Dadder Seed (Tusizi)
| Pharmaceutical Name: | Semen Cuscutae |
| Botanical Name: | Cuscuta chinensis Lam. Cuscuta japonica Choisy |
| Common Name: | Dadder seed, Cuscuta seed |
| Source of Earliest Record: | Shennong Bencao Jing |
| art Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: | The ripe seeds are collected in autumn, and then they are dried in the sun or boiled. |
| Properties and Taste: | Pungent, sweet and neutral |
| Meridian: | Liver and kidney |
| Functions: | To tonify kidneys and control essence To nourish liver and brighten the eyes |
| Indications and Combinations: | 1. Deficient kidneys manifested as impotence, nocturnal emissions, premature ejaculation, lower back pain or leukorrhagia. *Use with Eucommia bark (Duzhong), Dioscorea (Shanyao) and Cibot rhizome (Gouji) for lower back pain or leukorrhagia; Dadder seed (Tusizi) is used with Schisandra fruit (Wuweizi), Cnidium fruit (Shechuangzi), Flattened milkvetch seed (Shayuanzi) and Grossy privet fruit (Nuzhenzi) for impotence. 2. Diarrhea due to deficient spleen. *Use with Pilose asiabell root (Dangshen), White atractylodes (Baizhu) and Dioscorea (Shanyao). |
| Dosage: | 10-15 g |
| Cautions: | This herb is contraindicated in cases with deficiency of yin with excessive fire, constipation, and red, scanty urine. |