- Region
- Asia
- Origin
- China
- Traditions
- Chinese medical traditions
Asia · Herb · № 759
Cynomorium songaricum
Herb · Asia
Cynomorium (suo yang)
Cynomorium songaricum
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidney yang, nourishes the blood and moistens the bowel.
Safety notes
Not with kidney yin deficiency or diarrhoea. Traditional use is no proof of effectiveness; if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have a medical condition, consult a doctor or pharmacist.
Preparation
Fleshy stem. Usually as a decoction, together with other herbs.
Use in traditions
Described in the classical Chinese materia medica, in the group 'tonics for kidney yang'. Suo yang, 'locked yang', is a reddish-brown parasitic plant of the deserts of north-western China and Mongolia. It is used as a tonic for impotence and weak muscles, and in Mongolia it is also eaten.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Chinese materia medica
- Nature and taste
- sweet, warm
- Meridians
- large intestine, kidney, liver
Attributed effects
For impotence, frequent urination and loss of semen, weak ligaments and muscles from exhausted essence and blood, and constipation from qi and blood deficiency.
Preparation and amount
Traditional dosage: 6–15 g a day, usually in a decoction. A parasite without chlorophyll that grows on roots in desert regions.
Combinations
- With rehmannia, du zhong and niu xi for muscle weakness from liver and kidney deficiency
- Ways to prepare herbs
- Decoction
- Formulas
- Jin suo gu jing wan