Cao Guo - 草果 - Fructus Tsaoko
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Fructus Tsaoko |
| Common English: | Cochin Cardamon Fruit Tsaoko Fruit |
Category
Aromatic Herbs that Transform DampnessProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Acrid Aromatic | Warm | Spleen Stomach | 1.5-10g Tincture: 1-4ml 3-6g (Secondary source) |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Strongly dries Dampness, warms the Middle Jiao and disperses Cold | Cold-Dampness Obstructing the Spleen and Stomach with epigastric and abdominal distention, fullness and pain, vomiting, diarrhea and a greasy tongue coat |
Alleviates malarial disorders | Alternating fever and chills due to Cold-Dampness or Turbid-Dampness associated with malarial disorders |
Dissolves Stagnation and distention | Indigestion due to meat Stagnation Distention and nausea due to Spleen and Stomach Deficiency Cold |
Removes Phlegm | Phlegm Obstructing the Middle Jiao |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Major Combinations
| Rz. Atractylodis | Rz. Atractylodis | Fr. Evodiae Wu Zhu Yu Rz. Zingiberis Gan Jiang |
Damp-Cold Obstructing the Spleen and Stomach. | Cold-Dampness Obstructing the Spleen and Stomach with Dampness predominating. | Cold-Dampness Obstructing the Spleen and Stomach with Cold predominating. |
| Rx. Dichroae | Rx. Dichroae | Rz. Anemarrhenae |
Malaria in which chills predominate over fever, and recurrent malaria where Cold-Damp Obstructs the interior and injures the Yin with chest and flank distention, anorexia, and extreme fatigue. | Malaria in which chills predominate over fever, and recurrent malaria where Cold-Damp Obstructs the interior and injures the Yin with chest and flank distention, anorexia, and extreme fatigue. | Malarial disorders marked by turbid Dampness fuming upward leading to irritability and profuse sweating. |
| Cx. Magnoliae Officinalis | Rz. Corydalis | Rx. Dichroae |
A pathogen entering the membrane source manifesting as strong alternating chills and fever, a stifling sensation in the chest, nausea or vomiting, headache and a tongue with deep red edges and a thick, foul and pasty coat. | Epigastric and abdominal pain due to Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis. | Malarial disorders with a buffer against emesis Regulates Cold and Heat, harmonizes the Exterior and Interior and treats malarial diseases with Tai Yin turbid Dampness fuming upward. (irritability, Heat, profuse sweating) |
Notes
- The strong fetid odor of Cao Guo makes it prone to causing vomiting. This side effect is lessened by roasting it or dry-frying it with ginger juice.
- Tsaoko kernels Cao Guo Ren are intensely aromatic and drying, making them well suited to drying Dampness and dispersing Cold. They are given for alternating chills and fever, and for chills arising in the early stage of malarial disorders and other epidemic disorders accompanied by turbid Dampness.
- Comparing Cao Guo, Fr. Amomi Sha Ren, Fr. Amomi Rotundus Bai Dou Kou and Sm. Alpiniae Katsumadai Cao Dou Kou in their ability to promote the Qi: Sha Ren ranks first, Bai Dou Kou second, Cao Dou Kou third, and Cao Guo has almost no effect. In their warming and drying action, the order reverses: Sha Ren is the weakest, Bai Dou Kou is stronger, Cao Dou Kou is third strongest and Cao Guo is the strongest.
- Cao Guo and Sm. Myristicae Rou Dou Kou both expel Cold, dry Dampness, and move the Qi to regulate the Spleen and Stomach. Although both are acrid, Rou Dou Kou has a more pronounced astringent flavor and can stabilize leakage and loss from the Large Intestine. Because it warms the Spleen and Kidneys, it treats the Middle and Lower Jiaos, whereas Cao Guo governs the Middle Jiao specifically.
- Ginger-prepared Tsaoko Seeds Jiang Cao Guo Zi are less drying and better at warming the Stomach and relieving nausea. They are indicated for Cold-Dampness Obstructing the Spleen and Stomach with epigastric and abdominal distention, fullness and pain.