Cnidium officinale

Physical Characteristics

Cnidium officinale is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in). It is in flower in August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

E. Asia - China.

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Shoots Edible Uses: Young shoots - cooked. The report says that the shoots are edible after the bitterness is removed[177].

Medicinal Uses

Analgesic Antibacterial Antiinflammatory Antispasmodic Cholera Febrifuge Hypotensive Sedative Vasodilator The root is analgesic, antibacterial, anticonvulsive, antiinflammatory, febrifuge, hypotensive, sedative and vasodilator[174, 176, 279]. It is used especially in the treatment of headaches[174] and also in the treatment of abnormal menstruation, dysmenorrhoea, amenorrhoea, cerebral embolism, weakness, pain and coronary heart disease[176, 279]. The root has an antibacterial action that inhibits the growth of E. coli, Bacillus dysenteriae, Pseudomonas, B. typhi, B. paratyphi, Vibrio cholerae and V. Proteus[176].

Known Hazards

Although no specific mention has been found for this plant, at least one member of this genus has a report of toxicity so some caution is advised for this species.