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[Non-toxic] Appendix: Alpinia flower. Growth habit: Plant origin.
Cardamom (Caodoukou) primarily warms the middle jiao, treats epigastric and abdominal pain, vomiting, and removes bad breath from the mouth (recorded by famous physicians).
[Name] Kaempferia galanga fruit (Caodoukou).
[Seedling] *Tu Jing* states: Cardamom is Kaempferia galanga fruit. The leaves are especially prized when tender; pickled with salt along with the flower spikes to form dense clusters that do not scatter. Soaked together with Hibiscus mutabilis flower to impart a red color. A variety in Fujian is also called Kaempferia galanga fruit.
The seeds are white, resembling Amomum kravanh seeds, but the shell resembles Gardenia jasminoides fruit, though the taste is bland and not fragrant. Li Dongyuan used this for treating stomach pain. Another variety is Alpinia flower, which is pungent in taste and warm in nature; its stems and leaves resemble ginger, but the root is inedible. It resembles cardamom flowers but is smaller. Flowers grow among leaves, forming spikes like wheat grains, tender red in color. Southerners harvest them before full bloom, calling them "Budding Flowers" (Hantaihua), preserved in salt water and sweet fermented rice wine; after winter, they turn amber-colored with a pleasant spicy fragrance. Best used for pickling in vinegar. Although these two varieties have slightly different seedlings and leaves, their therapeutic effects differ, so both are recorded.
[Origin] *Tu Jing* states: Grows in Nanhai; now found throughout Lingnan.
[Season] [Growth] Sprouts in spring. [Harvest] Collected in October. [Storage] Sun-dried.
[Medicinal Part] Fruit.
[Color] Dark brown.
[Taste] Pungent.
[Nature] Warm and dispersing.
[Qi/Aroma] Strong aroma belongs to Yang.
[Odor] Fragrant.
[Indications] Warms the middle jiao, regulates Qi.
[Meridian Tropism] Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian, Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian.
[Processing] Leigong said: When using, remove the stem and the inner seeds, use only the peel. Stir-fry slowly with Evodia rutaecarpa until the Evodia turns slightly yellow-black, then discard the Evodia and pound the Kaempferia galanga peel and seeds.
[Treatment] [*Tang Ben Cao Zhu*]: Descends Qi, stops cholera-like diarrhea. [*Yao Xing Lun*]: Treats all types of cold qi. [*Ri Hua Zi*]: Alpinia flower descends Qi, stops nausea and vomiting, eliminates cholera-like diarrhea, harmonizes the middle, tonifies Stomach Qi, and resolves alcohol toxicity. ○ Alpinia flower harmonizes the middle, descends Qi, aids digestion. [*Chen Cangqi*]: Alpinia dispels evil Qi, warms the middle, treats sudden collapse/cholera-like diarrhea, and cold pain in the heart and abdomen. ○ Kaempferia galanga fruit, when roasted, treats wind-cold pathogenic factors affecting the upper stomach and cold invading the Spleen and Stomach causing heart and stomach pain.

[Non-toxic] Mud-grown: Lotus root, seeds, stems. Primary indications: Tonifies the middle, nourishes the spirit, boosts Qi and strength, eliminates hundred diseases. Long-term use lightens the body, delays aging, prevents hunger, and extends longevity (*Shen Nong Ben Jing*).
[Name] Water Lotus Seed (Shuizhi Danlian).
[Pistil] Golden, called Lotus Nose (Henabi). The base is called Lotus (Lian), specifically the white part below the stem, known as Lotus Root (Ou) when in the mud. The unopened bud is called Handan (Handan), fully bloomed is Hua. The fruit is Lian. The receptacle is Fang. Inside the receptacle, the green skin and white flesh constitute the Lotus Plumule (Yi), specifically the bitter green embryo known as "bitter as Yi". The root is Ou. Flowers come in red and white varieties; white-flowered ones have large roots and small fruits, red-flowered ones have small roots and large fruits; double-petaled varieties bear no fruit. Though growing in water, it is not submerged; though living in mud, it remains unstained. Its hollow structure allows it to bring joy to the heart when eaten.
[Origin] *Tu Jing* states: Grows in Runan ponds; now ubiquitous in Jiangnan.
[Season] [Growth] Sprouts in March-April, blooms in June. [Harvest] Fruits collected in August-September. [Storage] Sun-dried.
[Medicinal Parts] Root, fruit, stem, leaf, calyx, receptacle, plumule, i.e., flower.
[Color] Yellow-white.
[Taste] Sweet, Bitter. (Lotus nose, root) Sweet.
[Nature] Neutral, Cold, Mild. (Root) Warm. (Flower) Warm.
[Qi/Aroma] Weak aroma, Yin within Yang.
[Odor] Fragrant.
[Indications] Clears Heart, stops dysentery.
[Processing] Peel off black shell, crush, remove the green plumule.
[Treatment] [*Tu Jing*]: Stops dysentery, relieves lower back pain, and hiccups. ○ Lotus root treats post-cholera deficiency thirst, irritability, and anorexia. ○ Leaves stop thirst. ○ Lotus nose calms the fetus, expels bad blood, retains good blood. [*Ri Hua Zi*]: Stops thirst, benefits Heart, stops dysentery, promotes happiness when consumed in excess. ○ Lotus root stops cholera, opens appetite, aids digestion, removes irritability and oppression, treats dry mouth/thirst, soothes anger, resolves postpartum blood stagnation, applied externally for wounds/fractures to stop acute pain, steamed to open appetite. ○ Plumule stops cholera. ○ Fallen leaves/receptacle treat postpartum dry mouth and dryness/irritability of Heart/Lungs. [*Yao Xing Lun*]: Lotus root dissipates blood stasis. ○ Nodes stop hematemesis and epistaxis.
[Tonification] *Tu Jing*: Lightens body, boosts Qi, strengthens the person. ○ Flower calms Heart, beautifies complexion. [*Yao Xing Lun*]: Treats insufficiency of five Zang organs, damages Middle Qi, benefits Blood and Qi of twelve meridians. [*Chen Cangqi*]: Turns hair black, preventing whitening. [*Ri Hua Zi*]: Stops seminal emission, calms Heart. ○ Flower lightens body, preserves youth.
[Combined Therapy] Pill with beeswax and honey to prevent hunger. ○ Boil leaves and receptacle in wine to treat retained placenta postpartum. ○ Combine with Rehmannia juice, hot wine, and children's urine to resolve heat toxins, dissipate blood stasis, and treat postpartum blood stagnation.
[Contraindications] Bitter lotus plumule (Ku Yi) should not be taken in excess; causes cholera-like diarrhea and vomiting; raw consumption mildly moves Qi. ○ Raw fruits cause abdominal distension.
[Avoid] Flowers avoid Rehmannia and raw garlic.
[Detoxification] Leaves kill mushroom poison and crab poisoning. ○ Lotus nose resolves wild mushroom poisoning; decoct in water. ○ Lotus root resolves alcohol toxicity.