Cuscuta, “the seed of the hare’s silk”
Tu Si Zi reads “the seed of the hare’s silk”: the silk is the plant’s stem, as fine as a thread. Dodder has neither leaves nor chlorophyll; it is a bright yellow vine that twines around other plants, soya above all, and draws its nourishment from them, so that the whole plant is nothing but a skein of yellow threads. Its ripe seed is used: tiny, almost spherical and very hard, harvested in autumn. It has a test all its own: dropped into boiling water, the genuine seed turns sticky, then its coat splits and out comes an embryo coiled in a spiral that unwinds like a thread; it “spits silk”. Seeds from northern China are considered the plumpest.
Nourishing both sides of the Kidney
In traditional Chinese medicine, the seed is neutral, sweet and slightly pungent. Sweetness supplements, the slight pungency sets things in motion: its nature allows it to support both the Yang and the Yin of the Kidney, without heating or weighing down. The Ben Cao Zheng Yi sees in it “Yang within Yin”: it holds and knows how to circulate, the very opposite of herbs that nourish by clogging. Associated with the Kidney, which stores the Essence, it gently nourishes it and firms up the Kidney’s function of storing and holding. It is one of the two sovereign herbs of Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan, the five-seed pill.
Nourishing the Liver, brightening the eyes
It also enters the Liver, which opens into the eyes according to tradition, and the brightness of the pupil depends on the Kidney Essence: by nourishing both, cuscuta nourishes what makes sight. Li Shizhen keeps this phrase for it: “nourish the Liver to brighten the eyes”. Through the Spleen, finally, it supports the Middle when the Spleen and the Kidney both lack warmth. With goji berries, which lean towards Yin and Blood, it supplements the Liver and the Kidney on both sides. Modern research is particularly interested in its flavonoids.
Key benefits
Kidney supported & Yin-Yang balance
Neutral and sweet, cuscuta tonifies the Yin and Yang of the Kidneys, without drying or clogging.
Essence nourished & deep reserves
According to Chinese tradition, it strengthens the Jing, the Essence stored by the Kidney, and helps to hold it.
Clear vision & Liver nourished
By nourishing the Liver and the Kidney Essence, it promotes clear vision.
