Amomi Fructus Rotundus Pericarpium
Aliases：Dòu Kòu Ké (Cardamom Shell), Bái Kòu Yī (White Cardamom Coat, in Jiangsu), Kòu Ké (Cardamom Shell).
Bái Dòu Kòu Ké (Cardamom Shell) is a traditional Chinese medicinal material. It is the dried pericarp (shell) of the mature fruit of Amomum kravanh Pierre ex Gagnep. or Amomum compactum Soland ex Maton, plants belonging to the family Zingiberaceae. It is the shell of the white cardamom fruit, with effects similar to those of white cardamom, but with slightly reduced warmth and weaker potency.
Efficacy & Actions
Resolves dampness and promotes Qi flow; warms the middle and stops vomiting; relieves chest tightness and stimulates the appetite.
Indications
Indicated for cold-dampness with Qi stagnation, abdominal distension and fullness, poor appetite (anorexia), nausea and vomiting, food stagnation, and other conditions.
Modern Pharmacology
Digestive promotion: Promotes gastric juice secretion, enhances gastrointestinal motility, inhibits abnormal fermentation in the intestines, and expels gastrointestinal gas, exhibiting good aromatic stomachic effects. Antiemetic effects: Possesses good antiemetic effects. Antibacterial effects: The water decoction of the shell shows inhibitory effects against Shigella flexneri. Antiasthmatic effects: Possesses certain antiasthmatic activity.
Ingredients
Cardamom Shell contains volatile oil. The main components of the oil include: d-borneol, d-camphor, 1,8-cineole, α- and β-pinene, caryophyllene, myrcene, carvone, terpinen-4-ol, and others.
Usage & Dosage
For oral administration: decoct in water, 3–6 g. When used in a decoction, it should be added last (should not be decocted for a long time). May also be made into pills or powders.
Contraindications
Contraindicated in patients with Yin deficiency and blood dryness. Contraindicated in patients with Yin deficiency and blood dryness without cold-dampness patterns.
Selected Formulas
For cold-damp qi stagnation with epigastric and abdominal distension, poor appetite, and vomiting (National Compilation of Chinese Herbal Medicine) Take 3–6g of Baidoukouke (cardamom shell), decoct in water and drink; it should be added later during decoction (added shortly before the end of boiling). For nausea, vomiting, food stagnation, and epigastric discomfort (Yaoxing Qieyong) Take 1.5–6g of Baidoukouke, decoct in water and drink, or use in pills or powder.
Medicinal Parts
Dried mature pericarp (shell) of the fruit.
Selection & Storage
Store in a cool, dry place in a sealed container, protected from moisture.
