Dunhuang's Three Treasures

Last updated 2026-11-13 — Dunhuang’s Three Treasures Lie Beneath the Snow: Also known as the Crescent Lake Three Treasures, many refer to Dunhuang’s health-promoting herbs — Apocynum pictum, Cynomorium songaricum, and Cistanche deserticola — as the Dunhuang Three Treasures. Cynomorium songaricum grows in autumn and winter, typically sprouting in late autumn and emerging from the ground in early winter. Its optimal growth temperature is around minus 20 degrees Celsius, and it grows in areas that are not covered by snow, making it relatively easy to find. Cistanche deserticola: The main growing season for Cistanche deserticola is winter and spring, usually emerging from the ground in April. It has relatively low requirements for temperature and moisture, and it contains no chlorophyll, relying mainly on lateral roots for nutrients. The primary benefits of Cynomorium songaricum include enhancing male vitality, nourishing kidneys, beautifying the skin, and offering certain anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects. Therefore, it is especially suitable for women to consume, though attention should be paid to these factors when eating it. Women can definitely eat it regularly. The main function of Cistanche deserticola is to nourish kidneys and enhance male vitality, but it is less effective in delaying aging. While it strengthens the body, it does not have anti-inflammatory properties.