Cnidium Monnieri
Obscure Chinese aphrodisiac is generating interest in the west...
Cnidium Monnieri (aka Cnidium Monnier, Monnier's snowparsley, Selenium Monnieri, She Chuang Zi, Chuangxiong, Selinum japonicum)
Cnidium Monnieri is an annual herb from the Umbellifer family of plants which also includes parsley and carrots. Cnidium has been used for centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and can now be found in a number of supplement products that claim to be "sexual enhancers" - such as "Bali Mojo". Cnidium Monnier extract is also found in "Staying Power Rx" from American Nutraceuticals Company. The dried ripe fruit of the plant is used as an aphrodisiac. [1] It is listed in Ray Sahelian's book "Natural Sex Boosters" [2]
Cnidium also grows in India (East Bengal, Bhutan and Assam). [3]
As a further point of interest, Cnidium Monnieri is also listed in Robert Freedman's list of "Famine Foods", which says that the leaves and shoots are eaten. Famine Foods is a list of "plants that are not normally considered as crops... consumed in times of famine." [4]
Historical Mentions:
The obscure Cnidium Monnieri was listed by Linnaeus under the name Selinum Monnieri [5]
C. Monnieri was mentioned in Daniel Hanbury's 1876 "Science Papers", which says "C. Monnieri has been found by the Russian botanists in inundated spots on some of the islands of the Amoor, where however, it does not appear to be a common plant. It also occurs in the neighborhood of Peking." [6]
Use of Cnidium Monnieri appears to have an extensive history in China: It is featured in "Chinese medicinal herbs: a modern edition of a classic sixteenth-century manual" and is described as aphrodisiac and astringent. The text also states that this plant is the same as the Selinum Monnieri mentioned by Linnaeus. The sixteenth century manual mentioned was Li Shih-Chen's Herbal Pen Ts'ao of 1578. [7] Carl Linnaeus was a Swedish botanist (1707-1778).[8]
The seeds were described as aphrodisiac by C. A. Gordon, 19th century author and sugeon-general. [9]
It also appears to have traditional use in Tibetan herbal medicine, being mentioned as an ingredient in mixed formulas listed by Rechung Rinpoche. [10] The plant is said to like moist places.
Aphrodisiac effects: Scientific research
Animal studies have indicated that Cnidium inhibits PDE-5 - the same mechanism that Viagra uses to assist / sustain erection and prevent erectile dysfunction. [11] The inhibition of PDE-5 assists in dilation of blood vessels of the penis, as PDE-5 breaks down cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate (cGNP), a substance which helps generate erection in males. Cnidium may possibly also increase cGMP[12]
Cnidium Monnieri is listed in the American Herbal Products Association's Herbs of Commerce (2000) p.42. [13]
Sources:
[1] "Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, Volume 1" - Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo" (2000) p.71
[2] "Natural sex boosters: supplements that enhance stamina, sensation, and Sexuality for Men and Women" - Ray Sahelian (2004) p.103
[3] "Agro-techniques for umbelliferous medicinal and aromatic plants of India" - Avtar Singh Bimbraw (2006) p.231
[4] http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/FamineFoods/ff_families/Apiaceae.html
[5] http://linnaeus.nrm.se/botany/fbo/s/selin/selimon.html.en
[6]"Science papers: chiefly pharmacological and botanical" - Daniel Hanbury (1876) p.233
[7] "Chinese medicinal herbs: a modern edition of a classic sixteenth-century manual - Shizhen Li, Porter Smith, George Arthur Stuart" (1973) p.120
[8] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Linnaeus
[9] "An epitome of the reports of the medical officers to the Chinese imperial maritime customs service" - C. A. Gordon (1871-1882)
[10] "Tibetan medicine: illustrated in original texts" - Rechung Rinpoche (2001) p.78
[11] https://www.thieme-connect.com/ejournals/abstract/plantamedica/doi/10.1055/s-2001-12013
[12] "Your Prostate, Your Libido, Your Life: A Guide to Causes and Natural ." James Occhiogrosso" (2007) p.140, 136.
[13] "Herbs of Commerce" (AHPA) - Michael McGuffin, John T. Kartesz, Albert Y Leung, Arthur O. Tucker
Note - the information on this website is not medical advice, has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure any disease.
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