🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Cnidium fruit, also known as snake seed, wild carrot seed, or wild fennel, is the fruit of Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cuspin. It grows in damp areas such as fields, riverbanks, and roadside ditches, widely distributed throughout China. Harvested during summer and autumn when fruits mature, then dried in the sun for later use. Modern research confirms this herb contains cnidiumin (about 1%), essential oil (1.3%), with main components including levopinene and isovaleric acid bornyl ester. It exhibits hormone-like effects and inhibits Trichomonas vaginalis, Epidermophyton floccosum, Newcastle disease virus, and influenza virus. Its extract also has anthelmintic properties. In traditional Chinese medicine, Cnidium fruit is bitter and pungent, warm in nature, entering the spleen and kidney meridians. Due to its ability to dispel wind-dampness, kill parasites, relieve itching, and tonify kidney qi, it can be used to treat the following conditions when appropriately combined:
1. Treating pediatric eczema: Grind Cnidium fruit into powder, mix with lard, apply to affected area once or twice daily until healed.
2. Treating eczema: Use 30 g Cnidium fruit, 15 g Sophora root, 18 g Phellodendron bark, 12 g Atractylodes, boil in water, wash affected area twice daily. Effects seen within several days.
3. Treating female vulvar pruritus: Use 45 g Cnidium fruit, 6 g alum, boil in water, frequently rinse. Highly effective.
4. Treating leukorrhea (white or red discharge): Mix equal parts Cnidium fruit and Qinpi into powder, make pills with vinegar paste, size of a small ball, wrap in cotton and insert into vagina, change daily. Significant improvement seen after 3 days.
5. Treating dampness and itching of scrotum: Use 30 g Cnidium fruit, 24 g each Sophora root and Phellodendron bark, 6 g alum, boil in water, use decoction to wash affected area.
6. Treating yellow watery sores: Use 9 g each Cnidium fruit and Coptis, boil in water, divide into two doses, take continuously for several doses, significant effect observed.
7. Treating herpes zoster: Mix equal parts Cnidium fruit, Phellodendron bark, and Rhubarb into powder, mix with egg white, apply to affected area, change daily.
8. Treating cold uterus: Use 15 g each Cnidium fruit and Fennel, 9 g mugwort, boil in water, divide into two doses, long-term use yields reliable results.
9. Treating female infertility: Grind Cnidium fruit into powder, take 6 g per dose, twice daily. Begin 10 days before menstruation, stop when period starts. Resume 10 days after menstruation ends, continue for 2–3 months.
10. Treating impotence: Mix equal parts Cnidium fruit, Schisandra berries, and Dodder seeds into powder, make honey pills the size of mung beans. Take 30 pills per dose, twice daily.
11. Treating frequent nocturnal urination in elderly: Use 15 g each Cnidium fruit and Dodder seeds, 9 g cinnamon, 9 g Alpinia oxyphylla, boil in water and take orally.
12. Treating cold sensation in pubic hair: Use 18 g each Cnidium fruit and Leek seed, boil in water, divide into two doses, take morning and evening, continue for one week, noticeable effect appears.<Cnidium Fruit>