INDIVIDUAL HERBS

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

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

Actions	Indications/Syndromes
*Dries Dampness, warms the Middle Jiao,* stops vomiting and strengthens the Spleen**	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.

This herb is similar to Fr. Amomi Sha Ren and Fr. Amomi Kravanh Bai Dou Kou but it has stronger warming and drying properties. It is especially good for treating patterns of Ascendant Damp-Cold in the Spleen and Stomach.
This herb also treats Phlegm-Dampness Obstructing the Lungs causing fullness and a stifling sensation in the chest.
Both Cao Dou Kou and Fr. Amomi Rotundus Bai Dou Kou mobilize the Qi, ease the Stomach, warm the Middle and transform Dampness. Cao Dou Kou does not mobilize the Qi as well nor does it disseminate Lung Qi as effectively but is warmer and better at drying turbid Dampness. It may substitute for Bai Dou Kou.
Katsumada's Galangal Flesh Cao Kou Rou or Kernels Cao Kou Ren is less aromatic.