Cnidium
OTHER NAME(S): Cnidii Fructus, Cnidii Monnieri Fructus, Cnidii Rhizoma, Cnidium Extract, Cnidium Fruit, Cnidium Fruit Extract, Cnidium Monnier, Cnidium Monnieri Fructus, Cnidium Seeds, Extrait de Cnidium, Extrait de Fruit de Cnidium, Fruit de Cnidium, Graines de Cnidium, Jashoshi, Monnier's Snowparsley, Sasangia, She Chuang, She Chuang Dze, She Chuang Zi, Xasangtu, Cnidium monnieri, Selinum monnieri, Cniddium Monnier, Cinidium, cniddium, Ciddium Monnier
Overview
Cnidium is a plant that is native to China. It is also commonly found in other parts of Asia. The fruit, seed, and other plant parts are used as medicine.
Cnidium is most commonly used for increasing sexual performance and sex drive, erectile dysfunction (ED), and skin conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support any of its uses.
Cnidium is a common ingredient in Chinese lotions, creams, and ointments.
Cnidium contains chemicals that might kill cancer and bacterial cells, reduce swelling (inflammation), strengthen bones, decrease itching, and increase sex drive.
Cnidium contains chemicals that might kill cancer and bacterial cells, reduce swelling (inflammation), strengthen bones, decrease itching, and increase sex drive.
Uses
Insufficient Evidence for
- Increasing sexual performance and sex drive.
- Erectile dysfunction (ED).
- Inability to become pregnant within a year of trying to conceive (infertility).
- Muscle strength.
- Cancer.
- Weak and brittle bones (osteoporosis).
- Infections.
- Increasing energy.
- Skin conditions including itchy skin, rashes, eczema (atopic dermatitis), and ringworm (Tinea corporis), when applied to the skin.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of cnidium for these uses.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: There isn't enough reliable information to know if cnidium is safe. It might cause side effects such as a bitter mouth, stomach discomfort, and drowsiness.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if cnidium is safe or what the side effects might be.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: There isn't enough reliable information to know if cnidium is safe. It might cause side effects such as a bitter mouth, stomach discomfort, and drowsiness.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if cnidium is safe or what the side effects might be.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if cnidium is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Surgery: Cnidium might slow blood clotting. It might cause extra bleeding during and after surgery. Stop using cnidium at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Interactions
Moderate Interaction
Be cautious with this combination
- Sedative medications (CNS depressants) interacts with CnidiumCnidium might cause sleepiness and drowsiness. Medications that cause sleepiness are called sedatives. Taking cnidium along with sedative medications might cause too much sleepiness. Some sedative medications include clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan), phenobarbital (Donnatal), zolpidem (Ambien), and others.
- Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with CnidiumCnidium might slow blood clotting. Taking cnidium along with medications that slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding. Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, ticlopidine (Ticlid), warfarin (Coumadin), and others.
Dosing
The appropriate dose of cnidium depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for cnidium. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
References
- Matsuda H, Tomohiro N, Ido Y, Kubo M. Anti-allergic effects of cnidii monnieri fructus (dried fruits of Cnidium monnieri) and its major component, osthol. Biol Pharm Bull 2002;25:809-12.
- Matsuda H, Ido Y, Hirata A, et al. Antipruritic effect of Cnidii Monnieri Fructus (fruits of Cnidium monnieri CUSSON). Biol Pharm Bull 2002;25:260-3.
- Yang LL, Wang MC, Chen LG, Wang CC. Cytotoxic activity of coumarins from the fruits of Cnidium monnieri on leukemia cell lines. Planta Med 2003;69:1091-5.
- Oh H, Kim JS, Song EK, et al. Sesquiterpenes with hepatoprotective activity from Cnidium monnieri on tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in Hep G2 cells. Planta Med 2002;68:748-9.
- Tohda C, Kakihara Y, Komatsu K, Kuraishi Y. Inhibitory effects of methanol extracts of herbal medicines on substance P-induced itch-scratch response. Biol Pharm Bull 2000;23:599-601.
- Meng F, Xiong Z, Sun Y, Li F. Coumarins from Cnidium monnieri (L.) and their proliferation stimulating activity on osteoblast-like UMR106 cells. Pharmazie 2004;59:643-5..
- Kitajima J, Ishikawa T, Aoki Y. Glucides of Cnidium monnieri fruit. Phytochemistry 2001;58:641-4..
- Chiou WF, Huang YL, Chen CF, Chen CC. Vasorelaxing effect of coumarins from Cnidium monnieri on rabbit corpus cavernosum. Planta Med 2001;67:282-4..
- Cai JN, Basnet P, Wang ZT, Komatsu K, Xu LS, Tani T. Coumarins from the fruits of Cnidium monnieri. J Nat Prod 2000;63:485-8..
- Sun Y, Yang AWH, Lenon GB. Phytochemistry, ethnopharmacology, pharmacokinetics and toxicology of Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cusson. Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(3):1006.