Dodder Plant Health Benefits

The dodder plant is a true vegetal vampire. With its delicate stems, it sticks to its victim and sucks the sap until it kills the host. Its favorite victims are thyme, lavender, Winter savory, rosemary, nettles, clover, and hops. Dodder was supposed to acquire the properties of its host, but this fact could never be proven. At present, we have discovered its medicinal properties.

Dodder Scientific Facts

1. Scientific Names: Cuscuta epithymum Mur.
2. Other Names: Greater Dodder.
3. French: Cuscute.
4. Spanish: Cuscuta.
5. Environment: Common in European forests, it is also found in mountainous, warm, or cold American regions.
6. Description: A parasite plant of the Cuscutaceae family, it has a reddish stem and whitish or pink flowers. It has no leaves, thus lacking chlorophyll, and forms a net of delicate stems around its host.
7. Parts of the plant used medicinally: The entire plant.

Dodder Plant Medicinal Properties

The whole plant contains an amorphous glycoside (cuscutine), resin, tannin, and gum. Internally used, it has laxative and diuretic properties and cholagogue (promotes emptying the gall bladder). It also stimulates digestive processes. Dodder is recommended for people suffering from biliary disorders or gall bladder emptying dysfunctions.

When externally applied to a poultice, it has cicatrizant and antiseptic properties. It is effective for varicose ulcers and infected or slow-healing wounds.

How to use Dodder

1. Infusion with 30 grams of plant per liter of water. Drink two cups daily.
2. Poultices: Boil 60 to 100 grams of plant per liter of water for half an hour. Grind until it becomes a pasty cream. Then, apply it to the affected skin area.

DISCLAIMER: All content on this website is presented solely for educational and informational objectives. Do not rely on the information provided as a replacement for advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified medical expert. If you are pregnant, nursing, or have any preexisting medical concerns, talk to your doctor before using any herbal or natural medicines.

REFERENCES

1. George D. Pamplona-Roger, M.D. “Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants.” George D. Pamplona-Roger, M.D. Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Ed. Francesc X. Gelabert. Vols. 1 San Fernando de Henares: Editorial Safeliz, 2000. 386. Print. [dodder plant]
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3863990/
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17617143/
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5687602/