Evidence supporting the use of: Chinese Dodder
For the body system: Eyes

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Chinese Dodder (Cuscuta chinensis) has a long history of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), particularly for supporting eye health. In TCM theory, Chinese Dodder seeds (Tu Si Zi) are believed to tonify the liver and kidneys, organs traditionally associated with eye function. Texts such as the "Shennong Ben Cao Jing" and subsequent materia medica cite its use to improve vision, especially in cases of blurred vision attributed to "liver and kidney deficiency."

However, there is limited modern scientific evidence directly validating these effects on the eyes. Most contemporary research focuses on its antioxidative, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective properties, with only a few animal studies suggesting potential benefits for retinal health, often attributed to its antioxidant components. These studies are preliminary and not yet substantiated by robust clinical trials in humans. Therefore, while the use of Chinese Dodder to support eye health is justified by centuries of traditional use, scientific validation remains weak. As such, the evidence rating for its efficacy in supporting the eyes is moderate from a traditional perspective (2/5) but would be lower if considering only scientific data.

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