Practical
Plants

Cnidium officinale

a perennial member of the Cnidium genus in the family Umbelliferae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Cnidium
Life cycle
perennial
Fertility
Self fertile, Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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.

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young shoots - cooked. The report says that the shoots are edible after the bitterness is removed[3].

Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The root is analgesic, antibacterial, anticonvulsive, antiinflammatory, febrifuge, hypotensive, sedative and vasodilator[1][2][4]. It is used especially in the treatment of headaches[1] and also in the treatment of abnormal menstruation, dysmenorrhoea, amenorrhoea, cerebral embolism, weakness, pain and coronary heart disease[2][4]. 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[2].

Product or use
Sedative
Product or use
Vasodilator
Product or use
Antibacterial
Product or use
Hypotensive
Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Antiinflammatory
Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Febrifuge

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China.
Habitat
Not known
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - we have no details for this species but suggest sowing it as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Alternatively, sow stored seed in late winter in a cold frame. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of this country. One report from Japan says that it is cultivated there and grows best in the cooler parts of that country[1]. It is cultivated for medicinal use in Korea[4]. Judging by the plants native habitat it is likely to require a well-drained soil in a sunny position.

References

  1. Kariyone. T. Atlas of Medicinal Plants.

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  4. Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea World Health Organisation, Manila 1998-00-00 ISBN 92 9061 120 0

    ↩1↩2↩3

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