Pharmaceutical Name:

Fructus Amomi

Botanical Name:

Amomum vilosum Lour.
Amomom longiligulare T. L. Wu
A. xanthioides Wall.

Common Name:

Amomom Fruit

Source of Earliest Record:

Kaibao Bencao

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations:

The fruit is gathered in summer and autumn, whenever it ripens.  It is dried in the sun or in low-temperature room and then mashed.

Properties and Taste:

Pungent and warm

Meridian:

Spleen and stomach

Functions:

To promote qi circulation and transform dampness
To calm fetus

Indications and Combinations:

1.     Dampness blocking spleen and stomach or qi stagnation in the spleen manifested as distension and pain, no appetite, vomiting, nausea and diarrhea.
*Use with Atractylodes rhizome (Cang zhu), Round cardamom seed (Bai dou kou) and Magnolia bark (Hou po) for cases of dampness blocking the spleen and stomach.  The herb can also be used with Costus root (Mu xiang) and Immature bitter orange (Zhi shi) in the formula Xiang Sha Zhi Shu Wan for cases of qi stagnation due to retention of food.  The herb can be used with Tangerine peel (Chen pi), Pilose asiabell root (Dang shen) and White atractylodes (Bai zhu) in the formula Xiang Sha Liujunzi Wan for qi stagnation caused by weakness of the spleen.

2.      Morning sickness or restless fetus.
*Use with White Atractylodes (Bai zhu) and Perilla stem (Su geng).

Dosage:

3-6 g