Cao Dou Kou - 草豆蔻- Semen Alpiniae Katsumadai

Pharmaceutical Latin:	Semen Alpiniae Katsumadai
Common English:	Alpinia Katsumadai Katsumada's Galangal Seeds / Katsumada galangal seed Katsumadai

Properties

Taste	Temperature	Entering Meridians	Dosage
Acrid	Warm Aromatic	Spleen Stomach	1.5-7g crush and add near the end Tincture: 1-3ml 3-6g (Secondary source)

Actions	Indications/Syndromes
Dries Dampness, Stops vomiting, Strengthens the Spleen, Warms the Middle Jiao	Cold-Dampness Distressing the Spleen and Stomach with fullness, distention and pain in the epigastrium and abdomen with vomiting and diarrhea

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Contraindicated for those with Yin or Blood Deficiency.
Contraindicated for those with malarial disorders not due to miasmic Qi.
Contraindicated if there are no Cold symptoms.
Contraindicated for those with Epigastric pain due to Fire.
Contraindicated for those with explosive diarrhea with thirst which is due to Summerheat and Damp-Heat.

INCOMPATIBILITIES

HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

Fr. Evodiae Wu Zhu Yu	Rz. Alpiniae Officinarum Gao Liang Jiang	Cx. Magnoliae Officinalis Hou Po
Abdominal pain, vomiting, anorexia, pale lips and tongue, and regurgitation of clear fluid due to Stomach Cold.	Anorexia and abdominal pain and distention due to Spleen Deficiency with Damp Obstruction and Qi Stagnation.	Cold-Dampness in the Middle Jiao when Dampness predominates.
Cx. Cinnamomi Rou Gui Rz. Zingiberis Gan Jiang	Cx. Cinnamomi Rou Gui Sm. Myristicae Rou Dou Kou (Rz. Zingiberis) (Gan Jiang)	Rx. Aucklandiae Mu Xiang Fr. Chebulae He Zi
Cold invasion causing vomiting, pain, cold abdomen, and intense diarrhea. Chronic diarrhea due to Deficiency Cold.	Chronic diarrhea due to Deficiency and Cold.	Chronic diarrhea due to Deficiency Cold.
Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum Zhi Ban Xia (Per. Citri Reticulatae) (Chen Pi) (Rz. Zingiberis Recens) (Sheng Jiang)	Rz. Alpiniae Officinarum Gao Liang Jiang Fr. Evodiae Wu Zhu Yu	Rz. Atractylodes Cang Zhu Cx. Magnoliae Officinalis Hou Po
Cold Phlegm affecting the chest and diaphragm with vomiting.	Cold-Dampness Accumulation in the Middle Jiao.	Middle Jiao Dampness Accumulation.

Although similar to Fr. Amomi Sha Ren and Fr. Amomi Kravanh Bai Dou Kou, this herb is more strongly warming and drying. It is particularly suited to patterns of Ascendant Damp-Cold in the Spleen and Stomach.
It is also used for Phlegm-Dampness Obstructing the Lungs, which produces fullness and a stifling feeling in the chest.
Cao Dou Kou and Fr. Amomi Rotundus Bai Dou Kou both mobilize the Qi, ease the Stomach, warm the Middle and transform Dampness. Compared with Bai Dou Kou, Cao Dou Kou is weaker at mobilizing the Qi and at disseminating Lung Qi, but it is warmer and more effective at drying turbid Dampness. It can be used as a substitute for Bai Dou Kou.
The aroma is weaker in Katsumada's Galangal Flesh Cao Kou Rou or Kernels Cao Kou Ren.