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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) |
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Amomum subulatum
Roxburgh, Plants of the coast of Coromandel, vol. 3, 1819
Roxburgh, Plants of the coast of Coromandel, vol. 3, 1819
Lesser, Medium and Greater Cardamons
New Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563
New Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563
Botanical name:
Amomum spp:
Parts used:
Fruit
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Pungent, aromatic
Classification:
J. Aromatics that Resolve Dampness
Amomum spp:
- A. villosum
- A. villosum var. xanthioides
- A. longiligulare
- A. subulatum (given by numerous sources but listed as an adulterant by Bensky)
- A. aromaticum–Bengal Cardamon (used as A. subulatum)
- A. kepulaga (syn. A. cardamom)–Round Cardamon (from Java)
- A. krervanh, A. compactum, A. dealbatum (Bai Dou Kou)–Cambodian, Round or Cluster Cardamon
- A. tsaoko (Cao Guo)
- Lesser Cardamon is Eletarria cardamomum
Parts used:
Fruit
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Pungent, aromatic
Classification:
J. Aromatics that Resolve Dampness
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
Note:
'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:
1. Sugar Candy or Licorice for the Spleen
2. Tragacanth for the Intestines
Substitutes:
1. Lesser Cardamon (1. 5 times the weigh) (Unani) (Khare states Lesser and Greater Cardamons are not substitutes for one another)
2. Amomum tsao-ko is also used as a source for Ka Ko La in Tibetan Medicine
3. Cubeb (equal weight) (Unani)
Powder: 500mg–2 grams
Decoction: 3–6 grams
Note:
'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:
1. Sugar Candy or Licorice for the Spleen
2. Tragacanth for the Intestines
Substitutes:
1. Lesser Cardamon (1. 5 times the weigh) (Unani) (Khare states Lesser and Greater Cardamons are not substitutes for one another)
2. Amomum tsao-ko is also used as a source for Ka Ko La in Tibetan Medicine
3. Cubeb (equal weight) (Unani)
Main Combinations:
1. Cold and weak digestion, combine Greater Cardamon (Amomum Sha Ren) with Tangerine peel (Chen Pi) and fresh Ginger root. (TCM)
2. Poor appetite from Stomach Cold and Dampness, Greater Cardamon with Lesser Cardamon and Mace (as in Powder for Loss of Appetite of Isaac)
3. Diarrhea from Cold and weakness, combine Greater Cardamon with Nutmeg
4. Abdominal distention from Qi stagnation or Food stagnation, combine Greater Cardamon (Amomum Sha Ren) with Costus (TCM)
5. Stomach Damp with Spleen deficiency (digestive disorders with weakness), combine Greater Cardamon (Amomum Sha Ren) with Atractylodes Bai Zhu or Elecampane
6. Inflammation of the internal Organs, Greater Cardamon with Raisins (Dioscorides)
7. Gravel, as a decoction Greater Cardamon with Melon seed (Ayurveda)
8. To soften and dissipate Boils, apply Greater Cardamon with Basil as a Cataplasm (Dioscorides)
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)
Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang (TCM)
Amomum 11 (Ko la 11) (Tibetan)
Amomum 19 (Ko la 19) (Tibetan)
Camphor 14 (Tibetan)
Aloeswood 31 (Tibetan)
Aloeswood 35 (Tibetan)
Rhododendron 9 (Dwa li dgu pa) (Tibetan)
Cautions:
1. Not used in Heat with Yin deficiency (Heat and Dryness). (TCM)
Main Preparations used:
Essential oil; usually added to larger compounds
1. Not used in Heat with Yin deficiency (Heat and Dryness). (TCM)
Main Preparations used:
Essential oil; usually added to larger compounds