The medicinal part of cnidium monnieri, also known as She Chuang Zi in Chinese herbal medicine, is its fruits or seeds, which have long been considered an essential herb for skin diseases and pruritus. Chen Shi-duo, a skillful physician lived in Qing Dynasty, ever commented in his medical work of Ben Cao Xin Bian (New Chapters on Materia Medica) that: "Cnidium seeds have amazing healing properties for both external and internal treatments. In comparison, the external use is even better".  Nowadays, this herb is commonly used for Erectile Dysfunction, Premature Ejaculation, genital eczema, trichomonas infection, postpartum uterine prolapse, chronic, non-healing skin ulcers in children, allergic dermatitis, sumac allergy, tinea manus (hands) and tinea pedis (foot), abnormal vaginal discharge, pharyngitis, peripheral neuritis, and so on. What's more, it is reported that cnidium can increase both man and woman's libido and treat male and female infertility.

Medicinally it mainly refers to the ripe fruits of Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cuss., which is a member of the family Umbelliferae. And its other common names include Cnidii Monnieri Fructus, Cnidium Seed, Cnidium Fruit, Fructus Cnidii, She Chuang Dze (Literally meaning "snakes bed seeds"), She Chuang, Monnier's snowparsley, Cnidium Monnier, Cnidium Monnieri Fructus, Selinum monnieri, and the like. In China it is primarily produced in provinces of Hebei, Shandong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Sichuan. All of them are uncultivated and usually harvested in summer and autumn harvest when the fruit is ripe. Next the impurities need to be removed and the fruits should be dried in the sun and used raw clinically.CNIDIUM

MONNIERI BENEFITS 
So, how does this herb work? To better illustrate its health benefits, comparing it with Di Fu Zi (Kochia Scoparia) is a good idea since these two Chinese herbs are known for their ability of relieving itching and medicinal uses of curing eczema, pruritus vulvae, and abnormal vaginal discharge. Actually cnidium fruit is good at dispelling cold, removing dampness, and killing parasites to relieve itching, which is ideal for itch and scabies caused by cold-dampness or deficiency-cold; kochia scoparia fruit is specialized at clearing heat and promoting diuresis to relieve itching that is due to damp-heat. Besides, the former one can still warm kidney and tonify Yang in order to treat impotence, uterus-cold induced infertility, and lumbago caused by dampness; the latter one also cures difficult urination and difficulty and pain in micturition due to heat stranguria.

Cnidium Monnieri

CNIDIUM RECIPES ON HERBAL REMEDIES 
According to the Chinese Materia Medica, it is acrid and bitter in flavor and warm in nature. It goes to meridians of spleen and kidney. Major Cnidium monnieri effects and functions are warming kidney, tonifying Yang, removing dampness, destroying parasites, dispelling wind, and arresting itching. Main cnidium monnieri uses and indications include Impotence; wet, itchy and clammy scrotum; womb-cold induced sterility in female; cold-damp induced morbid leukorrhea; itchy, sore, swollen vagina; arthralgia due to wind and dampness; scabies and Eczema. Recommended cnidium monnieri dosage is from 3 to 9 grams in decoction. But you can buy other cnidium monnieri products out there, such as cnidium monnier supplements, extract, capsules, cream, powder, pills, tincture, and the like.

1) Zan Yu Dan from Jing Yue Quan Shu (Jingyue’s Complete Works). It is formulated with Dang Gui (Dong Quai), Gou Qi Zi (Goji Berry), Yin Yang Huo (Arial Parts of Epimedium), Rou Cong Rong (Cistanche), etc. to treat impotence due to kidney deficiency and infertility caused by cold uterus.

2) She Chuang Zi San from Jin Gui Yao Lue (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Coffer). It is ground into powder and coupled with Qian Fen (lead powder) to cure itchy vagina due to cold and dampness.

3) She Chuang Xi Fang from Seng Shen Ji Fang (Prescriptions collected by Monk Shen). It is coupled with Cu Mei (vinegar-prepared plum) to heal prolapse of uterus.