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Cistanche deserticola: the legend of "desert ginseng"
Dragon Herbs Cistanche
In the vast and boundless desert, there grows a mysterious and precious plant - Cistanche deserticola. It parasitizes at the roots of the desert tree Haloxylon ammodendron, absorbing nutrients and water from its host. It is known as the "desert ginseng" and occupies a unique position in traditional medicine.
As early as more than 2000 years ago, the "Shennong Bencao Jing" had already listed Cistanche deserticola as a top-grade product, stating that it "mainly treats the five labor and seven injuries, replenishes the middle, removes cold and hot pain from the stem, nourishes the five organs, strengthens yin, nourishes essence and qi, and treats women's ailments. Subsequently, many medical classics, such as the "Compendium of Materia Medica," also recorded the medicinal value of Cistanche deserticola. In traditional Chinese medicine theory, Cistanche deserticola is known for its sweet, salty, and warm properties, and its ability to nourish the kidney and colon meridians. It has the effects of tonifying kidney yang, nourishing essence and blood, moistening the intestines, and promoting bowel movements. It can significantly regulate symptoms such as impotence and infertility caused by insufficient kidney yang and deficiency of essence and blood, soreness and weakness of the waist and knees, muscles and bones, as well as intestinal dryness and constipation.
Modern scientific research has revealed that Cistanche deserticola is rich in various bioactive substances such as phenylethanoid glycosides, iridoid glycosides, lignans, polysaccharides, alkaloids, etc. Among them, polysaccharides can regulate immunity, anti-aging, improve spleen deficiency, resist viruses and tumors, and promote hematopoiesis; Pinecone chrysanthemum glycoside has neuroprotective, bone protective, anti injury, and liver protective effects; Ergosterol glycoside can tonify the kidneys and strengthen yang, resist aging, protect the liver, and improve memory impairment; Rich betaine has male hormone like effects and strong antioxidant properties, as well as anti fatty liver and anti-tumor effects, as well as vasodilation and blood pressure lowering effects. These precious ingredients make Cistanche deserticola highly favored in the fields of medicine and health products, with extremely high economic value.
Main Chemical Constituents of Cistanche deserticola
Wild Cistanche deserticola: an endangered warning bell
However, wild Cistanche deserticola is currently facing a severe survival crisis and has been listed as a national second-class protected plant. This is not an exaggeration, but a cruel reality. In the past few decades, due to excessive excavation and ecological damage, the number of wild Cistanche deserticola has sharply decreased, and the speed of its sharp decline in wild resources is alarming.
Driven by interests, illegal mining activities persist despite repeated bans. According to relevant data, before the 1980s, due to the lack of effective protection measures and supervision, Cistanche deserticola was indiscriminately harvested, resulting in a significant decline in its population. Although illegal harvesting of Cistanche deserticola has been curbed to some extent since it was listed in the National Second-level Protected Plant List in 1984, there are still criminals who take risks for high profits. In some major production areas of Cistanche deserticola, such as Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang, there are many illegal mining cases every year, which seriously threaten the survival of wild Cistanche deserticola.
Cistanche deserticola has extremely strict requirements for its growth environment. It mainly parasitizes the roots of desert trees such as Haloxylon ammodendron, with a long growth cycle. It usually takes 3-5 years or even longer from seed to plant maturity, and only 7 Cistanche deserticola plants per thousand parasitic plants of Haloxylon ammodendron. And the Haloxylon ammodendron tree is often extensively cut down for overgrazing and as a local fuel, which makes the living environment of Cistanche deserticola even worse. With the deterioration of the ecological environment, such as the intensification of land desertification and water scarcity, the areas suitable for the growth of Cistanche deserticola are constantly shrinking, further exacerbating its endangered status.
Cistanche deserticola
Strictly prohibit excavation: the red line of the law.
In order to protect wild Cistanche deserticola, China has established a rigorous legal protection system. The Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Wild Plants, which came into effect on January 1, 1997, aim to protect, develop, and rationally utilize wild plant resources, preserve biodiversity, and maintain ecological balance. On September 7, 2021, with the approval of the State Council, the State Forestry and Grassland Administration and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs jointly announced the newly adjusted "List of National Key Protected Wild Plants", which listed Cistanche deserticola as a national second-class protected plant. This means that any illegal excavation, purchase, transportation, processing, or sale of wild Cistanche deserticola will violate the legal red line.
According to Article 344 of the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China, "Those who violate state regulations by illegally logging or destroying precious trees or other plants under state key protection, or illegally purchasing, transporting, processing, or selling precious trees or other plants under state key protection and their products, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years, detention, or surveillance, and shall be fined; if the circumstances are serious, they shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years but not more than seven years, and shall be fined." In the actual law enforcement process, the judicial authorities will strictly punish the illegal logging of wild Cistanche deserticola according to the severity of the circumstances.
In May 2024, Zhou and Deng drove their vehicles from the 149th Regiment of the Eighth Division to the Gurbantunggut Desert. Within just two hours, they illegally excavated 33 complete wild Cistanche deserticola plants and more than 140 sections. The two were quickly arrested and brought to justice by the police. After identification, it was determined that the Cistanche deserticola they dug up belongs to the national second-class key protected plant. The People's Procuratorate of Mosuowan Reclamation Area of the Eighth Division conducted an in-depth examination of the case, obtained sufficient evidence, and ultimately filed a criminal incidental civil public interest lawsuit. The court adopted the sentencing recommendation of the procuratorial organ and sentenced the two individuals to one year's imprisonment, suspended for one year and six months, and fined 1000 yuan.
On June 4th of the same year, the Mosuowan Reclamation Area Public Security Bureau received a clue that someone was illegally harvesting wild Cistanche deserticola. The police quickly launched an investigation and arrested three suspects, including Zhou, seizing and confiscating more than 140 pieces of wild Cistanche deserticola. After investigation, in early May, Zhou and two other people drove to the depths of the desert without obtaining a wild plant collection permit and illegally excavated more than 30 wild Cistanche deserticola plants. At present, suspects have been taken into custody under criminal coercive measures according to law, and the case is under further investigation.
Cistanche deserticola
These cases constantly remind us that the law will not tolerate the illegal harvesting of wild Cistanche deserticola. Whether it is individuals who engage in unauthorized mining for personal use or illegal elements who engage in large-scale poaching for huge profits, they will be severely punished by the law. We must respect the law, abide by relevant regulations, and never take chances to cross the red line of this law.
Ecological 'Domino': The Tragedy of Mining and Digging
The illegal excavation of wild Cistanche not only brings about a decrease in the population of this species, but also a "domino" crisis in the ecological environment. There is a unique and close symbiotic relationship between Cistanche deserticola and Haloxylon ammodendron. With its strong drought resistance and sand fixation ability, Haloxylon ammodendron grows tenaciously in desert environments, becoming a solid barrier against sandstorms. And Cistanche deserticola parasitizes at the roots of the Haloxylon ammodendron tree, obtaining the nutrients and water needed for growth from the tree. This symbiotic relationship not only maintains their survival but also plays a crucial role in the balance and stability of the entire desert ecosystem.
When illegal miners dig recklessly to obtain Cistanche deserticola, the root system of the Haloxylon ammodendron tree will be severely damaged. Even the slightest damage can affect the absorption of water and nutrients by the Haloxylon ammodendron tree, leading to weakened growth and even death. According to research, for every kilogram of wild Cistanche deserticola harvested, an average of 10 square meters of sand-fixing vegetation needs to be destroyed, which is undoubtedly a heavy blow to the desert ecology. With the decrease of Haloxylon ammodendron trees, the windbreak and sand fixation ability in desert areas has significantly decreased, the speed of land desertification has accelerated, and the frequency and intensity of natural disasters such as sandstorms have also increased. The once lush desert oasis may be swallowed up by yellow sand in a short period of time, and many animals and plants that rely on the Haloxylon ammodendron forest for survival have lost their habitats and food sources, causing serious damage to biodiversity.
In Alxa League, due to the intensive mining of Cistanche deserticola, the local ecological environment has deteriorated sharply. According to monitoring data, the frequency of sandstorms in areas where Cistanche deserticola mining is severe has increased by 47% compared to the past. The once vibrant Haloxylon ammodendron forest has become sparse and dilapidated, and many small animals that rely on the forest for survival, such as sand rats and jumping rats, have significantly decreased in number. Some rare birds no longer inhabit and reproduce here. The deterioration of this ecological environment not only affects the local ecological balance but also has a serious impact on the production and life of residents. Land desertification leads to a reduction in cultivable land, threatening agricultural and animal husbandry production, and the quality of life of residents decreases accordingly.
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The Road to Sustainable Development: The Hope of Artificial Planting
In the severe situation of endangered wild Cistanche deserticola, artificial cultivation of Cistanche deserticola has become a key path to solve this problem, bringing hope to protect wild resources and meet market demand.
In recent years, significant progress has been made in the artificial cultivation technology of Cistanche deserticola, and more and more researchers and enterprises have devoted themselves to research and practice in this field. At present, the common artificial planting methods mainly use shuttle trees or four-winged quinoa as host plants, and through specific technical means, inoculate the seeds of Cistanche deserticola into the roots of the host plants, allowing Cistanche deserticola to grow in an artificially controlled environment.
In Xinjiang, Xinjiang Wolin Ecological Technology Co., Ltd. has partnered with the School of Pharmacy at Jinan University to establish the largest Cistanche deserticola breeding base in the country, covering an area of 1 million acres. They adopt the "company-based farmer" model to drive local farmers and herdsmen to plant Cistanche deserticola. Since 2012, Associate Professor Ma Zhiguo from the college has visited Xinjiang 8 times and held 7 sessions of over 20 training sessions on Cistanche deserticola planting technology, training a total of 1500 farmers and herdsmen. Nowadays, Xinjiang Wolin Company has signed a 120000-acre "Haloxylon ammodendron Forest Protection Cistanche deserticola Planting and Purchase Contract" with 30 farmers and herdsmen, and the construction of the base has achieved remarkable results.
In Dengkou County, Bayannur City, Inner Mongolia, Wangyedi Cistanche Biotechnology Co., Ltd. is also vigorously developing the Cistanche planting industry. Their base has a planting area of 20000 acres, and it is expected to harvest more than 5000 acres this year, with a yield of about 150 kilograms per acre and a profit of about 3000 yuan per acre. The staff introduced that Cistanche deserticola is planted in the roots of Haloxylon ammodendron or Atractylodes macrocephala, and its life is activated through the nutrient transport of the host plant. It can mature and be harvested after three years. After harvesting, the Cistanche deserticola undergoes cleaning, peeling, slicing, drying, and air drying procedures to produce a series of characteristic products such as Cistanche deserticola slices and Cistanche tea, which are sold throughout the country and greatly promote the development of the local Cistanche deserticola industry.
Artificial cultivation of Cistanche not only effectively meets the market demand for Cistanche and reduces dependence on wild resources, but also brings significant ecological and economic benefits. In terms of ecology, the host plants of Cistanche deserticola, such as the Haloxylon ammodendron and the four-winged Chenopodium, have strong drought tolerance and sand fixation abilities. Planting these host plants on a large scale can effectively improve the ecological environment in desert areas, reduce land desertification, and lower the frequency of natural disasters such as sandstorms. At the economic level, the development of the Cistanche deserticola planting industry has provided a large number of employment opportunities for local farmers and herdsmen, increasing their sources of income. Many farmers and herdsmen have achieved poverty alleviation and significant improvement in their living standards by participating in the planting, harvesting, and processing of Cistanche deserticola.
Protecting wild Cistanche deserticola and safeguarding the ecological future
Chinese herb cistanche
The protection of wild Cistanche deserticola is a crucial battle concerning ecological balance, cultural heritage, and sustainable economic development. It is not only a precious medicinal herb but also an indispensable part of the desert ecosystem, maintaining the stability of the entire ecological chain. The illegal excavation behavior is like a sharp blade, cutting off the symbiotic bond between Cistanche deserticola and Haloxylon ammodendron, putting the desert ecology in crisis, and causing us to lose valuable natural resources and cultural heritage.
Fortunately, the development of artificial cultivation technology has opened up a new path for the protection and utilization of Cistanche deserticola. Through artificial cultivation, we can meet the market demand for Cistanche deserticola while reducing dependence on wild resources, achieving a win-win situation for resource conservation and economic development. This is not only a respect for nature, but also a responsibility for the future.
Protecting wild Cistanche deserticola is everyone's responsibility. We should all become guardians of wild Cistanche deserticola, actively promote the importance of protecting wild Cistanche deserticola, and raise public awareness of conservation. In daily life, we must resolutely resist the purchase and use of wild Cistanche deserticola and its products from illegal sources, so that illegal miners lose their market. If you are in the production area of Cistanche deserticola, you should lead by example, abide by relevant laws and regulations, and not participate in any illegal mining activities.
Looking ahead to the future, I believe that with the joint efforts of the whole society, wild Cistanche deserticola will be able to overcome its endangered situation and regain vitality in the desert. Let us work together to safeguard the green treasure in this desert and leave a better ecological home for future generations.
