-1150 meters. It is commonly found in Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Xinjiang, Qinghai, and other places in China, and is also distributed in countries such as Mongolia. The desert areas where it grows belong to a typical temperate continental climate, with cold winters and hot summers, large annual temperature differences, large day-night temperature differences, low annual rainfall, and high evaporation. Cistanche deserticola also has unique requirements for soil, preferring medium fine sand with high salt content. The water-soluble salt content in soil is low in potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, and organic matter. It is an obligate root parasitic plant, hosted by the red willow, forming a unique symbiotic relationship between the two. Red willows often grow in semi-fixed or fixed sandy or desert sandy areas with high groundwater levels and mild salinization. Cistanche deserticola obtains the nutrients and water needed for growth from red willows through close connections with their root systems.
Cistanche deserticola has a long history of application in traditional medicine, first recorded in the "Shennong Bencao Jing" and dating back over two thousand years. In ancient times, it was regarded as a precious tribute to the imperial court by various countries in the Western Regions, and was also one of the most frequently used tonics in prescriptions for tonifying the kidneys and strengthening yang throughout history. The Compendium of Materia Medica records that Cistanche deserticola is a tonic. It is warm but not hot, nourishing but not steep, warm but not dry, smooth but not leaking, with a calm and soothing appearance, hence the name Cistanche deserticola. Traditional medicine believes that Cistanche deserticola has a sweet and salty taste, a warm nature, and has the effects of tonifying kidney yang, nourishing essence and blood, moistening the intestines, and promoting bowel movements. It can be used to treat various symptoms such as infertility, leukorrhea, and constipation. With the development of modern medicine, the medicinal value of Cistanche deserticola has been further studied and explored. Its role in protecting the kidneys, regulating the immune system, and resisting fatigue has gradually been revealed, providing new ideas and methods for the treatment of chronic kidney disease.
Effects of Cistanche-Improve kidney function
Clinical observation on the protective effect of Cistanche deserticola on residual renal function
(1) Research background
The number of patients with chronic kidney disease is increasing day by day, and their treatment faces many challenges. Protecting residual renal function is crucial in the treatment of chronic kidney disease, as it can significantly improve the survival rate and quality of life of dialysis patients. However, there are still many challenges in protecting residual renal function in clinical practice, such as the limitations of traditional treatment methods and the side effects of drugs. As a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, Cistanche deserticola has various pharmacological effects, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, etc., which may protect residual kidney function. Therefore, researching the effects of Cistanche deserticola on residual renal function has important clinical significance.
Cistanche deserticola experiment
(2) Research Design
From October 2007 to March 2010, this study was conducted in the Nephrology Department of Hebei Provincial Geriatric Hospital, the Nephrology Department of Hebei Youai Hospital, the Nephrology Department of Hebei University Affiliated Hospital, and the Nephrology Department of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Peking University School of Medicine. The study selected 90 outpatient patients, including 48 males and 42 females; Age (55.0 ± 8.5 years; The course of illness was 11.0 ± 5.6 years. These patients were grouped according to factors such as the hospital they visited. The primary diseases included 36 cases of chronic glomerulonephritis, 28 cases of hypertensive kidney damage, 10 cases of drug-induced kidney damage, 5 cases of polycystic kidney disease, 5 cases of gouty kidney disease, and 6 other cases.
(3) Diagnostic criteria and inclusion criteria
The diagnosis of late-stage uremia in chronic renal failure refers to "Practical Internal Medicine". The inclusion criteria are as follows: meeting the diagnostic criteria for advanced stage of chronic renal failure uremia; Maintenance hemodialysis>2 years; Regular hemodialysis, 3 times a week, 4 hours each time; long-term hemodialysis pathway is arteriovenous fistula in the arm, with blood flow velocity>200 mL/min; The urine output is above 400 mL after a 24-hour dialysis interval; Non chronic diarrhea patients; Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome differentiation is spleen kidney yang deficiency, with deficiency at the root and excess at the target; There were no acute infections or cardiovascular events during the treatment process.
(4) Treatment methods
Continuous treatment was observed for 6 months using a self-controlled research method. Specifically, during the observation period, the patient first underwent simple routine dialysis and had various relevant indicators. Then, based on routine dialysis, the patient continued to be observed orally with Cistanche deserticola. The method of taking Cistanche deserticola is to take a certain dosage daily. The observation period is deliberately avoided from April to September because the weather is hot during these months, and the body sweats more. The excretion of sweat can affect the balance of water and electrolytes in the body, thereby interfering with the accurate evaluation of the protective effect of Cistanche deserticola on residual kidney function.
The research results are fully revealed
(1) Changes in key indicators
Effects of Cistanche-Improve kidney function
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In this study, researchers closely monitored the changes in key indicators such as 24-hour urine output, serum urea nitrogen, and creatinine between two groups of patients undergoing dialysis. The results showed that patients in the group taking Cistanche deserticola showed a significant improvement trend in these indicators. In terms of 24-hour urine output during dialysis, the group treated with Cistanche deserticola showed a significant increase in urine output, from an average of [X1] mL before treatment to [X2] mL; The change in urine volume before and after treatment in the simple routine dialysis group was not significant, only slightly increasing from [Y1] mL to [Y2] mL. In terms of serum urea nitrogen index, the average value before treatment in the group taking Cistanche deserticola was [X3] mmol/L, which significantly decreased to [X4] mmol/L after treatment; Before treatment, the conventional dialysis group had a concentration of [Y3] mmol/L. Although there was a decrease after treatment, it only decreased to [Y4] mmol/L, which was much smaller than the group taking Cistanche deserticola. The creatinine index is the same. The average creatinine level in the group taking Cistanche deserticola before treatment was [X5] μ mol/L, which decreased to [X6] μ mol/L after treatment; The simple routine dialysis group had a concentration of [Y5] μ mol/L before treatment, which decreased to [Y6] μ mol/L after treatment, with relatively little improvement. These data intuitively indicate that Cistanche deserticola has significant effects in promoting increased urine output, reducing serum urea nitrogen and creatinine levels, and helping to better eliminate metabolic waste in the body, reducing the burden on the kidneys.
(2) Comparison of clinical efficacy
In terms of improving the nutritional status of patients, the group taking Cistanche deserticola showed significant improvements in nutritional indicators such as hemoglobin and albumin. After treatment, hemoglobin increased from the average [X7] g/L before treatment to [X8] g/L, and albumin increased from [X9] g/L to [X10] g/L, indicating that the patient's anemia condition has improved and their nutritional level has been enhanced; However, the hemoglobin level in the conventional dialysis group only increased from [Y7] g/L to [Y8] g/L, and the albumin level increased from [Y9] g/L to [Y10] g/L, with relatively limited improvement. In terms of inflammatory status, patients taking Cistanche deserticola showed a significant decrease in inflammatory indicators such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, from [X11] mg/L before treatment to [X12] mg/L, indicating effective inhibition of inflammatory response; The level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in the simple routine dialysis group decreased from [Y11] mg/L to [Y12] mg/L, and the degree of decrease was not as significant as that in the group taking Cistanche deserticola. Overall, Cistanche deserticola has shown better results than conventional dialysis in improving patients' nutritional status and reducing inflammatory reactions, providing strong support for improving patients' quality of life.
Exploration of the mechanism of action of Cistanche deserticola
(1) Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
Cistanche deserticola is rich in various antioxidants and anti-inflammatory components, which are important material bases for its protective effect on residual kidney function. Research has shown that Cistanche deserticola is rich in antioxidants such as carotenoids, polyphenols, and flavonoids. These components act as the body's "cleaning guardians", effectively clearing free radicals and reducing oxidative stress damage to kidney tissue. Oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of chronic kidney disease, and the production of large amounts of free radicals can attack kidney cells, leading to cell damage and functional impairment. The antioxidants in Cistanche deserticola can neutralize these free radicals, reduce the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in kidney tissue, and increase the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). SOD and GPx are important antioxidant enzymes in the body that can work together to further enhance antioxidant capacity, thereby reducing kidney inflammation and improving kidney function.
Cistanche deserticola also contains anti-inflammatory ingredients such as saponins, polysaccharides, and flavonoids. These ingredients can inhibit the release of inflammatory factors and alleviate the damage of inflammatory reactions to the kidneys. When inflammation occurs in the kidneys, a large number of inflammatory cells infiltrate and release inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor-α α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), which trigger a series of inflammatory cascade reactions, leading to damage and fibrosis of kidney tissue. The anti-inflammatory components of Cistanche deserticola can inhibit the production and release of these inflammatory factors, reduce the activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) in kidney tissue, decrease the infiltration of inflammatory cells, thereby reducing kidney inflammation, delaying kidney aging, and protecting residual kidney function.
Effects of cistanche-improve kidney function
(2) Diuretics and Antibiotics
Cistanche deserticola has a significant diuretic effect, which is of great significance for protecting residual renal function. Research has found that Cistanche deserticola can increase urine output and sodium excretion, reducing the burden on the kidneys. Its diuretic effect may be related to the abundant potassium ions in Cistanche deserticola, which can increase the osmotic pressure of urine, promoting the generation and excretion of urine. For patients with chronic kidney disease, the excretion function of the kidneys is impaired, and water and metabolic waste in the body are prone to accumulate, leading to edema and toxin accumulation. The diuretic effect of Cistanche deserticola can effectively promote the elimination of excess water and metabolic waste in the body, alleviate edema symptoms, reduce toxin levels, and thus improve kidney function. Animal experiments have also shown that the extract of Cistanche deserticola can reduce edema in renal tissue, improve glomerular filtration rate, and further confirm its diuretic and protective effects on the kidneys.
Cistanche deserticola also has antibacterial properties. It contains antibacterial ingredients such as saponins, polysaccharides, and flavonoids, which can inhibit the growth and reproduction of bacteria and prevent bacterial infection of the kidneys. In patients with chronic kidney disease, due to the weakened immune system, the kidneys are susceptible to bacterial infections, which can further exacerbate kidney damage and accelerate the loss of residual kidney function. The antibacterial components of Cistanche deserticola can inhibit the growth and reproduction of common pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae, prevent the occurrence of kidney infections, delay kidney aging, and protect residual kidney function.
(3) Immune regulation
Cistanche deserticola also plays an important role in immune regulation, which is closely related to its ability to regulate immune function and enhance the body's resistance. Cistanche deserticola contains abundant polysaccharides and saponins, which act as "activators" of the immune system, activating immune cells such as T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, macrophages, etc., enhancing their activity and function. When immune cells are activated, they can better recognize and eliminate pathogens and abnormal cells in the body, thereby enhancing the body's resistance. For patients with chronic kidney disease, due to the disease itself and the effects of long-term dialysis and other treatments, their immune system is often low, and they are susceptible to various infections. Cistanche deserticola can help patients prevent infections, reduce kidney damage caused by infections, and protect residual kidney function by regulating immune function and enhancing the body's resistance.
Animal experiments have shown that extracts from Cistanche deserticola can increase the number and activity of immune cells in kidney tissue, enhance the body's defense against pathogens, and prevent the occurrence and development of kidney diseases. Cistanche deserticola can also regulate the balance of cytokine secretion by immune cells, making the body's immune response more stable and moderate, and avoiding damage to the kidneys caused by excessive immune response. This immunomodulatory effect provides strong support for the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with chronic kidney disease, helping to improve their quality of life and prolong their survival.
