Amomum, Greater Cardamon, Sha Ren 砂仁

Greater Cardamon, Nepal Cardamon
Sha Ren (TCM)
Sthoolaila (Ayurveda)
Heel Kalan (Unani)
Ka Ko La  ཀ་ཀོ་ལ (Tibetan)
Amomum subulatum
Roxburgh, Plants of the coast of Coromandel, vol. 3, 1819

Lesser, Medium and Greater Cardamons
New Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563

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Botanical name:
Amomum spp:
  1. A. villosum
  2. A. villosum var. xanthioides
  3. A. longiligulare
  4. A. subulatum (given by numerous sources but listed as an adulterant by Bensky)

Parts used:
Fruit

Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Pungent, aromatic

Classification:
J. Aromatics that Resolve Dampness

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Uses:
1. Moves Qi, Strengthens the Spleen, Clears Damp: (TCM, Unani, Ayurveda)
-Special medicine to strengthen the Spleen in Tibetan Medicine: one of the Six Excellent Drugs
-poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, distention
-corrective to heavy or hard-to-digest drugs; often used as a corrective in larger formulas
-Liver congestion; digestive disorders with Liver involvement (Ayurveda, Unani)

2. Warms the Spleen, Stops Diarrhea:
-Diarrhea associated with Cold and Damp of the Stomach, Spleen and Intestines

3. Warms the Kidneys, Calms the Fetus: (TCM, West)
-Morning Sickness, Restless Fetus and Threatened Miscarriage from Cold and Damp (TCM)
-'Warm and comforts the Womb' (Salmon)
-in pessaries and sitz baths for female disorders (Dioscorides)
-Edema and urinary diseases (Lesser Cardamon is more used for this indication)

4. Resists Poison:
-traditionally used for Poison including Snake or Scorpion bite (Dioscorides)
-Antidote to Epidemic diseases
-Gonorrhea (Unani)

5. Externally:
-paste mixed with water (Rose water etc) and applied to the forehead for Headache (Dioscorides, Unani)
-decoction as a gargle is good for diseases of the Mouth, Teeth and Gums
-soften and dissipates Boils and Abscesses (Dioscorides)


Dose:
Powder: 500mg–2 grams
Decoction: 3–6 grams

Comment:
'All the four kinds of Cardamons [ie. lesser, middle, greater, and grains of paradise] have the same virtues, but the lesser are said to be the more efficacious' (Salmon). In general, their nature and effects are similar, so the differences in indications is based on the predominant effect of each Cardamon.

Correctives:
... available in PRO version

Substitutes:
... available in PRO version

Main Combinations:
1. Cold and weak digestion, combine Greater Cardamon ... available in PRO version
2. Poor appetite from Stomach Cold and Dampness, Greater Cardamon ... available in PRO version
3. Diarrhea from Cold and weakness, combine Greater Cardamon with ... available in PRO version
4. Abdominal distention from Qi stagnation or Food stagnation, combine Greater Cardamon ... available in PRO version
5. Stomach Damp with Spleen deficiency, combine Greater Cardamon ... available in PRO version
6. Inflammation of the internal Organs, Greater Cardamon with ... available in PRO version
7. Gravel, as a decoction Greater Cardamon with ... available in PRO version
8. To soften and dissipate Boils, apply Greater Cardamon with ... available in PRO version

Major Formula
Six Excellent Medicines (Tibetan Medicine)
Powder for Loss of Appetite (Isaac)
Electuary of Aloeswood (Diaxyloaloes) (Mesue)
Triphera of the Saracens (Triphera Saracenica Magna)

Amomum 11 (Ko la 11) (Tibetan Medicine)
Amomum 19 (Ko la 19) (Tibetan Medicine)
Camphor 14 (Tibetan Medicine)
Aloeswood 31 (Tibetan Medicine)
Aloeswood 35 (Tibetan Medicine)

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Cautions:
1. Not used in Heat with Yin deficiency (Heat and Dryness). (TCM)

Main Preparations used:
Essential oil; usually added to larger compounds