Herbal Uses Of Japanese Dodder Seeds

Japanese dodder, or Cuscuta japonica, is a native Japanese vine that is parasitic to shrubs and trees. The plant has tiny pale, yellow flowers and yellow stems with red spots. The dodder produces a seed that ranges from a light straw color to almost black. In Japan, the plant is called “nenashikazura” and is a popular folk medicine for miscarriage, vision problems, impotence and diarrhea. This herb is considered an invasive species in Western countries, but it has potent medicinal value in traditional Asian medicine. Consult your health care provider before starting herbal treatment.

Herbal Actions

Traditional Asian medicines use Japanese dodder seeds for a range of diseases, including high blood pressure, infertility and urinary problems. The seeds are rich in antioxidants and polysaccharides, which have immune-stimulating properties. The seeds act on the liver, kidney and spleen meridians, channels through which energy flows to various organs. These meridians regulate several biological functions, including fertility and blood circulation. If these channels are blocked, disease develops. Check with an experienced practitioner for advice about dosage and preparation of Japanese dodder seeds for your specific disorder.

Infertility

The liver, kidney and spleen meridians are important meridians associated with fertility and sexual reproduction. Folk medicine uses the seeds to calm the fetus and prevent miscarriage. They also are used for impotence, nocturnal emission and premature ejaculation. A study published in the March 2006 issue of the “China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica” found that the seeds are rich in antioxidants that protect the sperm membrane from free radical damage, which can lead to infertility. Do not eat large amounts of the seeds as they can cause insomnia.

Hypertension

In traditional Asian medicine, high blood pressure is linked to blockages in the liver meridian, which comes under the influence of dodder seeds. The seeds balance liver energy and calm liver fire, the causes of hypertension. A study published in the November 2002 issue of the “Journal of Ethnopharmacology” identified several caffeoylquinic acid derivatives in the seeds that inhibit vasoconstriction and have potent antioxidant and antiplatelet aggregation properties. These constituents may explain the traditional use and effectiveness of this herb for hypertension. Do not combine this herb with other blood pressure medicines.

Urinary Tract Problems

Dodder seeds act on both the kidney and spleen meridians. In her 2009 book, “The Holistic Herbal Directory,” herbal consultant Penelope Ody explains that these meridians govern digestion, genitourinary function and water metabolism. Practitioners use the seeds to tone the spleen and kidneys and to treat flatulence, diarrhea, vaginal discharge, frequent urination and bedwetting. They also may be useful for low back pain that can accompany urinary tract infections. Consult a medical professional for a diagnosis before treating these symptoms with dodder seeds.