Cistanche
Summary
Cistanche stems are rich in phenylethanoid glycosides such as echinacoside. Small trials report better strength with resistance training, better walking speed in older adults, and better memory and fatigue scores when combined with ginkgo. Most trials were sponsored by or run by the companies selling the products, and none lasted longer than 12 weeks.
Key facts
- 5 g twice daily for 8 weeks with resistance training increased 1RM squat and other strength measures more than placebo in 48 men; the trial was sponsored by the product supplier[1]
- 1,800 mg/day of C. tubulosa extract for 12 weeks improved gait speed and step width in people over 60 with mild locomotive syndrome (26 analysed)[2]
- Cistanche-ginkgo tablets improved memory and fatigue scores in two trials (100 and 190 adults) with mostly Amway-affiliated authors[3][4]
- In the cistanche-ginkgo memory trial, TSH fell and T3 rose significantly; the meaning is unclear[3]
- No treatment-related adverse events were reported in trials of up to 12 weeks, but we found no long-term, pregnancy or drug-interaction data[2][3]
- 4 graded human outcomes on this page
- October 13, 2026
How it works
ProposedCistanche contains phenylethanoid glycosides, mainly echinacoside and acteoside (verbascoside). Animal work cited by trial authors suggests effects on muscle and nerve tissue; mechanisms in people are not established.[2][3]
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form column shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
At a glance: strongest evidence per outcome
| Outcome | Grade | Effect | Strongest evidence | Rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strength | Grade C | Improved | RCT · n = 48 · 2025 | 1 row |
| Fatigue | Grade D | Improved | RCT · n = 190 · 2021 | 1 row |
| Memory | Grade D | Improved | RCT · n = 100 · 2024 | 1 row |
| Mobility | Grade D | Improved | RCT · n = 26 · 2021 | 1 row |
Every graded row
| Outcome | Effect | Grade | Best evidence | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muscle strength with resistance training | Improved | Grade C | RCT · n = 48 · 2025 Male participants, 24 resistance-trained and 24 untrained, on a standardised 8-week training programme (China) Form: Cistanche deserticola extract · Dose: 5 g twice daily (10 g/day) · Duration: 8 weeks Untrained men on cistanche gained more in 1RM bench press and squat, isometric strength and reps to failure than placebo; trained men gained more in 1RM squat and isometric strength. Cortisol, CRP and creatine kinase fell. | 41010491 (opens PubMed)Source [1] |
| Chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 190 · 2021 Adults aged 35-60 with chronic fatigue syndrome (China) Form: Cistanche plus ginkgo tablet · Dose: 300-450 mg cistanche with 120-180 mg ginkgo daily · Duration: 60 days Fatigue scores and quality-of-life measures improved more than placebo; the authors note the effect size was trivial and may lack clinical significance. | 34901100 (opens PubMed)Source [4] |
| Memory and cognition in middle-aged and older adults | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 100 · 2024 Chinese adults at risk of cognitive decline Form: Cistanche tubulosa plus Ginkgo biloba tablets (72 mg echinacoside, 27 mg ginkgo flavonol glycosides per day) · Dose: 2 tablets/day · Duration: 90 days MMSE rose from 26.5 to 27.1 and MoCA from 23.4 to 25.3, more than placebo; memory tests improved. TSH fell and T3 rose. No treatment-related adverse events. | 38972848 (opens PubMed)Source [3] |
| Walking ability in mild locomotive syndrome | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 26 · 2021 Adults aged 40-80 with pre-symptomatic or mild locomotive syndrome (Japan; 28 enrolled) Form: Cistanche tubulosa 30% ethanolic extract · Dose: 1,800 mg/day · Duration: 12 weeks In participants over 60, two-step width and 5 m gait speed improved versus placebo (P = 0.046); muscle mass did not change. No obvious adverse events on blood tests. | 33477648 (opens PubMed)Source [2] |
Forms
| Form | Elemental % | Absorption (human data) | GI tolerance | Studied for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cistanche deserticola extract | Varies[1] | No human pharmacokinetic data in the cited sources.[1] | No safety problems were reported in an 8-week strength trial.[1] | Strength trial (10 g/day) |
| Cistanche tubulosa extract (echinacoside-rich) | Varies[2] | No human pharmacokinetic data in the cited sources.[2] | No obvious adverse events on blood tests over 12 weeks.[2] | Walking trial (1,800 mg/day); combination memory and fatigue trials |
Studied doses
Doses studied in human trials ranged from 300-450 mg/day of cistanche with ginkgo for 60 days (fatigue) and 1,800 mg/day of C. tubulosa extract for 12 weeks (walking) to 10 g/day of C. deserticola extract for 8 weeks (strength).[4][2][1]
Interactions
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
None found in our sources.
Who should be careful
- People with thyroid conditions
- TSH and T3 changed significantly in a cistanche-ginkgo trial; the relevance for thyroid patients is unknown.[3]
Talk to your pharmacist or clinician before starting a supplement, especially if you take prescription medicines.
Safety first
Short trials report no safety problems, but data are thin.
- Trial safety
- No treatment-related adverse events and stable routine blood and urine tests in a 90-day, 100-person trial.[3]
How to read the label
Frequently asked questions
What is cistanche?
A parasitic desert plant used in Chinese medicine; its stems contain echinacoside and acteoside.[2][3]
Does cistanche build strength?
One 8-week, 48-man trial with resistance training found larger strength gains; the product supplier sponsored it.[1]
Does cistanche improve memory?
Memory scores improved in a trial of cistanche combined with ginkgo, run by the product's maker; cistanche alone has not been tested for memory.[3]
Does cistanche raise testosterone?
Testosterone measures improved in the 8-week strength trial, the only human data cited here.[1]
Sources
- [1]Effects of Cistanche deserticola Y.C. Ma Supplementation on Muscle Strength and Recovery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.. Nutrients, 2025. RCT
- [2]Effects of Cistanche tubulosa Wight Extract on Locomotive Syndrome: A Placebo-Controlled, Randomized, Double-Blind Study.. Nutrients, 2021. RCT
- [3]A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of Cistanche tubulosa and Ginkgo biloba extracts for the improvement of cognitive function in middle-aged and elderly people.. Phytother Res, 2024. RCT
- [4]A Botanical Product Containing Cistanche and Ginkgo Extracts Potentially Improves Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms in Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Study.. Front Nutr, 2021. RCT
What changed
- Initial editorial evidence review: source titles and years taken from NCBI E-utilities esummary (no retraction or expression-of-concern flags), every evidence row, dose, n and duration read against the PubMed abstract or full text, funding and author affiliations checked where available, and grades held conservative.