Cnidium Monnieri herb, benefit, safety, risks and use as aphrodisiac product

Cnidium monnieri is a plant which grows in China (and possibly in Oregon) whose seeds are used in classical traditional Chinese medicine for skin problems and as a natural sex booster. It is known in China as She Chuang Zi. You may find cnidium seeds in bulk at Chinese pharmacies and some health food stores. As of 2011, no human trials have been published on Medline regarding its clinical use.

What substances are in the herb?
Cnidium seed contains several compounds including coumarins, osthol, imperatorin, glucides and hepatoprotective sesquiterpenes. The main pharmacological constituents of fruit are coumarin compounds and volatile oil. In addition, it contains monoterpene polyols, glucides, as well as sesquiterpene components.
   Osthol is found in the fruit of cnidium monnieri and may be beneficial for osteoporosis treatment.

Dr. Sahelian and his research staff have tested various doses and extracts of exotic herbs from a number or raw material suppliers to determine the ideal dose and combination for optimal sexual enhancement with fewest side effects. After years of trial and error, a unique proprietary aphrodisiac blend with 20 herbal extracts, has been created which works within days. This unique blend is a close kept secret known only to Dr. Sahelian and his research staff. You will only find this exact combination in Passion Rx.

Sexual herbal pills
Some of the herbs in Passion Rx include ashwagandha herb, catuaba herb, cnidium herb, Muira Puama herb, tribulus herb, tongkat ali, and yohimbe bark.

Properties of the plant
Preliminary studies show some of the compounds in cnidium may have anti-histamine, anti-itch, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial effects, along with having an influence on the pituitary-adrenocortex axis. Additional studies on rodents indicate that it may improve bone strength (coumarins from fruits of cnidium inhibit formation and differentiation of multinucleated osteoclasts of rats). In rabbits, a compound found in cnidium called osthol or osthole was found to help relax the corpus cavernosa of the penis, which would potentially help with blood flow and erections. Cnidium may also have anti-cancer properties.

I find cnidium herb listed in herbal Viagra pills. Does it help with sexual enhancing and for erection problems? Is it as potent as tongkat ali herb?
   Yes, this herb can help lift libido but it is not as potent as longjack.

Which is more potent as a sexual enhancer, cnidium or avena sativa? What about tribulus extract?
    We guess cnidum is more potent as an aphrodisiac than avena sativa and less potent than tribulus, but each person is different.

Leukemia studies
Cytotoxic activity of coumarins from the fruits of Cnidium monnieri on leukemia cell lines.
Planta Med. 2003.
Cnidii monnieri Fructus is used as a tonic agent in traditional Chinese medicine. In a previous Chinese herb-cytotoxicity screening test, the ethanol extract of CmF exhibited strong effects on human leukemia (HL-60), cervical carcinoma (HeLa) and colorectal carcinoma cells. Then, the CmF extract was subjected to silica gel column chromatography and recrystallization to give five coumarins: osthol, imperatorin, bergapten, isopimpinellin, and xanthotoxin. Among these compounds, osthol showed the strongest cytotoxic activity on tumor cell lines. The structure-activity relationship established from the results indicated that the prenyl group has an important role in the cytotoxic effects. However, imperatorin showed the highest sensitivity to HL-60 cells and the least cytotoxicity to normal PBMCs. Osthol and imperatorin both caused apoptotic bodies, DNA fragmentation, and enhanced PARP degradation in HL-60 cells by biochemical analysis. These results indicate that osthol and imperatorin can induce apoptosis in HL-60 cells. Therefore, osthol and imperatorin are cytotoxic marker substances in the fruits of Cnidium monnieri.

Weight loss
Does cnidium herb help with weight loss?
   A. We have no seen research regarding its role in weight management.

Cnidium monnieri side effects, safety, risks
What are the side effects of cnidium monnier herb?
   We have not studied this herb by itself in great detail, but high doses may lead to insomnia and there could well be additional side effects we are not aware of.

Cnidium monnieri fruit
Bergapten and imperatorin are found in the fruit.

Availability over the counter
Cnidium is widely available in bulk from herbal companies, however it is currently not easily found by itself as a supplement in a bottle. It is most often found in combination with other sex enhancing herbs in formulations. Cnidium is also available in different extract potencies, for instance a 4:1 extract.