Chronic renal failure can be categorized as retention of urine in Chinese medicine and Guan Ge (关格). Cistanchis is effective in relieving renal yang deficiency (lack of yang energy in the kidneys) in chronic renal failure. The use of this drug is subject to medical advice. Cistanchis has the effect of tonifying the kidney and assisting yang, moistening the intestines and relaxing the bowels. It is used for treating deficiency of kidney yang, deficiency of essence and blood, impotence and premature ejaculation, infertility with uterine cold, lumbar and knee pain, impotence and weakness, and constipation with dryness of intestines and depletion of body fluid. It is not recommended for people with yin deficiency (deficiency of yin and essence in the body, resulting in hyperactive fire) and loose stools (thin and unformed feces) and diarrhea, and is not recommended for people with constipation due to heat. It should be noted that the efficacy of a single Chinese medicine is limited, and clinically it needs to be combined with other Chinese medicines after identification by a Chinese medicine practitioner.