Cnidium Monnieri by Ray Sahelian, M.D. Health Benefit of Cnidium Monnieri herb
Cnidium monnieri is a plant which grows in China (and possibly in Oregon) whose seeds are used in classical traditional Chinese medicine for skin problems and as a natural libido booster. Cnidium is known in China as She Chuang Zi. You may find cnidium seeds in bulk at Chinese pharmacies and some health food stores. Cnidium is found in an effective sexual enhancement product called Passion Rx.

What's in cnidium monnieri herb?
Cnidium seed contains several compounds including coumarins osthol or osthole, xanthotoxol, imperatorin, bergapten, monoterpene polyols, glucides and hepatoprotective sesquiterpenes. Osthole has been found in studies to have anti tumor activity and to be helpful in strengthening bones.

 Passion Rx  -- For Men and Women -- Formulated by Dr. Ray Sahelian, M.D.
 Passion Rx is a Bestseller

How quickly does Passion Rx work?
 Passion Rx provides results that are sometimes seen the first or second day, but continue to improve with use. Our feedback thus far indicates more than 80% user satisfaction by the end of the first week, and 90 percent by the end of the second week.
   Dr. Sahelian and his research staff have tested various doses and extracts of exotic herbs from a number or raw material suppliers to determine the ideal dose and combination for optimal libido enhancement with fewest side effects. After years of trial and error,  a UNIQUE proprietary blend with 11 herbal extracts, has been created which works within hours. This unique blend is a close kept secret known only to Dr. Sahelian and his research staff. You will only find this exact combination in Passion Rx.
 Click here to purchase Passion Rx, to see a list of dozens of aphrodisiac herbs, or to subscribe to a FREE newsletter
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Passion Rx enhances:

In recent years science has made breakthroughs in the understanding of sexual dysfunction. But, for hundreds of years, civilizations around the world have known about locally grown herbs that achieve wonderful results with far fewer side effects than prescription drugs. Now, renowned physician and herbal expert Dr. Ray Sahelian, M.D., author of Natural Sex Boosters, has discovered a combination of exotic herbal extracts from the Amazon jungle, India, China, Malaysia, and Africa, that provides a natural solution for those seeking an alternative to synthetic drugs.
   The potent herbal extracts in Passion Rx include acetylcarnitine, ashwagandha, catuaba, choline, cnidium, coleus forskohlii, damiana, DMAE, horny goat weed, maca, mucuna pruriens, muira puama,  passion flower, rehmannia, rhodiola, shilajit, suma, tribulus, and tongkat ali. A version of Passion Rx has yohimbe.

Properties of cnidium monnieri
Preliminary studies show some of the compounds in cnidium monnieri may have anti-histamine, anti-itch, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial effects, along with having an influence on the pituitary-adrenocortex axis.

Cnidium monnieri for bone strength
 Studies on rodents indicate that cnidium monnieri may improve bone strength (coumarins from fruits of cnidium monnier inhibit formation and differentiation of multinucleated osteoclasts of rats).

Coumarins from Cnidium monnieri (L.) and their proliferation stimulating activity on osteoblast-like UMR106 cells.
Pharmazie. 2004 Aug;59(8):643-5.
The proliferation of various fractions of alcoholic extracts from fruits of Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cuss (umbelifera) were screened. The chloroform fraction from the crude extract was found to have the most stimulating activity. Three coumarins (osthole, bergapten and imperatorin) were isolated, and their effects on osteoblastic proliferation were investigated. Osthole, a major pharmacologically active constituent, significantly promoted the cells' activity. Bergapten and imperatorin were less effective than osthole. These results suggested Cnidium monnieri extracts might have potential activity against osteoporosis, and its chloroform fraction might contain active constituents stimulating osteoblasts.

Cnidium for impotence or erectile dysfunction
 In rabbits, a coumarin compound found in cnidium called osthol or osthole was found to help relax the corpus cavernosa of the penis, which would potentially help with blood flow in those with erectile dysfunction.

Vasorelaxing effect of coumarins from Cnidium monnieri on rabbit corpus cavernosum.
Planta Med. 2001 Apr;67(3):282-4. Chiou WF, Huang YL, Chen CF, Chen CC.
Four known coumarins, osthole, imperatorin, xanthotoxin, and isopimpinellin from the ethanolic extract of the fruit of Cnidium monnieri exhibited relaxing effect In phenylephrine-precontracted endothelium-intact rabbit corpus cavernosum.

Effect of the plant-extract osthole on the relaxation of rabbit corpus cavernosum tissue in vitro. J Urol 2000 Jun;163(6):1975-80.Chen J, Chiou WF, Chen CC, Chen CF.

Cnidium monnieri anti tumor potential
 Cnidium monnier may have anti-cancer properties.

Cytotoxic activity of coumarins from the fruits of Cnidium monnieri on leukemia cell lines.
Yang LL. Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Planta Med. 2003 Dec;69(12):1091-5.
Cnidii monnieri Fructus is used as a tonic agent in traditional Chinese medicine. In a previous Chinese herb-cytotoxicity screening test, the ethanol extract of cnidium monnieri exhibited strong effects on human leukemia (HL-60), cervical carcinoma (HeLa) and colorectal carcinoma (CoLo 205) cells. Then, the cnidium monnieri extract was subjected to silica gel column chromatography and recrystallization to give five coumarins: osthol, imperatorin, bergapten, isopimpinellin, and xanthotoxin. Among these compounds, osthol showed the strongest cytotoxic activity on tumor cell lines. Our results indicate that osthol and imperatorin can induce apoptosis in HL-60 cells.

High Quality products formulated by a medical doctor
 Consider highly popular all natural products. These top quality products include Mind Power Rx for better mental focus, concentration, and mood; Diet Rx which helps you eat less. It really does curb appetite; Good Night Rx for better sleep; Eyesight Rx for better vision, often within days; MultiVit Rx a daily comprehensive multivitamin for more energy and vitality; Joint Power Rx for healthy joints; Prostate Power Rx for a healthy prostate gland; and Passion Rx for sexual enhancement, better libido, and improved performance and stamina in men and women.

Joint Power Rx - for healthy joint support with glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate
 Mind-Power-Rx - for healthy brain function and memory with DMAE and Ginkgo biloba
Eyesight Rx -- for healthy vision, results sometimes seen within hours.
Prostate Power Rx - for healthy prostate gland and better erection erection
5-HTP 50 mg - for serotonin support
Acetyl-l-Carnitine 300 mg - mind and memory support, antioxidant
R- Alpha Lipoic Acid 50 mg - powerful antioxidant and blood sugar control
CoQ10 50 mg - for healthy energy metabolism and heart function
 Curcumin the active extract from turmeric, found in curry spice
Tongkat Ali 400 mg - herbal libido enhancer from Malaysia
 Tribulus Terrestris - one of the common sexual enhancing herbs
Mangosteen - contains powerful xanthone antioxidants
Serrapeptase - blood clot dissolver
Graviola herb

Availability of cnidium herb
Cnidium is available in bulk powder, however cnidium is currently not easily found by itself as a supplement. Cnidium is most often found in combination with other libido herbs in formulations. Cnidium herb is also available in different extract potencies, for instance a 4 to 1 extract and a 10 to 1 extract. You will also find cnidium extract sold as a 30 percent osthole extract.

Cnidium research
Osthole improves aspects of spatial performance in ovariectomized rats.
Am J Chin Med. 2004;32(1):11-20.
The present study was designed to investigate the ameliorating effects of cnidiuim monnieri L. Cusson and osthole, a constituent of Cnidiuim monnieri, on the spatial performance deficit in scopolamine (SCOP)-treated or ovariectomized (OVA) rats. Cnidiuim monnieri improved the deficit of spatial performance, and reversed the lower plasma estradiol levels caused by SCOP in female rats. We find that osthole is an active constituent of cnidiuim monnieri, and possesses ameliorating effects on the spatial performance deficits in SCOP-treated female rats or OVA rats. The action mechanism of the effects of osthole on performance deficits was related to the estrogen-like properties and activating the central cholinergic neuronal system.

Chen Z, Duan X.[Mechanism of the antiasthmatic effect of total coumarins in the fruit of Cnidium monnieri (L.)Cuss.] Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi 1990 May;15(5):304-5, 320.
Matsuda H, Tomohiro N, Ido Y, Kubo M. Anti-allergic effects of cnidii monnieri fructus (dried fruits of Cnidium monnieri) and its major component, osthol. Biol Pharm Bull. 2002 Jun;25(6):809-12.

Additional links of interest
Chinese herbs information
Arjuna is an Ayurvedic herb
 Acetyl-l-carnitine is a brain booster
Bacopa herb for brain enhancement
Carnitine supplement
Carnosine supplement 
CDP-Choline supplement
Choline supplement 
Cordyceps mushroom extract
Creatine supplement 
DHEA natural hormone
DMAE supplement 
DMG is related to TMG
 Eurycoma herbal extract sexual enhancer
Forskolin extract
huperzine a supplement
GABA neurotransmitter
Ginkgo biloba brain booster
Ginseng is found in Mind Power Rx
Glucosamine supplement for arthritis 
Impotence supplements that work
Kava is used for anxiety
Lipoic acid supplement 
Melatonin sleep hormone
SAM-e, S-adenosylmethionine mood enhancer
Saw palmetto herb for prostate
Sex Pill supplements that are effective
Stevia sweet herb
 Zallouh from Lebanon
Ahcc mushroom extract
impotence solution
Testimonials on products
Alternatives to viagra
Passion for romance
Eyesight nutrients
Books written by Dr. Sahelian
Ulinks links

Cnidium herb questions
Q. I did a search for Passion Rx in google and came across a website that was selling Viastat. Can you tell me more about Viastat, is there a Viastat review that you have that i can read? I saw that Viastat has cnidium in it.
   A. We generally prefer not to comment on other products. We have not tried Viastat so we don't have a Viastat review. This sexual product has eurycoma longifolia. Viastat also has cnidium monnieri. These herbs and herbal extracts found in Viastat are legitimate sex herbs, but we don't know if the combination is effective or whether Viastat has side effects or what the appropriate the appropriate dose would be.

Q. I have seen cnidium monnier and cnidium monnieri spellings. Which is right?
   A. The few studies published on this herb that we have seen mention it as cnidium monnieri, but we have also seen it spelled as cnidium monnier.

This cnidium monnieri page was last updated in January 2008. As of this date, no human trials were found on Medline regarding the clinical use of cnidium herb.