INDIVIDUAL HERBS

Pharmaceutical Latin: Fructus Amomi
Common English: Amomum Fruit
Grass-of-Paradise Fruit
Cardamon
Wild Cardamon Pod
Herbs that Transform Dampness (Dampness Dissolving Aromatics)
Taste Temperature Entering Meridians Dosage
Acrid
Warm
Aromatic
Spleen
Stomach
(Kidney)
1.5-7g
Tincture: 1-3ml
Actions Indications/Syndromes

Promotes the movement of Qi, aromatically transforms Dampness, strengthens the Spleen and stops vomiting

Spleen/Stomach Qi Stagnation or Dampness Distressing the Spleen/ Stomach with distention and pain, in the epigastrium and abdomen, anorexia, vomiting and diarrhea

Warms the Middle and stops diarrhea

Diarrhea from Spleen Cold

Calms the fetus and prevents miscarriage

Restless fetus or morning sickness

Prevents Stagnation from tonic herbs

Middle Jiao Stagnation due to herbal tonification

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Contraindicated for those with Yin Deficiency with Heat signs.
  • Contraindicated for those with Blood Deficiency.
  • Contraindicated for those with Blazing Fire.
  • Contraindicated for those with abdominal pain due to Fire.
  • Contraindicated for those with diarrhea due to Summerheat.
  • Contraindicated for those with coughing and rebellious Qi due to Lung Heat.
  • Use caution during pregnancy.
INCOMPATIBILITIES
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS
  • Use with caution for patients taking anticoagulants such as heparin, warfarin (Coumadin) and enoxaparin (Lovenox) or antiplatelet drugs such as aspirin, dipyridamole (Persantine) and clopidogrel (Plavix) as concurrent use may have an additive or synergisti8c effect.

Rx. Aucklandiae
Mu Xiang

Cx. Magnoliae Officinalis
Hou Po
Fr. Amomi Rotundus
Bai Dou Kou

Rx. Aucklandiae
Mu Xiang
Fr Aurantii. Immaturus
Zhi Shi

Increases the flow of Qi in the digestive system while reducing distention and Food Stagnation, alleviating pain and strengthening the Spleen.

Epigastric and abdominal pain, distention, nausea and vomiting due to Spleen/Stomach Qi Stagnation.

Qi Stagnation due to Food Stagnation.

Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae
Bai Zhu
Rx. Codonopsis
Dang Shen

Rz. Atractylodis
Cang Zhu

Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae
Bai Zhu
Caulis Perillae
Zi Su Geng

Abdominal pain and diarrhea due to Dampness Obstructing the Spleen and Stomach.

Morning sickness.

Cold-Damp induced diarrhea and dysentery.

Restless fetus.

Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum
Zhi Ban Xia

Rx. Scutellariae
Huang Qin

Hb. Taxilli
Sang Ji Sheng
Cx. Eucommiae
Du Zhong
(Rx. Dipsaci)
(Xu Duan)

Morning sickness.

Restless fetus due to Heat.

Restless fetus due to Kidney Deficiency.

Cx. Magnoliae Officinalis
Hou Po

Per. Citri Reticulatae
Chen Pi

Fr Aurantii. Immaturus
Zhi Shi
Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae
Bai Zhu

Constrained Dampness with Qi Stagnation leading to distention and fullness in the epigastrium and abdomen.

Dampness obstructing the Spleen's transforming and transporting functions with reduced intake of food and diarrhea.

Belching, nausea, and a stifling sensation in the epigastrium due to Disharmony of the Stomach Qi.

Vomiting of unadulterated, or scanty but viscous fluids.

Assists digestion of greasy tonic herbs.

Spleen and Stomach Qi Stagnation with indigestion.

Sm. Raphani
Lai Fu Zi
Fr. Crataegi
Shan Zha
Fr Aurantii. Immaturus
Zhi Shi

Rz. Atractylodis
Cang Zhu
Cx. Magnoliae Officinalis
Hou Po
Fr. Amomi Rotundus
Bai Dou Kou

Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae
Bai Zhu
Rx. Ginseng
Ren Shen

Food Stagnation with indigestion.

Middle Jiao Dampness Accumulation.

Spleen and Stomach Deficiency.

Rz. Zingiberis
Gan Jiang
Rx. Aconiti Lateralis Preparata
Zhi Fu Zi

 

 

Cold-Damp diarrhea.

 

 

  1. Some sources classify this herb as a Qi mover (carminative).
  2. This is the primary analgesic herb for abdominal pain and a major herb for dispelling Qi Stagnation in the Middle Jiao.
  3. The ordinary spice cardamon may be used instead but at a lower dosage, as it is stronger.
  4. Sha Ren can be used alone as a powder to regulate Qi, calm the fetus, awaken the Spleen and unbind the Stomach.
  5. It can also be used alone as a powder for bleeding and abdominal pain during pregnancy.
  6. It relaxes contractions of the Small Intestine.
  7. Both Sha Ren and Fr. Amomi Rotundus Bai Dou Kou have similar flavors and properties. Sha Ren is strong and full, warmer and more drying than Bai Dou Kou and more focused on the Spleen and Stomach and therefore used for more serious cases of Cold-Dampness lurking and constrained in the Middle Jiao. It also calms the fetus. Bai Dou Kou unblocks and disseminates Lung Qi and has a clear, fragrant aroma that is less drying than Sha Ren. and is primarily used for Phlegm-Dampness obstructing the Lungs with a stifling sensation in the chest and for mild cases of Cold-Dampness lurking and constrained in the Middle Jiao.
  8. When comparing Sha Ren, Fr. Tsaoko Cao Guo, Fr. Amomi Rotundus Bai Dou Kou and Sm. Alpiniae Katsumadai Cao Dou Kou, for promoting the Qi; Sha Ren is strongest, Bai Dou Kou is second strongest, Cao Dou Kou is third and Cao Guo has almost no effect. For warming and drying; Sha Ren is weakest, Bai Dou Kou is stronger, Cao Dou Kou is third strongest and Cao Guo is the strongest.
  9. Salt-prepared Amomum Fruit Yan Sha Ren is less warm and acrid, to warm without drying with an enhanced ability to descend Qi and calm the fetus. It can guide other herbs downward, warm the Kidneys, inhibit urination and can be used for morning sickness, restless fetus, frequent urination and urinary incontinence.
  10. Amomum Husk Sha Ren Ke (Pericarpium Amomi Sha Ren Qiao) is similar to Sha Ren, but not as strong or as warm and is used to treat patients with Spleen Deficiency who require gentler treatment. It is also used for milder conditions. The dosage is 3-4.5g.
  11. The seeds alone Guang Sha Ren are somewhat stronger with a dosage of 2-5g.