Tu Si Zi Wan
Star菟丝子丸 (Cuscuta Seed Pill)
Source: Ji Sheng Fang (1253)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Tu Si Zi Wan (Cuscuta Seed Pill), from Formulas to Aid the Living (1253).
Actions: Warms the Kidneys; Prevents abnormal leakage
Indications: Exhaustion, aversion to cold, frail physique, dizziness, lower back pain, weakness of the lower extremities, frequent, scanty urination with continuous dripping, and a submerged, thin pulse that is especially frail at the proximal position.
Pattern: Kidney qi deficiency unable to grasp the essence, with urinary leakage
Commentary: Combines astringents for the leakage with tonics for the root to speed and consolidate recovery; named after cuscuta for its classical use for cold in the penis, seminal leakage and dribbling.
Category: Formulas that Warm and Tonify the Yang.
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 403.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tu Si Zi
role: tonifies the Kidneys; as printed: Cuscutae Semen (tu si zi) 60g
|
60g | 14.81% | Jun (Chief) | — |
|
Lu Rong
role: tonifies the Kidneys; as printed: Cervi Cornu pantotrichum (lu rong) 30g
|
30g | 7.41% | Jun (Chief) | — |
|
Rou Cong Rong
role: tonifies the Kidneys; as printed: Cistanches Herba (rou cong rong) 60g
|
60g | 14.81% | Jun (Chief) | — |
|
Shan Yao
role: tonifies the Kidneys; as printed: Dioscoreae Rhizoma (shan yao) 30g
|
30g | 7.41% | Jun (Chief) | — |
|
Zhi Fu Zi
role: warms Kidney yang; with lindera dispels cold qi; as printed: Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata (zhi fu zi) 30g
|
30g | 7.41% | Chen (Deputy) | — |
|
Wu Yao
role: moves and dispels cold qi from Kidneys and Bladder; as printed: Linderae Radix (wu yao) 30g
|
30g | 7.41% | Chen (Deputy) | — |
|
Wu Wei Zi
role: binds and grasps the Kidney qi; as printed: Schisandrae Fructus (wu wei zi) 30g
|
30g | 7.41% | Chen (Deputy) | — |
|
Sang Piao Xiao
role: astringes; as printed: Mantidis Ootheca (sang piao xiao) 30g
|
30g | 7.41% | Zuo (Assistant) | — |
|
Yi Zhi Ren
role: astringes; as printed: Alpiniae oxyphyllae Fructus (yi zhi ren) 30g
|
30g | 7.41% | Zuo (Assistant) | — |
|
Mu Li
role: astringes; as printed: calcined Ostreae Concha (duan mu li) 60g
|
60g | 14.81% | Zuo (Assistant) | — |
|
Ji Nei Jin
role: treats urinary frequency and incontinence; as printed: Gigeriae galli Endothelium corneum (ji nei jin) 15g
|
15g | 3.7% | Shi (Envoy) | — |
Energetics dose-weighted
The formula's overall nature, taste balance and channel reach, weighted by each herb's dose. Classical formulas often pair warm and cool herbs on purpose, so a net figure summarises the mix — it doesn't describe every herb in it.
Nature
Net slightly warm (+0.44)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cool 15%, neutral 33%, warm 44%, hot 7%.
Small but decisive: Zhi Fu Zi 30g (hot, 7% of the grams). Dose weighting nearly cancels a herb this small, but it may be what the formula is for.
Taste
- pungent 26%
- sweet 41%
- sour 4%
- salty 30%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Kidney 96%
- Spleen 48%
- Liver 44%
- Heart 30%
- Lung 22%
- Large intestine 15%
Share of the grams entering each channel, from 100% of the weighed grams.
Dose-weighted from each herb's recorded nature, taste and channels (missing values are left out, never counted as neutral). It describes the composition — it is not a recommendation.
Preparation
Powder into pills with wine; 3-9g with salted water 2-3 times daily before meals. May be decocted at reduced dosage.
Relationships
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Formula family
Each entry reads as the larger formula written out: “+” adds its other catalogue cores, then the herbs none of them hold. A catalogue formula counts as a core only when at least 80% of its herbs are present, no more than 1 is absent, and the absent herb is not its chief.
Formula Network
Formulas that share herbs with this one — the closer to the centre, the stronger the match. Click a node to explore.
Similar Formulas by composition
Match score combines dosage-weighted composition (cosine, 70%) with shared-herb overlap (Jaccard, 30%).
Traditional formula information is for educational purposes only. Herbal formulas should be prescribed by a qualified practitioner — dosages and combinations are individualized and can interact with medications.
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