Identity & origin
BOTANICAL IDENTITY
The right name is the first step.
Cuscuta epithymum (L.) L. belongs to Convolvulaceae. Kew records it as a holoparasitic annual. Cuscuta epithymum is distinguished from Cuscuta europaea. These annual parasites cannot be identified from their host plant alone.
Also known as: No synonyms listed.
Cuscuta epithymum is distinguished from Cuscuta europaea. These annual parasites cannot be identified from their host plant alone. A photograph alone cannot establish identification for consumption.
An illustration is not enough to identify a plant for consumption. Do not forage for a species based solely on this profile.
Uses & evidence
UNDERSTANDING THE USES
Properties & uses.
Documentary reference — aerial parts
ANSM lists Cuscuta epithymum for the following material: aerial parts. Inclusion in List B signals that potential adverse effects outweigh the expected therapeutic benefit. The entry does not establish clinical efficacy.
The references do not establish a benefit. Lack of evidence is not assurance of safety.
Read the sourceThe traditional uses described are not clinical proof of effectiveness. Evidence for one preparation cannot automatically be applied to another.
Precautions before use
BEFORE ANY USE
Precautions & contraindications.
This guidance does not cover every individual situation. Missing information is not a guarantee of safety.
The following warnings do not constitute a complete review of interactions or contraindications. An unstudied combination cannot be considered compatible.
Contraindications & precautions
- Safety precaution: do not use this material for self-medication or in a home preparation.
Medicine interactions
- Interactions specific to this species and each preparation are not established by this notice’s documentary sources. This does not establish compatibility with medicines.
“Reported” does not prove causality; “possible” may reflect indirect evidence. “None reported” means none in the cited source, not that all combinations have been studied. Do not stop a prescribed treatment based on this profile.
Adverse effects
- List B flags a risk without detailing mechanisms, frequency or every adverse effect in this entry. Missing detail is not reassurance.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: no home use is proposed; this notice does not establish evidence supporting use in these situations.
Children & adolescents
Do not give to children on the basis of this notice. A botanical inventory is not a paediatric safety evaluation.
If symptoms persist, worsen or are unusual, consult a healthcare professional. In an emergency, contact the emergency services.
Sources & last review
CHECKING REFERENCES
Sources for this profile.
- ANSM — French Pharmacopoeia, List B, January 2026, p. 6Accessed on 09/10/2026
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew — Plants of the World Online : Cuscuta epithymum (L.) L.Accessed on 09/10/2026
Image: Irisa Hudson · CC BY 4.0. View the original image and its licence. Image resized and converted to WebP.