Uses for Dodder?

MaryRowe

Has anyone used dodder for food or medicine or any other useful purpose?

I just passed by one of my nettle patches a bit ago and noticed the nettles were covered in what looked like yellow twine, Took a closer look, and realized it must be dodder--I've only seen it in photos until now. Have no idea how it suddenly appeared in the middle of my 30 acres--haven't brought in any plants or soil or anything like that to this area. Maybe birds spread the seed? It grew up really fast--a week or so ago there was no sign of it.

So I've been reading about it, and it appears that traditionally the main medical uses are for ailments of the urinary tract, spleen and liver, and as a purgative. But so far I have not found anything on methods of preparation, or whether it is any good to eat. It is a parasite, and since this dodder is living off my nettles, it must be filling up on good stuff,

The MO Dept of Conservation website recommends getting rid of it ASAP if you see it in your crops or garden by cutting down the plants it has attached itself to before it goes to seed. Apparently it spreads like crazy, and as fast as this patch sprang up, I'm sure it does.

This patch looks like it's about to flower, so I plan on going out tomorrow morning and cutting it down. But I was wondering if it is worth trying to do anything with the dodder after I cut it.

marjstratton

I have never heard of Dodder. But your description of it sounds like Cleaver on steroids.

jowitt.europe

@MaryRowe very interesting. Could you, please, write the latin name of dodder, so that I am sure whether I am thinking of the same plant.

judsoncarroll4

http://www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net/include/searchherb.php?herbsearch=dodder&x=0&y=0

MaryRowe

@jowitt.europe This dodder is a Cuscuta, though I am not sure which one. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation website, we have ten of them, indistinguishable from one another except by examining differences in the flowers under a high-powered lens. But my bet is Field Dodder, C. pentagona, or Common Dodder, C. gronovii, since those are the most common and grow in the widest range of habitats. And I lean more to C, gronovii since I read in Mrs. Grieves' Modern Herbal that it favors nettles as host plants.

From what I have read so far, the dodders are pretty much interchangeable medicinally. I would think which plant they are parasitizing would matter, but so far I haven't found anyone writing about that. I was hoping someone here has actually used dodder. Everything I have found written about it so far sounds like the author has merely copied the information from other sources, with no direct experience.

jowitt.europe

@MaryRowe Thank you! I read more about this parasitic plant. I have never seen or used it. I would also be interested to know more about it.

nicksamanda11

I have never seen or heard of it either. Now I'm gonna have to go find some, make a tincture out of it, intentionally get a UTI, and then treat it with that tincture so I can report back to y'all😁

MaryRowe

So this is cool---a short film clip from a PBS Nature program, showing a dodder seedling searching for a victim it can attach itself to, and scientists tricking it with tomato scent....

https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/what-plants-talk-about-video-dodder-vine-sniffs-out-its-prey/8234/