Pharmaceutical Name:

Semen Alpiniae katsumadai

Botanical Name:

Alpinia katsumadai Hayata

Common Name:

Katsumadai seed

Source of Earliest Record:

Mingyi Bielu

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations:

The yellow fruit is gathered in summer or autumn and dried in the sun.  The seeds are smashed after the flesh has been peeled off.

Properties and Taste:

Pungent and warm

Meridian:

Spleen and stomach

Functions:

To dry dampness and warm the spleen and stomach
To promote qi circulation

Indications and Combinations:

Cold-damp blocking and stagnating spleen and stomach manifested as epigastric and abdominal distension and fullness, cold pain, vomiting and diarrhea. 

*In cases of excessive dampness, use with magnolia bark (Houpo), Atractylodes rhizome (Cangzhu) and Pinellia tuber (Banxia). 

*In cases of excessive cold, use with Cinnamon bark (Rougui) and Dried ginger (Ganjiang).

Dosage:

3-6 g