Limited evidenceMen's health

Cnidium Monnieri

A traditional Chinese seed whose coumarin osthole is well characterized in the laboratory and untested in people for erectile function. There are no human trials for the use it is sold for.

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What the science says

Erectile function Limited evidence
No clinical trial of Cnidium monnieri for erectile dysfunction has been published. A pharmacology review of osthole, its principal coumarin, describes vasorelaxant and phosphodiesterase-related activity entirely in cell and animal models.
Bone and other effects Limited evidence
A review of Cnidii Fructus as a source of antiosteoporotic compounds summarizes preclinical bone findings and notes the absence of clinical validation. The same gap applies across its traditional indications.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseNo studied human dose. Traditional decoctions use 3-10 g of the dried fruit; extract capsules commonly supply 250-500 mg standardized to osthole as a label dose.

SafetyHuman safety is essentially uncharacterized. Osthole has shown liver and reproductive toxicity in animals at higher doses, and topical use of the raw herb can cause photosensitivity and skin irritation. Avoid in pregnancy, in liver disease, and alongside nitrates or erectile dysfunction drugs given the theoretical vasodilatory overlap.

How to take it

TimingTiming does not matter.

With food?With food.

Worth knowingTopical use of the raw herb causes photosensitivity, so keep treated skin out of the sun.

Interactions

With medications

nitrates and PDE5 inhibitors (sildenafil, tadalafil)
Overlapping vasodilatory effects could cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure. do not combine

Well-established interactions only — this is not a complete list. Always tell your doctor and pharmacist what you take.

Frequently asked questions

Does cnidium help erectile dysfunction?

No clinical trial of Cnidium monnieri for erectile dysfunction has been published, so the evidence is limited. Its main compound, osthole, shows blood-vessel-relaxing activity only in cell and animal models.

Can I take cnidium with Viagra or Cialis?

No: cnidium's vasodilatory effects could overlap with sildenafil, tadalafil or nitrates and cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure. Do not combine them.

Is cnidium safe?

Cnidium's human safety is essentially uncharacterised, and its compound osthole has shown liver and reproductive toxicity in animals at higher doses. Avoid it in pregnancy and liver disease; the raw herb on skin can cause photosensitivity and irritation.

How much cnidium should I take?

Cnidium has no studied human dose. Traditional decoctions use 3-10 g of dried fruit, and extract capsules commonly supply 250-500 mg standardised to osthole as a label dose.

Scientific references

Osthole, a Coumarin from Cnidium monnieri: A Review on Its Pharmacology, Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Innovative Drug Delivery Platforms
Lin H, You Q, Wei X, Chen Z, Wang X — Am J Chin Med, 2024
Cnidii Fructus: A traditional Chinese medicine herb and source of antiosteoporotic drugs
Xu T, Yin J, Dai X, Liu T, Shi H, Zhang Y — Phytomedicine, 2024

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