She Chuang Zi
StarCnidium monnieri (L.) Cuss.
☯ TCM Properties
Tonifies Kidney Yang; Drains Dampness and Expels Wind; Kills Parasites and Stops Itching; Disperses Cold; Dispels Wind-Dampness and Alleviates Pain
Traditional Chinese Uses
She Chuang Zi (cnidium seed) is a warm herb used both internally and externally in Chinese medicine. Taken internally, it warms Kidney Yang to address impotence, infertility, and vaginal discharge from Kidney deficiency with cold. Applied externally as a wash, decoction, or powder, it relieves itching from damp skin conditions, fungal infections, and vaginal itching. Its traditional applications span both tonic and antiparasitic roles.
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Cnidium monnieri is an erect annual herb in the carrot family Apiaceae, native to East Asia and widespread as a weed of riverbanks, ditches, and waste places across China, Korea, Japan, and parts of Europe. It grows 30–80 cm tall with finely 2–3-pinnately divided leaves whose ultimate segments are linear, and bears compound umbels of small white five-petaled flowers 2–7 cm across in summer. The schizocarp fruit splits into two oblong-ovoid mericarps about 2–4 mm long with five prominent winged ridges and a strong aromatic odor due to coumarins (osthole, imperatorin) and a volatile oil. The dried ripe fruit (She Chuang Zi) is collected in autumn. In TCM it is acrid, bitter, and warm, drying dampness, expelling wind, killing parasites, and warming kidney-yang; it is applied externally as a wash for itchy skin, eczema, and trichomonal infection, and taken internally for impotence and infertility from kidney-yang deficiency.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| poultice | As needed | Daily | — | — | — |
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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