Amomum (Caoguo)

Distribution: Yunan, Guizhou, Guangdong, Guangxi, Taiwan provinces of China and Vietnam, India.

Properties (characteristics):
Acrid, warm, aromic
 
Actions & Indications:
Stomachache, flatulence, belching, indigestion due to stomach qi stagnation, vomiting, malarial disorders, drunkenness from alcohol consumption.

 Samples of Combinations: with zhi mu for malaria
With chang shan to improve inhibiting malaria
With sha ren improves digestive function and spleen yang and rid of dampness.
With hou po improves digestion and rid of dampness.
With bai dou kou improves getting rid of dampness, warms stomach and getting rid of cold, relieves pain, and stops vomiting.
 
Dosage:
1.5 to 6 g

Medical Functions:
1. a-pinene and β-pinene expells phlegm and inhibits cough.
2. 1,8-Cineole can have calming, pain relieving and asthma inhibiting effects
3.  β-pinenean has  strong anttibiotic and anti-inflammation effects; geraniol has strong antibiotic and antifungal effects
4. small amount of cao guo can stimulate intestine but large amount inhibits it. when taken orally geraniol inhibited the activities of the digestive tract of rats. Small amount mildly promotes urination.
5. rids of round worms of guinea pigs.
 
Chemical Ingredients:
Essential oil: fruit contains 1.6%; seeds contains 2.2%; skin contains0.38%. The essential oil contains 33.94%of 1,8-cineole, 11.78% of trans-2-undecenal. Also contains α--pinene, β-pinene, camphor, Linalool, p-cymene,  nonanal, decanal, a--terpineol, neral-a,-b, geraniol, nerolidol and geranial. 

Cautions: Do not use in cases of qixu, Blood deficient  qixu (qi deficiency) and fire is high in lung and stomach with no cold dampness .