Bai Dou Kou - 白豆蔻 - Fructus Amomi Rotundus

Pharmaceutical Latin:	Fructus Amomi Rotundus
Common English:	Amomum Cardamon Cluster Fructus Amomi Kravanh Round Cardamon

Category

Aromatic Herbs that Transform Dampness

Properties

Taste	Temperature	Entering Meridians	Dosage
Acrid Aromatic	Warm	Lung Spleen Stomach	2-10g Powder: 1.5-5g Tincture: 1-3ml 3-6g (Secondary source)

Actions And Indications

Actions	Indications/Syndromes
Promotes the movement of Qi, aromatically transforms Dampness and strengthens the Stomach	Dampness Obstructing the Middle Jiao and Damp-Warmth (a stifling sensation in the chest, fullness in the epigastrium, anorexia and a very greasy tongue coat)
Warms the Middle Jiao, descends Qi and stops vomiting	Vomiting due to Spleen and Stomach, Deficiency Cold, Spleen and Stomach Cold, Cold Dampness and Food Stagnation Rebellious Stomach Qi with vomiting, belching

Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions

Major Combinations

Fr. Amomi Sha Ren	Per. Citri Reticulatae Chen Pi	Sm. Armeniacae Xing Ren Sm. Coicis Yi Yi Ren (Cx. Magnoliae Officinalis) (Hou Po)
Fullness and a stifling sensation in the chest, epigastric pain and fullness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia and a thick tongue coat due to Qi Obstruction from Cold-Dampness.	Fullness and discomfort in the chest and abdomen, belching, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea due to Spleen and Stomach Deficiency with turbid Dampness Accumulation.	Headache, stifling sensations in the chest, fatigue, dark, scanty urine and diarrhea, usually with a white, greasy tongue coat as in the early stages of a warm febrile disease. Exterior syndromes with more Dampness than Heat.
Rx. Scutellariae Huang Qin Talcum Hua Shi Scl. Polypori Zhu Ling	Cx. Magnoliae Officinalis Hou Po Rz. Atractylodis Cang Zhu	Hb. Pogostemonis/Agastaches Huo Xiang Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum Zhi Ban Xia
Damp-Warm febrile disease in the Middle Jiao with recurrent fevers, dark, scanty urination, a yellow tongue coat and body aches. Exterior syndromes with more Heat than dampness.	Distention due to Qi Stagnation or Cold-Damp in the Spleen and Stomach.	Nausea, vomiting, epigastric discomfort and anorexia due to either Cold-Damp or Food Stagnation.
Flos Caryophylli Ding Xiang	Fr. Amomi Sha Ren Rx. Glycyrrhizae Gan Cao	Cx. Magnoliae Officinalis Hou Po Rz. Atractylodis Cang Zhu Per. Citri Reticulatae Chen Pi
Belching due to Stomach Cold.	Powdered and placed inside an infants mouth for spitting up of milk.	Dampness Accumulation in the Middle Jiao.

Notes

1. According to some sources, this herb transforms Stagnation, aids digestion of food and relieves alcohol intoxication.
2. It is also used for eye disorders such as superficial visual obstruction and redness of the canthus.
3. It is especially good at dredging and dispersing blocked Lung Qi.
4. It also treats nervous Deficiency with mental and physical exhaustion.
5. This herb is also reported to treat diarrhea containing undigested food, particularly raw vegetables.
6. It is beneficial for colic and for vomiting of milk.
7. It is frequently combined with Fr. Amomi Sha Ren for abdominal pain and distention with vomiting and diarrhea. Sha Ren is more suited to disorders of the Middle and Lower Jiaos, such as diarrhea, whereas Bai Dou Kou is better for disorders of the Upper and Middle Jiaos, such as vomiting.
8. Bai Dou Kou, Fr. Tsaoko Cao Guo and Sm. Myristicae Rou Dou Kou all warm the Stomach and awaken the Spleen. Bai Dou Kou has an exceptionally clear aroma and strong acridity, leaves no astringent taste in the mouth and is excellent at raising, opening and draining Qi Stagnation in the Upper Jiao. Cao Guo and Rou Dou Kou are limited to the Middle Jiao.
9. Bai Dou Kou and Fr. Amomi Cao Dou Kou both mobilize the Qi, ease the Stomach, warm the Middle and transform Dampness. Cao Dou Kou is weaker at mobilizing the Qi and less effective at disseminating Lung Qi, but it is warmer and better at drying turbid Dampness. It can be used in place of Bai Dou Kou.
10. Round Cardamon Kernels Bai Dou Kou Ren are stronger at promoting the flow of Qi, transforming Dampness, warming the Stomach and relieving nausea. They are used for nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain caused by Stomach Cold and Qi Stasis.
11. Round Cardamon Husks (Pericarpium Amomi Rotundum) Bai Dou Kou Ke are less warm than the Kernels, yet they regulate the Qi, ease the Middle and relieve nausea. They are used for Qi Stasis, abdominal distension, anorexia and nausea.
12. Round Cardamon Flowers (Flos Amomi Rotundum) Bai Dou Kou Hua are neutral and acrid; they unbind the Stomach, relieve the chest and eliminate distention.