Cnidium monnieri is native to China, where its dried fruits are used  to treat pain in female genitalia, male impotence, asthma, cough, fungal infections, arrhythmia, and a number of other ailments. It is widely used to treat skin problems such as acne and eczema, where it provides itching relief.

Pharmacological studies of C. monnieri fruit, have established its anti-allergic, androgenic, antipruritic and antibacterial activities. Osthole, a coumarin isolated from the seeds, exhibits significant bioactivities including induction of apoptosis of tumor cells, inhibition of contact dermatitis, inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine expression, inhibition of ROS release from stimulated macrophages, and antimicrobial, osteogenic and neuroprotective activities.