The source is from the ripe seeds of Cuscuta chinensis Lam., family Convolvulaceae. The medicinal material is produced in most parts of China, collected in autumn when the fruits are ripe in autumn. The seeds are threshed after dried in the sun, the impurity being removed. It is used crudely or used by roasting with a salt solution.

Medicinal Properties: Sweet in flavor, warm in nature, and attributive to the liver and kidney meridians.

Actions: Invigorate the kidney and supplement the essence, nourish the liver and improve eyesight, stop diarrhea, soothe the fetus.

Application
1. It is applied for deficiency of the kidney manifested as lumbago, impotence, emission, enuresis, or leucorrhagia because of its action of nourishing both kidney-yin and kidney-yang and that of arresting seminal emission and reducing urination with astringent drugs and stopping leucorrhagia. For sore in waist and knees, it is usually used together with Duzhong ( Cortex Eucommiae ); for impotence or emission, with Gouqizi ( Fructus Lycii), Wuweizi (Fructus Schisandrae), and Fupenzi (Fructus Rubi), etc., such as Wuzi Yanzong Wan (Pill); for frequent micturition, with Sangpiaoxiao (Ootheca Mantidis), Lurong ( Cornu Cervi Pantotrichum), and Wuweizi ( Fructus Schisandrae ), etc.; for leucorrhagia, turbid urine, with Fuling ( Poria ), Lianzi ( Semen Nelumbinis), and Qianshi ( Semen Euryales ), etc., such as Fuling Wan (Pill).

2. It is applied for insufficiency of the kidney and liver and malnutrition of eyes with manifestations of blurred vision and weakness of eyesight; usually used together with Shudihuang ( Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata ), Gouqizi (Fructus Lycii ), and Cheqianzi (Semen Plantaginis), etc., such as Zhujing Wan (Pill).

3. It is applied for diarrhea due to deficiency of both the spleen and kidney with its action of warming the kidney and nourishing the spleen to stop diarrhea, used together with Renshen (Radix Ginseng), Baizhu (Rhizoma Atractyloclis Macrocephalae ), and Buguzhi ( Fructus Psoraleae ) , etc..

4. It is applied for insufficiency of the liver and kidney resulting in threatened abortion with its action of nourishing the liver and kidney to soothe the fetus, usually used together with Chuanxuduan ( Radix Dipsaci ), Sangjisheng ( Herba Taxilli ) and Ejiao ( Colla Corii Asini), such as Shoutai Wan (Pill).

In addition, Tusizi (Semen Cuscutae) also has the action of treating diabetes due to deficiency of the kidney. It is ground singly into powder for oral use or used together with Tianhuafen (Radix Trichosanthis ), Wuweizi (Fructus Schisandrae ), and Lurong (Cornu Cervi Pantotrichum ) , etc.

Usage and Dosage:
6 -12 g is used in decoction.