Source Dodder Seed is the dried ripe seed ofCuscuta chinesis Lam. (Fam. Convolvulaceae).
Producing Areas Shandong, Hebei, Shanxi, Tianjin, Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Jiangsu, Henan, etc.
Properties Sweet, Warm
Channels Kidney, Liver, Spleen
Action
- Arrests seminal discharge and abnormal urination, prevents miscarriage
Impotence, seminal emission, dripping of urine after urination, enuresis, frequent urination, aching and weakness of the loins and legs. - Improves eyesight, and relieves diarrhoea by replenishing and tonif ying the liver and the kidney
Blurred vision and tinnitus, threatened miscarriage due to hypofunction of the liver; diarrhoea due to the hypofunction of spleen and kidney.
Usage and Dosage
10 – 15g is used in decoction for oral use, or in pills or powder.
- Crude Tusizi: For nourishing liver to improve eyesight;
- Stir-baked Tusizi: For insufficiency of the kidney and spleen resulting in threatened abortion. Stir-baked Tusizi can be ground for external use.
Notes Use with caution in patients with hyperactive fire due to deficiency of yin, or who suffer from constipation, blood-stained urine and lack of urine.
It is round or oval, 1 – 1.5mm in diameter. The surface is grey brown or yellow brown and slightly rough. Small dark red dots can be seen crowded together on magnification. There is a slightly hollow round umbilicus at one end. It is tough. After soaking in hot water, the surface becomes sticky. When it is boiled till the shell burst’s the white spiral embryo appears, like silk. It is light in nature. The flavour is slightly bitter and astringent.
Storage
Keep in well-ventilated and dry place.
Description of Quality Herb
Good Tusizi is grey yellow, full-grained, without impurity.
Professional Advice
There are 9 kinds of fakes from different plants in the same family, such as Da Tusizi and Nanfang Tusizi. Da Tusizi is bigger and not easy to burst while boiling. Nanfang Tusizi is the main type of smaller Tusizi in south China.
Dodder Seed Congee
Effects
Replenishes the kidneys and the vital essences, reinforces the liver and the eyes. It is suitable for relieving impotence, spermatorrhea, premature ejaculation, incontinence and other irregular urination patterns, giddiness, blurred vision, hearing difficulties such as ringing in the ears and hearing problems, leukorrhea and spontaneous abortion.
Ingredients
Dodder seeds 30 – 60g (if the herb is fresh, 60 -10Og can be used), japonica rice 100g, white sugar to taste.
Preparation
1.Wash and pound the dodder seeds. Cook with water and strain out the dregs.
2.Use the liquid thus obtained to make congee with the rice. Just before cooking is completed, add the sugar and continue to simmer for a short while.
Glutinous Rice Congee with Black Bean and Dodder Seed
Effects
Replenishes the kidneys and calms the foetus. This dish can help to alleviate the problem of habitual abortion.
Ingredients
Black beans 50g, dodder seeds 30g, glutinous rice 100g.
Preparation
- Wrap the dodder seeds in a muslin packet and place in a pot with the other two ingredients.
- Add an adequate amount of water and cook as congee. When done, remove the packet.