Cuscuta Herba, Dodder herb

Aftimoon (Unani)
Akash Bel (Hindi)
Tu Si Cao (TCM)
 Picture Picture
Picture Left: Dodder, Cuscuta ; Right: Dodder of Thyme, Epithymum
Kreutterbuch, Matthiolus, 1586

Picture Picture
C. europea
British Phaenogamous Botany, Baxter, 1834

 C. vulgaris (syn. C. epilinum)
Flora von Deutschland (16), Kohler, 1884
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Botanical name:


Cuscuta spp.
European is supplied by C. europea, C. epithymum (syn. C. minor), C. vulgaris
It is a parasitic herb on Hops, Nettle and Flax, Thyme among others.

Parts used:


Herb

Temperature & Taste:


Warm, dry. Bitter

Classifications:


2A APERIENT.    2B ATTENUATERS.    2F. PURIFYING.    2G. CLEANSING.    2H. CARMINATIVE.    2I. ANTISPASMODIC
3B. FEBRIFUGE & ANTIPYRETIC.    3E. DIURETIC.    3G. EMMENAGOGUE
4a. CEPHALIC.    4e. STOMACHIC.   4f. SPLENETIC.    4g. HEPATIC

Uses:


1. Benefits the Spleen, Clears Melancholy:
-mainly used for the Spleen and Melancholy; Depression, Mania, Mental Illness, Schizophrenia
-opens obstructions of the Spleen, clears Black Jaundice, good for Scabs, Ulcers, Leprosy, hard Tumors from Melancholy.
-Liver and Spleen obstructions and hardness
-regarded as Nutritive and tonic in Unani

2. Benefits Brain and Nerves, Clears Wind and Damp:
-Epilepsy, Paralysis, Facial Paralysis, Hemiplegia, Numbness; Insensibility in Unani
-Myalgia, Arthritis, Rheumatism and Sciatica
-useful in diseases of the Brain and Nerves

3. Clears Damp, Promotes Urine:
-Strangury, Jaundice, Dysentery

4. Tonifies Yin and Yang, Secures the Essence:
-Impotence, Infertility, Oligospermia
-regarded as having anti-aging effects
-‘It has also a strengthening property’. (Pemell, 1652)

5. Stops Bleeding:
-Bleeding from the Bowels, Coughing and Spitting Blood, and Uterine Bleeding associated with Heat. (TCM)
-is used to promote menstruation

6. Clears Phlegm, Stops Cough:
-Asthma, Bronchitis (Ayurveda)

7. Kills Worms

8. Externally:
-distilled water clears the Sight if dropped into the Eyes. (Pemell, 1652)
-apply a paste of Dodder for Itchiness. (Unani)
-Baldness and Alopecia areata, grind the herb into a paste with water and apply twice daily to the Scalp for one month; or decoct the herb in Sesame oil and apply to the scalp twice daily. (Unani)
-Cataract, mix a little sugar in Dodder juice, filter, and drop into the eye.
-decoction is good to wash Wounds. (Unani)
-pains of the Sinews, Dodder (of Thyme) is applied as a liniment with vinegar
-fresh herb is beaten and applied to Scrofulous tumors. (Grieves)
-herb is fried in oil and made into a paste for chronic Ulcers (Unani)
-applied topically to Eczema (India).

Picture

Dose:


… available in PRO version

Correctives:


… available in PRO version

Substitutes:
… available in PRO version

Main Combinations:


Dodder & Wormwood

1. To Purge Melancholy humor:
i. Dodder with … available in PRO version
ii. Similarly used to the preceding … available in PRO version
2. Melancholy:
i. 7-14 grams of Dodder with … available in PRO version
ii. Dodder with … available in PRO version
iii. Dodder with … available in PRO version
iv. and Psychosis, Dodder with … available in PRO version
v. Dodder with … available in PRO version
vi. Dodder with … available in PRO version
vii. Dodder with … available in PRO version
3. To purify the Blood:
i. Dodder with … available in PRO version
ii. Dodder with … available in PRO version
4. To Purge Bile:
i. Dodder with … available in PRO version
ii. Dodder with … available in PRO version
5. Chlorosis, Dodder, … available in PRO version
6. Jaundice, Dodder with … available in PRO version
7. Arthritis of the Hip, Dodder … available in PRO version
8. Children’s Fever, Dodder with … available in PRO version
9. Quartan Fever (Malarial Fever), Dodder with … available in PRO version
10. Alopecia, to promote Hair growth, Dodder with … available in PRO version

Major Formulas


Decoction of Dodder of Thyme (Mesue)
Decoction of Dodder of Thyme (Rhasis)
Syrup of Dodder of Thyme (Mesue)
Syrup of Fumitory Compound (Augustana)
Powder Purging Melancholy (Fuchs)
Electuary of Dodder
Electuary of Dodder and Fumitory (Mesue)
Triphera of Dodder of Thyme (Mesue)
Triphala Electuary of Dodder (Unani)
Pills for Melancholy (Unani)

Cautions:


Use cautiously during Pregnancy.

Main Preparations used:


Distilled Water of the whole Plant