I have been reading about dodder seed lately and this herb sounds really interesting.Though I didn't find any known seller. May I ask where you buy dodder seed?
Tu Si Zi treats the HPA axis and tones the Kidney and Liver energies. It also has liver protecting, kidney protecting effects and raises antioxidant levels among many other properties. It is probably what has protected my kidney function after being T1 diabetic for so long.
It is available from a lot of places, in Chinese Medicine establishments (Herbalists), online shops such as places like I get mine from and ebay sells it but not in the quantity or for the price I am willing to pay.
I purchased last time from
Here before that from
Here. Both are owned by the same people but the first site showed lower prices because the 2nd had put up the prices since I last ordered. If you want to try it then I recommend that you get a small amount such as a weeks worth to try it to see if it works well for you. The dosage is 15g/day in divided doses, I take it twice a day. I notice the effect running out after 15-16 hours. Therefore every 12 hours is about the right spacing unless it is taken x3/day every 8 hours. I boil a large pan which lasts me about 3.5 days. They are meant to be boiled for 30 minutes but I boil them for 1 hour.
Gou Qi Zi (wolfberry) goes well with it and it helps tone the kidney/liver energies. The toning effect can be seen in the iris as rings which run around the iris. TCM refer to this as Qi/Chi and many of their herbs tone the Qi in different organ systems. I have looked at TCM and Iridology and noticed the correlation between them and how the TCM meridians relate to the body and iris. TCM says that certain herbs tone different organ systems such as the Liver, the Kidneys, the lungs and the Spleen. Seeing the effect in the iris shows it is a larger area than just the individual organ, the toning effect occurs over a larger area affecting a number of adjacent areas.
After boiling Tu Si Zi, there is a small amount of blue oil on the top if viewed with a good light source. This is probably a volatile oil which might be responsible for the nerve toning effect. German chamomile essential oil is similar but stronger, it tones the liver and lungs meridian. I have used this too, based upon a Herbalife Herbal Aloe drink.
I have watched the changes in the rings in my iris while taking Chinese herbs. The rings become wider and the depth reduces when taken over a long period of time. These are like resistance to nerve function which reduces the function of the area/organ which they traverse. Babies have none of these rings whereas old people have deep and tight rings reducing the function and nerve impulses to their organ systems, there will also be a ring which affects the skin which promotes skin ageing. BTW these rings are caused by repressed drives and emotions and each time something like an emotion is repressed, the ring becomes tighter and deeper. The ring through my liver is very wide and shallow which helps my liver function and emotional state. I have been working on the rings for quite some time. I do intend to totally eliminate them as soon as I have solved CFS and destroyed the infection, so that healing can take place.
Tu Si Zi does tend to produce bradycardia, a slowed heart beat. Mine is around 45-60. I have been taking it since about 1993.
Summary: Cuscuta seed is a tonic that is mostly used to nourish and tonify the kidneys and urogenital system, as well as to strengthen sexual functioning. It helps nourish both kidney yin and yang. It has an astringent quality, helping to preserve essence; it helps prevents the loss of sexual as well as other bodily fluids, thus it prevents premature ejaculation, vaginal discharge, and frequent urination. It helps treat other signs of kidney deficiency like lower back pain, eye floaters, and ringing in the ears. It increases fertility in both sexes, benefits sperm health and motility, and improves vision. Cuscuta also nourishes the liver and spleen, and prevents diarrhea.
Cuscuta has been shown to have high antioxidant content and to protect the liver. It has also shown to have the effects of anti-fatigue, immune enhancement, and anoxia (oxygen deficiency) tolerance in mice.
Cuscuta improves the functioning of the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis in female rats. It invigorates the reproductive system and reproductive endocrine function in male rats. Cuscuta increased the weights of testis, epididymis and pituitary gland, and stimulated testosterone and Lutenizing hormone secretion both in vitro and in immature rats. The seed has been shown to improve human sperm motility and stabilize sperm membrane function in vitro.
