Alpinia oxyphylla, Yi Zhi Ren 益智仁
Black Cardamon, Bitter-seeded Cardamon, Sharp-leaved Galangal
Yi Zhi Ren (TCM)
Yi Zhi Ren (TCM)
Botanical name:
Alpinia oxyphylla
Parts used:
Fruit kernels (shell removed)
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Pungent
Classification:
N. Tonify Yang
Alpinia oxyphylla
Parts used:
Fruit kernels (shell removed)
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Pungent
Classification:
N. Tonify Yang
Uses:
1. Warms the Kidneys, Astringes Essence:
-frequent, pale and copious urination
-Incontinence, Dribbling Urine
-Spermatorrhea, Leukorrhea
-Irregular Uterine Bleeding (including that during pregnancy)
-Used to help retain Essence
2. Warms the Spleen, Stops Diarrhea:
-Diarrhea, Indigestion
-Cold abdominal pain
-Vomiting, excess salivation
-'reinforces the Qi, pacifies the Soul'. (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
-'controls the Monarch and Ministerial Fire'. (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
DOSE:
Powder: 1–3 grams
Decoction: 3–9 grams. The Ben Cao Gang Mu says to decoct 24 fruit as a dose.
SUBSTITUTE:
Psoralea Bu Gu Zhi is similar in effect.
CORRECTIVE:
Dioscorea Shan Yao is taken with Alpinia Yi Zhi Ren to prevent Heat from deficiency.
PREPARATION:
1. Stir-fried Alpinia Yi Zhi Ren:
The fruit are stir-fried to remove the shells. This makes it warmer and is typically done to remove the shells.
2. Salt Stir-Fried Alpinia Yi Zhi Ren:
The kernels are either soaked briefly in salt water, or else sprinkled with salt water. Then they are stir-fried to dryness.
This leads them to the Kidneys and reduces the pungent, astringent effect. It is used to retain the Essence, for Incontinence, Dribbling Urine, Spermatorrhea etc.
Powder: 1–3 grams
Decoction: 3–9 grams. The Ben Cao Gang Mu says to decoct 24 fruit as a dose.
SUBSTITUTE:
Psoralea Bu Gu Zhi is similar in effect.
CORRECTIVE:
Dioscorea Shan Yao is taken with Alpinia Yi Zhi Ren to prevent Heat from deficiency.
PREPARATION:
1. Stir-fried Alpinia Yi Zhi Ren:
The fruit are stir-fried to remove the shells. This makes it warmer and is typically done to remove the shells.
2. Salt Stir-Fried Alpinia Yi Zhi Ren:
The kernels are either soaked briefly in salt water, or else sprinkled with salt water. Then they are stir-fried to dryness.
This leads them to the Kidneys and reduces the pungent, astringent effect. It is used to retain the Essence, for Incontinence, Dribbling Urine, Spermatorrhea etc.
Main Combinations:
1. Incontinence, Enuresis, frequent Urinary from Kidney deficiency:
i. Alpinia Yi Zhi Ren with Lindera Wu Yao
ii. Alpinia Yi Zhi Ren with Mantis Egg Case (Sang Piao Xiao). This combination has been found clinically effective.
iii. in the elderly, Alpinia Yi Zhi Ren with Atractylodes Bai Zhu
iv. Alpinia Yi Zhi Ren with Dioscorea Shan Yao, Cornus Shan Zhu Yu
v. Alpinia Yi Zhi Ren with Psoralea Bu Gu Zhi, Immature Raspberry fruit (Fu Pen Zi)
vi. Alpinia Yi Zhi Ren with Rosehip (Jin Ying Zi), Oyster shell (Mu Li)
vii. Alpinia Yi Zhi Ren with Euryale seed (Qian Shi), Dodder seed (Tu Si Zi), Mantis Egg Case (Sang Piao Xiao)
2. Frequent Urine from Kidney deficiency:
i. Alpinia Yi Zhi Ren with Dioscorea hypoglauca Bi Xie
ii. Alpinia Yi Zhi Ren with Water Plantain (Ze Xie), Cornus Shan Zhu Yu
iii. Alpinia Yi Zhi Ren with Dodder seed (Tu Si Zi), Psoralea Bu Gu Zhi
3. Proteinuria, Alpinia Yi Zhi Ren with Rosehip (Jin Ying Zi)
4. Cold abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea from Cold:
i. Alpinia Yi Zhi Ren with Codonopsis Dang Shen, Poria Fu Ling, Pinellia Ban Xia
ii. Alpinia Yi Zhi Ren with Atractylodes Bai Zhu, Ginger (Gan Jiang)
5. Uterine Bleeding during Pregnancy, Alpinia Yi Zhi Ren with Greater Cardamoin (Sha Ren)
6. Excess Nasal discharge, Alpinia Yi Zhi Ren with Pomegranate peel (Shi Liu Pi), Chebula (He Zi)
Major Formulas:
Bi Xie Feng Qing Yin
Suo Quan Wan
Tu Si Zi Wan
Cautions:
Not used for Heat or Yin-deficient conditions (unless with tonifying herbs).
Main Preparations used:
Not used for Heat or Yin-deficient conditions (unless with tonifying herbs).
Main Preparations used: