Pinyin: Shechuangzi
Aliases
She Mi, She Zhu, She Su, She Chuang Ren
Source
1. Umbelliferae plant Cnidium.Cnidium monnieriThe dried ripe fruit of (L.) Cuss.
Botanical Description
Annual herb, 20-80 cm tall. Roots slender, conical. Stem erect or ascending, cylindrical, much branched, hollow, surface with deep longitudinal striations, often with short hairs on the ridges. Basal leaves with short petioles; leaf sheaths short and broad, membranous at margins; upper leaves nearly completely reduced to sheaths; leaf blade ovate to triangular-ovate in outline, 3-8 cm long, 2-5 cm wide, 2-3 times ternate-pinnatisect; ultimate segments linear to linear-lanceolate, 3-10 mm long, 1-1.5 mm wide, with small acute tips, rough on margins and veins. Compound umbels terminal or lateral, 2-3 cm in diameter; bracts 6-10, linear to linear-lanceolate, about 5 mm long, membranous at margins, pubescent; rays 8-25, 0.5-2 cm long; bracteoles numerous, linear, 3-5 mm long, membranous at margins, ciliate; umbellules with 15-20 flowers; calyx teeth inconspicuous; petals white, apex with inflexed ligule; stylopodium slightly raised, styles 1-1.5 mm long, recurved. Fruit oblong, 1.3-3 mm long, 1-2 mm wide, cross-section nearly pentagonal, with 5 primary ribs all expanded into wings; each vallecula with 1 oil duct, commissure with 2 oil ducts; endosperm ventral face flat. Flowering period April to June, fruiting period May to July.
Habitat and Distribution
Grows on low slopes, fields, roadsides, ditches, and wetlands along rivers, distributed throughout the country.
Harvesting and Processing
Harvested when the fruit is ripe in summer and autumn, remove impurities, and sun-dry.
Medicinal Properties
This product is a cremocarp, oval in shape, 2-4 mm long and approximately 2 mm in diameter. The surface is grayish-yellow or grayish-brown, with 2 outwardly curved stylopodia at the apex, and occasionally a slender pedicel at the base. The dorsal side of the mericarp has 5 thin, raised longitudinal ribs, while the commissural surface is flat with 2 brown, slightly raised longitudinal rib lines. The pericarp is loose and brittle, easily detached when rubbed. The seeds are small, grayish-brown, and oily. Odor: aromatic; Taste: pungent and cool, with a numbing sensation on the tongue.
Chemical Constituents
This product contains pinene, camphene, cnidilin, isoimperatorin, columbianadin, bornyl acetate, limonene,β- Contains components such as sitosterol.
Pharmacology
Antiarrhythmic; inhibits cardiac function; lowers blood pressure; exhibits sex hormone-like effects; antifungal, insecticidal, trichomonacidal, and spermicidal; expectorant and antiasthmatic; local anesthetic; antiallergic and antimutagenic effects; delays aging; affects plasma prostaglandin and cyclic nucleotide metabolism; inhibits smooth muscle contraction; prevents and treats osteoporosis; has sedative and hypnotic effects.
Properties and Channel Entry
Acrid and bitter, warm; slightly toxic. Enters the Kidney channel.
Functions and Indications
Dries Dampness and expels Wind, kills parasites and relieves itching, warms the Kidneys and strengthens Yang. Used for genital itching and leukorrhea, eczema with itching, Damp Bi (arthritis) with lower back pain, Kidney deficiency with impotence, uterine coldness with infertility.
Dosage and Administration
Internal administration: decoction, 3-9 g; or made into pills or powder
Precautions and Contraindications
Contraindicated in patients with Damp-Heat in the Lower Jiao or hyperactive Ministerial Fire with unstable seminal gate.
Prescriptions
1. For impotence: Tusizi (Dodder Seed), Shechuangzi (Cnidium Fruit), and Wuweizi (Schisandra Fruit) in equal parts. Grind the three ingredients into powder, mix with honey to form pills the size of wutong seeds. Take 30 pills with a drink, three times daily. (Qianjin Yaofang, Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold) 2. For female genital itching: Shechuangzi (Cnidium Fruit) 30 g and Baifan (Alum) 6 g. Decoct in water and wash frequently. (Binhu Ji Jian Fang, Collected Simple Prescriptions from Binhu) 3. For damp sores in the ear: Shechuangzi (Cnidium Fruit) and Huanglian (Coptis Rhizome) each 3 g, and Qingfen (Calomel) 0.3 g. Grind into powder. Blow into the ear for immediate healing. (Xian Nian Ji, Three Wonders Powder) 4. For toothache: Shechuangzi (Cnidium Fruit), any amount, decoct in hot water. Hold in the mouth and gargle, and the pain will stop. (Gu Jin Yi Jian, Toothache Rinse Prescription) 5. For rectal prolapse: Shechuangzi (Cnidium Fruit) and Gancao (Licorice Root) each 30 g. Grind into powder. Take 3 g with hot water, three times daily. (Pu Ji Fang, Shechuangzi Powder)
