INDIVIDUAL HERBS
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Fructus Tsaoko |
| Common English: | Tsaoko Fruit Cochin Cardamon Fruit |
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
Acrid Aromatic |
Warm |
Spleen Stomach |
1.5-10g Tincture: 1-4ml |
| 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 |
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
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. |
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) |
- Due to its strong fetid odor, Cao Guo has a tendency to cause vomiting. Roasting or dry-frying with ginger juice reduces this side effect.
- Tsaoko kernels Cao Guo Ren are extremely aromatic and drying and are good for drying Dampness and dispersing Cold. They are used to treat alternating chills and fever and chills that occur in the early stage of malarial disorders and other epidemic disorders when accompanied by turbid Dampness.
- When comparing Cao Guo, Fr. Amomi Sha Ren, Fr. Amomi Rotundus Bai Dou Kou and Sm. Alpiniae Katsumadai Cao Dou Kou, for promoting the Qi; Sha Ren is strongest, Bai Dou Kou is second strongest, Cao Dou Kou is third and Cao Guo has almost no effect. For warming and drying; Sha Ren is weakest, Bai Dou Kou is stronger, Cao Dou Kou is third strongest and Cao Guo is the strongest.
- Both Cao Guo and Sm. Myristicae Rou Dou Kou expel Cold, Dry Dampness, and promote the movement of Qi to regulate the Spleen and Stomach. They are both acrid, however Rou Dou Kou's astringent flavor is greater and it can stabilize leakage and loss from the Large Intestine. It warms the Spleen and Kidneys and therefore treats the Middle and Lower Jiaos, while Cao Guo specifically governs the Middle Jiao.
- Ginger-prepared Tsaoko Seeds Jiang Cao Guo Zi are less drying and are more able to warm the Stomach and alleviate nausea. They are used to treat Cold-Dampness Obstructing the Spleen and Stomach with epigastric and abdominal distention and fullness and pain.