Cnidium officinale
| Cnidium officinale | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Late Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Cnidium officinale
Propagation: 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: 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[2]. Judging by the plants native habitat it is likely to require a well-drained soil in a sunny position.
Range: E. Asia - China.
Edibility: Young shoots - cooked. The report says that the shoots are edible after the bitterness is removed[3].
Medicinal: The root is analgesic, antibacterial, anticonvulsive, antiinflammatory, febrifuge, hypotensive, sedative and vasodilator[1][4][2]. 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[4][2]. 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[4].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
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.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Kariyone, Tatsuo. Atlas of Medicinal Plants.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea. World Health Organisation, 1998.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Yeung, Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, 1985.