Cuscuta chinensis.Dodder.Dodder seed extract Pharmacological Actions.
Contents
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- Botanical Basic Data of Cuscuta chinensis(Dodder).
- Archeology of Dodder.
- Description of Cuscuta chinensis(Dodder).
- Constituents and Phytochemicals of Dodder Seed.
- Historical Use of Dodder Seed.
- Pharmacological Actions of Dodder Seed.
- Dodder Seed extracts as male sexual enhancement material.
- Dodder plant extracts as good cancer inhibitor.
- Tinnitus Relief Formula Material.
- Polysaccharide of Cuscuta Chinesis and its Immunological Adjuvant Effect.
- Vision Formular for Cataract and Glaucoma and Dodder Seed Combination.
- Administration and Dosage.
- Adverse Effect, Side Effects and Cautions,Toxity.
- Research Update:Dodder Seed.
- Photo Gallery of Dodder.
Historical Use of Dodder Seed.:
The Chinese name of Tusizi is actually comprised of three Chinese words. The first word "Tu" incorporates the word "rabbit" below the character for "herb".The second word "Si" means "filament,"and the third word "Zi" refers to "seed". During the Ming Dynasty, Li Shizhen wrote in the Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica) "Below the herb Tusizi, there lies the root of a 'hidden rabbit'. Without that root, its filament does not grow. If the 'hidden rabbit' is withdrawn, the filament herb will die... As the young root of the herb looks like a 'rabbit', it is given the name of 'rabbit filament' (Tusi)."
The main effect of Tusizi is to replenish the kidney essence or "jing" in order to support healthy sexual and reproductive functioning. Through the mother-son relationship between kidney and liver, it also benefits the eyes, tendons and other physiological functions related to the kidneys and liver.
The uses of this herb date back to the Bencao Gangmu which described its functions as below:
Ancient Classic Descriptions of Dodder Seed.:
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invigorating deficiencies, benefiting qi (vital energy) and strengthening and promoting health." It goes on to say: "Taken appropriately on a long term basis, it benefits the eyes, keeps the individual fit and prevents aging ... Due to its nourishment of the muscles and yin, and reinforcement of the tendons and bone, it is mainly used to treat excessive coldness in male genital organs, involuntary discharge of semen, dribbling during urination, a bitter taste in the mouth accompanied by a dry and thirsty feeling and to treat an accumulation of cold blood.
Li Shi Zhen thought the herb worked by "obtaining and gathering together the harmonized and normal yang qi. The single stem coming out from the whole plant is formed by "sensing" the qi of the branch. Hence, it tends to invigorate defensive qi and support an individual's tendons and vessels." In Chinese medicine, the liver governs the tendons and vessels. The liver, being a wood organ, needs a mother, which contains a water element. This water element is represented by the kidneys whose main function is to store essence or "jing." This essence is what gives the tendons and vessels their nourishment. Therefore, it is said that the kidneys and liver share a mother-son relationship.
What is It Used for in TCM?
Today, Semen Cuscutae is used in Chinese medicine to invigorate the kidneys and consolidate kidney essence (jing), nourish the liver, improve eyesight, arrest diarrhea and soothe an unborn fetus.
1.It is used in syndromes caused by a kidney deficiency that exhibit symptoms such as lower back pain, erectile dysfunction, involuntary discharge of semen, urinary frequency and leucorrhea.
2.It is used for symptom treatment of blurred and dark vision and decreased visual acuity, which are caused by insufficient nourishment of the eyes due to liver and kidney deficiencies.
3.It treats diarrhea problems caused by spleen and kidney deficiencies.
4.It is used for cases of abnormal fetal movement caused by liver and kidney deficiencies.
5.It can also be used in increased thirst symptoms caused by a kidney deficiency.
Despite the fact that cuscuta is unpopular with farmers, it has a long history of folk use. In Western herbalism, cuscuta was traditionally used to treat liver, spleen, and gallbladder disorders such as jaundice ; and to support liver function. It is still used, although rarely, in that way by modern herbalists. It is also a mild laxative. Other traditional Western claims for cuscuta are that it is a mild diuretic, and that it can be used to treat sciatica and scurvy. Externally, it can be gathered fresh and applied to the skin to treat scrofuladerma. Extracts of the herb have a very bitter taste.
In traditional Chinese medicine, the seeds of cuscuta, called tu si zi, have been used for thousands of years. In the Chinese understanding of health, yin aspects inside the person and outside in the environment must be kept in balance with yang aspects. Ill health occurs when the energies and elements of the body are out of balance or in disharmony with nature. Health is restored by taking herbs and treatments that restore internal and external balance.
According to traditional Chinese healers, cuscuta seeds have a neutral nature and a pungent, sweet taste. They are associated with the liver and kidneys and are used in formulas that help both yin and yang deficiencies, depending on the patient's condition and the other herbs in the formula. Cuscuta was considered both an aphrodisiac and a longevity herb because it slowed down the loss of fluids from the body.
Contemporary Chinese herbalists use cuscuta in formulas to treat a range of conditions, including:
impotence;premature ejaculation;sperm leakage;frequent urination;ringing in the ears;lower back pain;sore knees;white discharge from the vagina (leucorrhea);dry eyes;blurred vision;tired eyes
Cuscuta is one of nine herbs included in the manufacture of Equiguard, a Chinese herbal medicine recommended for kidney and prostate disorders. Research performed at New York Medical College indicates that the combination of ingredients in Equiguard may well be effective in the treatment of prostate cancer. The preparation inhibited the growth of cancer cells, increased the rate of self-destruction (apoptosis) of cancer cells, and prevented the surviving cells from forming colonies.
Cuscuta is also used in the Indian system of Ayurvedic healing to treat jaundice, muscle pain, coughs, and problems with urination.
Little scientific research has been done in the West on cuscuta. A purgative compound has been isolated from the herb, however, that supports its traditional use as a liver and gallbladder tonic. Other research done at Asian universities indicates that cuscuta seeds contain a complex carbohydrate that stimulates the immune system and has some antioxidant properties as well.
Reference:
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- 1.Cuscuta chinensis.Dodder.Dodder seed extract Pharmacological Actions.
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