Cuscuta Semen, Dodder seed, Tu Si Zi 菟丝子Tu Si Zi (TCM)
Kasoos (Unani) Sbrul zhags སྦྲུལ་ཞགས (Tibet) |
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Left: Dodder, Cuscuta ; Right: Dodder of Thyme, Epithymum
Kreutterbuch, Matthiolus, 1586
Kreutterbuch, Matthiolus, 1586
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E. europea
British Phaenogamous Botany, Baxter, 1834 |
C. vulgaris (syn. C. epilinum)
Flora von Deutschland (16), Kohler, 1884 |
Botanical name:
Cuscuta spp.
European is supplied by C. europea, C. epithymum (syn. C. minor), C. vulgaris
Greater or Lesser types, as well as White and Red types were recognised.
It is a parasitic herb on Hops, Nettle and Flax, among others. That of Thyme was regarded as best and was called Epithymum. Schroder said the whole herb in flower was used, chiefly that from Flax.
The Chinese Dodder is C. chinensis (and others)
Parts used:
Seed
Temperature & Taste:
Neutral, Pungent and Sweet
Classification:
N. Tonify Yang
Cuscuta spp.
European is supplied by C. europea, C. epithymum (syn. C. minor), C. vulgaris
Greater or Lesser types, as well as White and Red types were recognised.
It is a parasitic herb on Hops, Nettle and Flax, among others. That of Thyme was regarded as best and was called Epithymum. Schroder said the whole herb in flower was used, chiefly that from Flax.
The Chinese Dodder is C. chinensis (and others)
Parts used:
Seed
Temperature & Taste:
Neutral, Pungent and Sweet
Classification:
N. Tonify Yang
Uses:
1. Tonifies Yin and Yang, Secures the Essence: (TCM, Tibet)
-Impotence, Nocturnal Emission, Premature Ejaculation (TCM)
-Lower Back and Knee Pain (TCM, Tibet)
-Urinary frequency, Vaginal Discharge (TCM, Tibet)
-'reinforces the Jing (Essence]' (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
-'long term use gives a lustrous complexion and rejuvenates the body'. (wine-prepared seed, Su Song)
2. Tonifies Liver and Kidneys, Settles Wind: (TCM, Tibet)
-'tones the Liver invaded by pathogenic Wind when it is in a deficient condition'. (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
-Dizziness, Tinnitus (TCM, Tibet)
-Poor Vision, Spots in front of the Eyes
-'Brightens the Eyes'. (Ming Yi Bie Lu)
3. Strengthens the Spleen, Benefits Qi:
-Chronic Diarrhea or Loose stool from deficiency (Spleen, or Spleen and Kidney)
-'makes the patient feel happy and energetic and enjoy a long life'. (Ming Yi Bie Lu)
-also used for Melancholy as for the herb.
4. Calms the Fetus, Prevents Miscarriage:
-Threatened or Habitual Miscarriage
-Restlessness of the Fetus
-Gynecological diseases (Tibet)
DOSE:
1. Some Traditional Chinese texts said it was best taken in powders and pills, not decoction. (Tao Hong Jing)
2. Alcohol was said to enhance the effect (either used in its preparation, or as a vehicle).
Decoction: 6–15 grams
Powder: 2–5 grams
CORRECTIVES:
1. Tragacanth
2. Chicory
SUBSTITUTES:
1. The Barefoot Doctors Manual (Official Para-medical Manual of China) suggests that the herb and seed may be used interchangeably.
PREPARATION:
1. Wine-prepared Cuscuta Tu Si Zi:
According to Chinese classics, the seed is best soaked for 24 hours in wine, then dried and powder.
A more elaborate version soaks 1 cup of seeds in 1 cup of wine, then remove and dry in the sun. Repeat the soaking and drying until all the wine is absorbed, then dry and powder. Take 6 grams as a dose with wine. 'Long-term use gives one a lustrous complexion and rejuvenates the body. After 10 days of use, the therapeutic effect is obviously seen'. (Su Song)
2. Steamed Cuscuta Tu Si Zi:
Soak the seed in wine for 4–5 days. Beat to a paste, then steam and dry. It is then powdered and kept for use.
3. Cuscuta Tu Si Zi Prepared with Polygonatum Huang Jing:
Soak the seed in vinegar for 2 days, then soak in the juice of Polygonatum Huang Jing overnight. The next day, stew the seed in the juice until dry.
1. Some Traditional Chinese texts said it was best taken in powders and pills, not decoction. (Tao Hong Jing)
2. Alcohol was said to enhance the effect (either used in its preparation, or as a vehicle).
Decoction: 6–15 grams
Powder: 2–5 grams
CORRECTIVES:
1. Tragacanth
2. Chicory
SUBSTITUTES:
1. The Barefoot Doctors Manual (Official Para-medical Manual of China) suggests that the herb and seed may be used interchangeably.
PREPARATION:
1. Wine-prepared Cuscuta Tu Si Zi:
According to Chinese classics, the seed is best soaked for 24 hours in wine, then dried and powder.
A more elaborate version soaks 1 cup of seeds in 1 cup of wine, then remove and dry in the sun. Repeat the soaking and drying until all the wine is absorbed, then dry and powder. Take 6 grams as a dose with wine. 'Long-term use gives one a lustrous complexion and rejuvenates the body. After 10 days of use, the therapeutic effect is obviously seen'. (Su Song)
2. Steamed Cuscuta Tu Si Zi:
Soak the seed in wine for 4–5 days. Beat to a paste, then steam and dry. It is then powdered and kept for use.
3. Cuscuta Tu Si Zi Prepared with Polygonatum Huang Jing:
Soak the seed in vinegar for 2 days, then soak in the juice of Polygonatum Huang Jing overnight. The next day, stew the seed in the juice until dry.
Main Combinations:
1. Spermatorrhea, Premature Ejaculation, Lower Back Pain, Cuscuta Tu Si Zi with Eucommia Du Zhong, Cornus Shan Zhu Yu and Velvet Deer Horn
2. Diarrhea or Loose Stool with Poor Appetite, combine Cuscuta Tu Si Zi with Poria Fu Ling, Dioscorea Shan Yao and Codonopsis Dang Shen.
3. Poor or Blurry Vision, Cuscuta Tu Si Zi with Lycium Gou Qi Zi ('Goji berries')
4. Menstrual irregularity, breast distention, premenstrual depression, depression from Qi stagnation and Kidney deficiency, Cuscuta Tu Si Zi with Paeonia Bai Shao, Dang Gui, Dioscorea Shan Yao, Bupleurum Chai Hu, Schizonopeta Jing Jie (as in Ding Jing Tang)
5. Threatened Miscarriage:
i. from Kidney deficiency Cuscuta Tu Si Zi with Loranthus Sang Ji Sheng (Mulberry Mistletoe) and Eucommia Du Zhong (as in An Tai Yin)
ii. from Qi and Blood deficiency, Cuscuta Tu Si Zi with Dang Gui, Astragalus Huang Qi
iii. from Kidney deficiency, Cuscuta Tu Si Zi with Dipsacus Xu Duan, Eucommia Du Zhong, Dang Gui, Lycium Gou Qi Zi, Atractylodes Bai Zhu (as in Bu Shen Gu Chong Wan)
6. Impotence, Cuscuta Tu Si Zi with Withania, Asparagus root, Pyrethrum, Nutmeg, Salep (Orchis), Saffron (Unani)
7. Sciatica, Dodder seed was combined with Sage (West)
Major Formulas:
Troches for Daily Fever (Galen)
You Gui Wan
An Tai Yin
Bao Chan Wu You Fang
Bu Shen Gu Chong Wan
Ding Jing Tang
Cautions:
Not used in Deficient Heat; full doses may cause Nausea.
Main Preparations used:
Distilled Water of the whole Plant
Not used in Deficient Heat; full doses may cause Nausea.
Main Preparations used:
Distilled Water of the whole Plant
History
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'Kushooth is the Arabic name for the Dodders, and from it have been derived tho Greek [?] and Latin Cuscuta of mediaeval writers.
An Arabian poet says:— " He is like the Kashooth; for he has neither
root, leaves, fragrance, shade or fruit." In the Indian bazars the name is applied to the fruit of a species of Cuscuta, imported from Persia, and also called Tukm-i-kasus; it is mixed with the small oblong leaves and spines of the plant upon which it has grown, and the flowers and portions of the stem may often be found. The seeds are four in number, light brown, convex
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on one side, concave on the other, and enclosed in a nearly globular capsule about the size of a radish seed. The taste is bitter. Mir Muhammad Husain identifies this drug with the Amal-bel, Akus-bel, or Amarlata of India, and describes it as yellow, growing on thorns and other shrubs, and as having a very small, whitish flower, and seeds rather smaller than radish seeds, nearly round, and of a reddish yellow colour. Its proper ties are described as much the same as those of Aftimun. The plant may be either C. hyalina, Roth., C. chinensis, Lam., or C. planijlora, Tenore; possibly several species are collected. In India C. reflexa, Roxb., is sometimes used; it is a larger plant, and has larger fruit than the imported article." (Pharmacographia Indica, Dymock, 1891)
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