Cnidium Seed

The Cnidium Seed, or otherwise known as Cnidium Monnieri is a native plant to China, Vietnam, laos, Siberia and Eastern Europe. It enjoys full amounts of sun and requires a moist soil. This plan is fragrant and can grow to be 50 to 70 centimeters tall. In Chinese medicine it is known as She Chuang Zi.

It is the seed that is traditionally used for medicinal purposes as well as can be used to extract an essential oil. Within China this plant is mentioned in a book written between 200 and 250 AD titled ” The Divine Farmer’s Materia Medica”. In chinese medicine these cnidium seeds have been used in herbal mixtures to warm the kidneys and strength yang energy. It is also known as a strong a p h r o d i s i a c to which has been recommended by Chinese practitioners to treat male i m p o t e n c e.Medical testing on the herb has been mostly restricted to small rodents such as rats and there is some evidence of its ability to boost blood flow but testing is not conclusive and more research needs to be carried out. In terms of will the herb work for you, as with all herbal remedies, you need to try it and see – some men find it effective and others don’t but it’s safe to take for all men so try it and see. Also keep in mind, it has been prescribed for thousands of years, to help men boost s e x drive and get harder e r e c t i o n s so it’s worth trying and seeing its effects.

Cnidium seeds exhibit an antiseptic and disinfectant property and can be commonly found in lotions, powders and ointments to treat skin conditions such as ringworm, scabies and eczema.

Cnidium monnieri has properties that are similiar to prescribed d r u g s such as V i a g r a, t a d a l a f i l, v a r d e n a f i l and a v a n a f i l. The primary bioactive ingredient found within is known as Osthole. According to scientists at the Second Military Medical University in Shanghai China, these seeds contain over 350 various phytonutrient compounds. The main one being called Coumarins.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database (NMCD) states, “Active constituents of cnidium are thought to be the coumarin derivatives including osthol, imperatorin, isopimpinellin, xanthotoxin, and bergapten. Additional coumarins have also been identified including cnidimonal, cnidimarin, and others.

Chinese researchers stated, “In vitro and in vivo studies suggest that osthole and other coumarin compounds possess wide range of pharmacological properties for the treatment of male i m p o t e n c e, frigidity, skin-related diseases, and exhibit strong antipruritic, anti-allergic, antidermatophytic, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-osteoporotic effects.”

Benefits of Cnidium Seed

Better Blood Flow – The data suggested that osthole possesses a relaxant effect on rabbit corpus cavernosal tissues which is attributable to the release of Nitric oxide from sinusoidal endothelium and to the potentiation of the cGMP and/or cAMP signal mediating relaxation of cavernosal smooth muscle by inhibiting phosphodiesterase.
(Article)

Increase of Testosterone – At high doses, t e s t o s t e r o n e, luteinizing hormone, and follicle stimulating hormone were all significantly elevated. (Article)

Body Building Benefits – Cnidium interacts with the glucose metabolism within our body. Thus giving it a variety of properties which can assist in body building. It increased the glucose intake from the blood into the cells. These muscle cells would then generate more energy for a longer and more beneficial work out. This same mechanism can contribute to the burning of the energy by the body. Which can be utilized as a weight loss supplement.
(Article)

Anti – Inflammatory – The fruit of the Cnidium monneri contains a bioactive agent which can be utilized as a treatment or prevention for various inflammatory diseases. (Article)

Osteoporosis – Research done by the School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University in 2004 found this: Cnidium Monnieri extracts might have potential activity against osteoporosis, and its chloroform fraction might contain active constituents stimulating osteoblasts. (Article)

Anti-tumor effects—. Cnidium monnieri possesses comprehensive anti-tumor functions, involving direct tumor-inhibitory activity, anti-mutagenicity, reversing multi-drug tolerance of tumor, as well as improving immune functions. (Article)

Neuroprotective effects—A study demonstrates the neuroprotective effect of osthole in the MCAO model of rats. The anti-oxidative action and anti-inflammatory of osthole may have anti-stroke effects and was also shown to be neuroprotective during glucose and oxygen deprivation. (Article)