Amomi Fructus
Aliases：Chūn Shā Rén (Spring Amomum Fruit), Suō Shā Mì (Shrunken Sand Honey), Suō Shā Rén (Shrunken Sand Fruit), Suō Shā Mì (Shrunken Sand Secret)。
Sha Ren (Villous Amomum Fruit) is the dried ripe fruit of Amomum villosum Lour., Amomum villosum Lour. var. xanthioides T.L.Wu et Senjen, or Amomum longiligulare T.L.Wu, plants of the Zingiberaceae family. It is primarily produced in Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, and Hainan, with the product from Yangchun, Guangdong, considered the most authentic and commonly known as “Chun Sha Ren”. With its pungent, aromatic, and warm properties, it is a commonly used herb for resolving dampness and promoting appetite, warming the spleen to stop diarrhea, and regulating qi to calm the fetus.
Efficacy & Actions
Resolves dampness and promotes appetite, warms the spleen to stop diarrhea, and regulates qi to calm the fetus.
Indications
Used for dampness obstructing the middle jiao, epigastric fullness and loss of appetite, spleen-stomach deficiency-cold, vomiting and diarrhea, pregnancy-related vomiting, and threatened miscarriage.
Modern Pharmacology
Gastrointestinal Regulation and Analgesia: Sha Ren has effects on regulating gastrointestinal function and relieving pain, and is commonly used in Chinese patent medicines for strengthening the spleen, harmonizing the stomach, and warming the middle jiao to dispel cold. Hypoglycemic Activity: Sha Ren exhibits hypoglycemic effects in vitro and in vivo. Its terpenoids, lignans, flavonoids, and other components show Gpa and PTP1B inhibitory activities and GLP-1 secretion-promoting activity. The novel lignans amovillosumins A and B, featuring a 1,4-benzodioxane skeleton, were reported for the first time from this plant with GLP-1 secretion-promoting activity. Gastric Mucosal Protection: Diarylheptanoids, flavonoids, and other compounds isolated from Hainan Sha Ren showed protective effects against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury, reducing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6 while increasing the expression of the gastric mucosal protective factor PGE2.
Ingredients
Volatile Oils: The main active components of Sha Ren, responsible for its strong aromatic odor. Terpenoids, Lignans, and Flavonoids: Including diarylheptanoids and flavonoids isolated from Hainan Sha Ren, as well as the novel hypoglycemic lignans amovillosumins A and B.
Usage & Dosage
Oral Administration: Decoction, the standard dosage is 3–6g. As it contains volatile oils, it should be added at the end of decoction (i.e., 5–10 minutes before the end of boiling) to prevent the loss of active components. It must be crushed before use.
Contraindications
Use with caution in patients with yin deficiency, blood dryness, or internal fire excess: As Sha Ren is pungent and warm, it may consume qi and damage yin. It may worsen symptoms such as dry mouth, dry throat, and five-center heat in patients with yin deficiency and fire excess. Use with caution during pregnancy: Although Sha Ren has the effect of regulating qi to calm the fetus, excessive or long-term use during early pregnancy should be avoided and should only be taken under medical supervision. Avoid combination with Vitamin C: Vitamin C may decompose the glycosides in Sha Ren into aglycones and sugars, affecting its efficacy. Long-term or excessive use: When used at standard dosages, it is generally safe. However, long-term or excessive use may cause liver and kidney damage.
Selected Formulas
Sha Ren Congee (Empirical Formula) Ingredients: 5g Sha Ren, 100g rice, an appropriate amount of white sugar. Preparation: Crush the Sha Ren, place it in a pot with water, soak for 10 minutes, then decoct and strain to obtain the liquid. Cook the rice in the liquid to make congee, adding sugar at the end. Efficacy: Promotes qi circulation, resolves dampness, warms the middle jiao, and stops diarrhea. Indications: Dampness obstructing the middle jiao, spleen-stomach qi stagnation, deficient-cold diarrhea, and epigastric fullness and distension.
Daily Consumption
Sha Ren and Tangerine Peel Tea (Suitable for cold-dampness encumbering the spleen, with symptoms such as belching, abdominal distension, and poor appetite after consuming raw or cold food) Ingredients: 3g Sha Ren, 3g dried tangerine peel (Chén Pí). Preparation: Steep in boiling water for 10 minutes and drink as tea. Sha Ren and Poria Congee (Suitable for children with nocturnal crying due to spleen-stomach deficiency-cold) Ingredients: 3g Sha Ren, 6g Poria (Fú Líng), 100g polished rice. Preparation: Grind Sha Ren and Poria into fine powder, then cook with the rice to make congee. Sha Ren and Crucian Carp Soup (from Yin Shan Zheng Yao; suitable for abdominal distension, poor appetite, and loose stools due to cold-dampness encumbering the spleen) Ingredients: 1 crucian carp, 5g Sha Ren powder. Preparation: Clean the fish and remove the innards, pan-fry until golden on both sides, then add water and ginger slices, simmer for 30 minutes. Add the Sha Ren powder and simmer for another 5 minutes, season to taste. Culinary Spice (Removes gamey odor and enhances aroma in stewed meat and braised dishes) Usage: Sha Ren is one of the ingredients in “Thirteen Spices” (Shí Sān Xiāng). It is used to remove gamey odors, enhance flavor, and add aroma, commonly used in stewed meats and braised dishes. Sha Ren Braised Beef (Efficacy: Warms the middle jiao to relieve pain, tonifies the spleen and stomach, and strengthens the body) Ingredients: 1500g beef, 5g Sha Ren, 10g Cassia Bark (Guì Pí), 5g dried tangerine peel (Chén Pí), appropriate amounts of scallion, ginger, ground pepper, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, and braising liquid. Preparation: Clean the Cassia Bark and tangerine peel, break into small pieces. Break the Sha Ren. Place all three in a gauze bag and set aside. Cut the beef into chunks, boil in water for 5 minutes to remove scum, then rinse with cold water. In a separate pot, add water and braising liquid, then add the beef chunks. Bring to a boil over high heat, skim off foam, then add scallion, ginger, ground pepper, salt, and the spice bag. Reduce to low heat and simmer until tender. Remove, drain, and let cool. Slice the cooked beef into 3–5mm thin slices, arrange on a plate, and drizzle with soy sauce, vinegar, and sesame oil. Usage: Serve as a side dish, 1–2 times daily.
Medicinal Parts
Dried ripe fruit.
Selection & Storage
Store in a cool, dry place in an airtight container, protected from moisture and insects.