Fructus Cnidii (Shechuangzi)

Naming
She Chuang Zi (Fructus Cnidii)-Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Shen Nong’s Herbal)

Origin
The mature fruit of annual herb Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cuss. of family Umbelliferae.

Location
Mainly in Hebei, Shandong and Zhejiang provinces of China.

Harvest
Collected in summer or autumn when the fruit grows ripe.

The actual smell and taste
Special aromatic smell, pungent and cool taste, sensation of numbness of tongue.

Best quality
Yellowish green in color, pungent and spicy smell under twisting and full-stacked.

Processing
Unprocessed.

Property
Pungent, bitter, warm; slight toxic; kidney meridian entered.

Actions
Dry dampness, kill parasites and relieve itching for external application, warm kidney and strengthen yang, dispel cold and dry dampness for internal application.

Indications
A. Eczema, scabies, tinea and itching of skin

This herb is usually indicated externally for kinds of itching diseases for actions of drying dampness, killing parasites and relieving itching. It can be either singly decocted for fumigating-washing or combined with other herbs with the similar action to reinforce the action of drying dampness, killing parasites and relieving itching. For eczema, it is often combined with Bai Fan to decoct for frequently washing, or make powder to mix with vaseline for external application. For itching due to scabies or ringworm, it's often made into powder with Sulphur (Liuhuang), and Qing Fen, then mixed with vegetable oil, or made into ointment for external application.

B. Syndrome of kidney yang deficiency

It can warm kidney and uterus and strengthen yang to cure impotence for internal application. For impotence and cold sperm due to kidney deficiency, it is often combined with kidney-warming herbs to obtain the action of warming kidney and strengthening yang to cure impotence. For instance, it is combined with Lu Rong, Herba Cistanchis (Roucongrong), Radix Aconiti Lateralis Praeparata (Fuzi). For infertility due to coldness in the uterus, it is often combined with kidney-tonifying and essence-nourishing herbs to obtain the action of warming the kidney and uterus. For instance, it is combined with Semen Cuscutae (Tusizi), Fructus Schisandrae (Wuweizi).

C. Leukorrhagia and arthralgia due to cold-damp

This herb can both dispel cold and dry dampness and warm kidney and strengthen yang, so it's most suitable to treat leukorrhagia due to cold-damp and chronic cold-damp arthralgia accompanied with kidney yang deficiency. For leukorrhagia due to kidney deficiency and cold-damp, it's usually combined with kidney-tonifying and damp-excreting herbs to obtain the action of warming kidney and strengthening yang and dispelling cold and drying dampness. For instance, it is combined with Fructus Corni (Shanzhuyu), Fructus Schisandrae (Wuweizi), Semen Plantaginis (Cheqianzi). For chronic arthralgia due to cold-damp accompanied with kidney deficiency, it is often combined with wind-damp-dispelling herbs to obtain the action of warming kidney and dispelling cold and dampness to cure arthralgia. For instance, it is combined with Herba Epimedii (Yinyanghuo), Cortex Acanthopanacis Radicis (Wujiapi).

Dosage and Administrations
Take proper dose for external application. Usually take decoction for fumigating-washing or powder for spreading. Take 3~9 g for internal taking.