Latin Name
Cuscuta chinensis

General Description
A common parasitic growth on plants, cuscuta yields grayish yellow seeds, also known as Chinese dodder seeds, that have medicinal effects. Among other uses, they are prescribed to prevent miscarriages. The seeds are considered to have sweet, acrid and neutral characteristics in traditional Chinese medicine.

Target Ailments
Taken internally for:

• Impotence, nocturnal emissions, premature ejaculation and prostate problems.
  
• Frequent urination, incontinence, loose stools or diarrhea with lack of appetite.
  
• Habitual or threatened miscarriages.
  
• Backache from muscular weakness.
  
• Dizziness, tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and blurred vision.

Preparations
Cuscuta seeds are available in bulk from Chinese pharmacies, Asian markets and some Western health food stores.
Combinations: Practitioners recommend a mix of cuscuta seeds, psoralea fruit and eucommia bark for premature ejaculation. A preparation of cuscuta and astragalus seeds (Astragalus complanatus) may help blurred vision, dizziness and tinnitus. And a mixture of cuscuta, Japanese teasel root, mulberry mistletoe stems and eucommia bark is often prescribed to prevent threatened miscarriages. Check with a Chinese medicine practitioner for further combinations and doses.

Special Information

• The herb is not recommended for use by patients with constipation and scanty, dark urine.