Dodder seed
Cuscuta chinensis · 菟丝子
Herbs & Roots. Chinese Medicine.
Also called Tu si zi, Dodder, Chinese dodder
Pinyin: Tù Sī Zǐ
Caution in pregnancyThe seed of a leafless vine that grows on other plants. Chinese medicine uses it to support kidney energy, eyesight and reproductive health.
Did you know? Dodder has no leaves of its own. Its seedlings wrap around a host plant and tap into its sap.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Sexual health. Traditional use for sexual function and sperm health. Some animal studies. No good human trials test the seed alone.Traditional proof
- Eyes & vision. Traditional use for weak eyesight. Lab studies only.Traditional proof
- Liver. Lab and animal studies suggest liver-protective effects. No good human trials.Traditional proof
Parts of the body
Traditional use
Traditional Chinese Medicine uses tu si zi to tonify Kidney yin and yang, support essence (deep reserves), improve eyesight and, in tradition, support pregnancy. It is one of the herbs in Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan (Five Seeds Pill) and You Gui Wan.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Tonic, Nutritive, Aphrodisiac. Energy: neutral.
- Chinese medicine
- 菟丝子 Tonify yang. Nature: neutral. Flavour: pungent, sweet. Enters the Liver, Kidney and Spleen channels.
How people take it
Traditional decoctions often use 6 to 15 g of seed. Tea and powder are common. No human dose data exist for the seed alone.
Decoction, powder, tea and capsule.
Where to get it
Grows wild on shrubs and herbs in China and other parts of Asia. Sold as dried seed, powder, capsules and tea, and as an ingredient in multi-herb supplements.
Be careful
Usually mild. Constipation or upset stomach are possible. It has not been well studied in pregnancy, and traditional texts advise caution.
Avoid if: pregnancy.
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
Goji and tu si zi are both in Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan (Five Seeds Pill) for kidney weakness.
- Works well together
Du zhong and tu si zi are both in You Gui Wan (Restore the Right Kidney Pill).
- Works well together
Rou cong rong and tu si zi are both used in Chinese tonic blends for kidney yang and essence.
- Works well together
Tu si zi and wu wei zi are both in Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan (Five Seeds Pill).
- Works well together
Tu si zi and che qian zi (plantago seed) are both in Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan.
The honest take
Dodder seed is a traditional kidney and eye tonic supported mostly by lab and animal work. Its reputation for sexual and fertility benefits is unproven in people. It is usually sold inside formulas, so the seed's own effects are hard to separate out.