Cnidium

Botanical

What is it

Cnidium (Cnidium monnieri, she chuang zi) is a flowering herb whose dried fruit is used in traditional Chinese medicine for skin conditions, sexual function, and parasitic infections.

Evidence for 3 uses

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Sexual function (traditional)

Mixed Evidence

Traditional use for erectile and libido support; PDE5 mechanism plausible. Limited modern clinical evidence.

Skin conditions (topical, traditional)

Mixed Evidence

Long traditional use for eczema and pruritus; limited modern controlled evidence.

Bone density (preclinical)

Mixed Evidence

Animal studies show osteogenic effects of osthole; no human bone density trials.

How it works

Cnidium fruit contains coumarins (osthole, imperatorin, xanthotoxol, bergapten) as the principal bioactive compounds. Preclinical research suggests osthole has phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitory activity (similar mechanism to sildenafil), antiosteoporotic effects, and anti-inflammatory properties. Traditional uses include male and female sexual function, eczema and itching (topical), trichomoniasis, and as a tonic. Modern research has focused on osthole's effects on bone density (animal models suggest osteogenic activity), erectile function (limited human evidence), and inflammatory conditions. Most human evidence is anecdotal or from very limited Chinese clinical sources. Some coumarins in cnidium are photosensitizers, raising caution with concentrated topical use.

Dosage

Traditional TCM: 3 to 10 grams of dried fruit as decoction. Standardized extract: 100 to 500 mg per day, often divided. Osthole-standardized supplements vary in concentration.

When and how to take it

Traditional preparations taken with or between meals in divided doses. Modern supplements typically once or twice daily.

2 commercial forms

Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.

Cnidium fruit extract

Common supplement form.

Standardization varies.

Osthole-standardized extract

More potency-defined product.

Concentrated active coumarin.

Safety

Generally well tolerated at traditional doses. Photosensitivity is a risk with topical or oral coumarin-rich extracts; avoid significant sun exposure. Long-term safety data are limited.

Who should be cautious

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: avoid (traditional concerns; insufficient modern data). On anticoagulants: avoid or use with monitoring. Skin photosensitivity: limit sun exposure. PDE5 inhibitor users: avoid combination.

Interactions

Coumarins may interact with anticoagulants (warfarin) via additive mechanisms. PDE5 inhibitory activity could be additive with prescription PDE5 inhibitors (sildenafil, tadalafil) - avoid combination. Photosensitivity is enhanced by photosensitizing drugs.

Frequently asked questions

Does cnidium work like Viagra?⌄

Osthole in cnidium has PDE5 inhibitory activity in preclinical studies, but human clinical evidence is limited. Effects are much weaker than prescription PDE5 inhibitors.

Why does cnidium cause photosensitivity?⌄

It contains coumarins (including bergapten) that can sensitize skin to UV light, similar to other psoralen-containing plants like St. John's wort.

References

Cnidium on Wikidata — Wikidata link

Cnidium on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link

Research on Cnidium (PubMed search) — PubMed link

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.