tonifying
Dodder Seed (Tu Si Zi)
菟丝子 · Tùsīzǐ
Cuscuta chinensis
Nature
Saveur
Meridian
Liver, Kidney, Spleen
Tu Si Zi — the golden thread vine's seeds — tonifies both kidney yang and yin without drying or cloying, securing essence, brightening the eyes, and quieting a restless fetus in tradition. Its balanced warmth made it the imperial favorite for longevity formulas and the core of Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan.
🌿 Fonctions
- •Tonifies kidney yang and secures essence
- •Nourishes liver and benefits the eyes
- •Calms the fetus (traditional)
- •Stops diarrhea and leakage
📖 Usage
10–15 g in decoction; the hard seeds are traditionally crushed and boiled into thick paste for pills.
🔬 Recherche moderne
Cuscuta flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol glycosides) are studied for reproductive-health support and bone density.
⚠️ Contre-indications
Avoid with yin-deficiency fire and constipation.
