味辛，性温，无毒。入肺、胃二经。去衣，微焙。
温中除吐逆，开胃消饮食，疟证宜投，目翳莫缺。
味辛气温，为宽中去滞之需。翳膜遮睛，亦滞气也。
豆蔻辛温，火升作呕，因热腹痛者，禁之。
味辛，性温，无毒。入肺、脾、胃三经。去膜，微炒。
散寒止心腹之痛，下气驱逆满之 ，开胃而理霍乱吐泻，攻坚而破噎膈症瘕。
辛能破滞，香能达脾，温能散寒。
草豆蔻辛燥，犯血忌，阴不足者远之。
味辛，性温，入胃、大肠二经。面裹，煨透，去油，忌铁。
温中消食，止泻止痢，心疼腹痛，辟秽杀虫。
日华称其下气，以脾得补而善运，气自下也。非若陈皮、香附之泄气耳。
肉果性温，病患有火，泻痢初起，皆不宜服。
味辛，性温，无毒。入肺、脾、胃、大、小肠、肾六经，
下气而止咳嗽奔豚，化食而理心疼呕吐，霍乱与泻痢均资，结滞与安胎并效。
芳香归脾，辛能润肾，为开脾胃之要药，和中气之正品，若肾虚气不归元，非此向导
不济，
结滞需通，胎喜疏利，故咸主之。
砂仁性燥，血虚火炎者，不可过用，孕妇食之太多，耗气必致难产。
味甘，性微寒，无毒。入胃经。又名竹二青。（刮去青皮，用第二层）
疏逆气，而呕呃与噎膈皆平；清血热，而吐衄与崩中咸疗。
竹种最多，惟大而味甘者为胜，必生长甫及一年者，嫩而有力。然久用能损气。
[White Cardamom Seed] (Baidoukou)
Taste: Acrid (Pungent); Nature: Warm; Toxicity: Non-toxic. Meridian Tropism: Lung, Stomach. Preparation: Remove the outer membrane, lightly roast.
Action: Warms the Middle Jiao to eliminate vomiting and regurgitation; opens the stomach and aids digestion of food. Indicated for malaria syndromes; indispensable for treating corneal opacity (nebula).
Rationale: Its acrid taste and warm nature make it necessary for widening the Middle Jiao and removing stagnation. Corneal opacity obscuring vision is also a manifestation of stagnant Qi.
Contraindication: Due to its acrid-warm nature, White Cardamom Seed is contraindicated in cases of vomiting caused by rising fire, or abdominal pain due to heat.
[Grass Cardamom Seed] (Caodoukou)
Taste: Acrid (Pungent); Nature: Warm; Toxicity: Non-toxic. Meridian Tropism: Lung, Spleen, Stomach. Preparation: Remove the inner membrane, lightly stir-fry.
Action: Disperses cold and stops pain in the heart and abdomen; directs rebellious Qi downward to drive away fullness; opens the stomach and regulates dysentery and diarrhea associated with cholera-like syndrome (Huo Luan); breaks up hard accumulations to resolve dysphagia (Yi Ge) and abdominal masses (Zheng Jia).
Rationale: Acridity breaks stagnation; fragrance reaches the Spleen; warmth disperses cold.
Contraindication: Grass Cardamom Seed is acrid and drying; it injures blood and is forbidden for those with blood heat. It should be avoided by those with Yin deficiency.
[Nutmeg] (Roudoukou / Rouguo)
Taste: Acrid (Pungent); Nature: Warm. Meridian Tropism: Stomach, Large Intestine. Preparation: Wrap in flour, bake thoroughly until done, remove oil. Avoid iron contact.
Action: Warms the Middle Jiao, resolves food stagnation, stops diarrhea and dysentery, alleviates heart pain and abdominal pain, dispels turbid pathogens, and kills parasites.
Commentary: Ri Hua Zi states it directs Qi downward because when the Spleen is tonified, its transportation function improves, and Qi naturally descends. This differs from the Qi-draining effects of Chen Pi (Aged Tangerine Peel) and Xiang Fu (Cyperus Rhizome).
Contraindication: Nutmeg is warm. It is unsuitable for patients with internal heat or in the early stages of diarrhea and dysentery.
[Amomum Fruit / Black Cardamom] (Sharen)
Taste: Acrid (Pungent); Nature: Warm; Toxicity: Non-toxic. Meridian Tropism: Lung, Spleen, Stomach, Large Intestine, Small Intestine, Kidney.
Action: Directs Qi downward to stop coughing and Ben Tun (running piglet qi); transforms food stagnation to regulate heart pain and vomiting; effective for both cholera-like syndrome and diarrhea/dysentery; effective for resolving stagnation and calming the fetus.
Rationale: Its aromatic quality enters the Spleen; its acridity moistens the Kidney. It is a key herb for opening the Stomach and Spleen, and an authentic agent for harmonizing the Middle Qi. If Kidney deficiency causes Qi to fail to return to its source, this herb is required as a guide to be effective.
Indication: Stagnation requires unblocking; the fetus prefers smooth flow. Hence, it is commonly used for these purposes.
Contraindication: Amomum Fruit is drying. It should not be overused by those with Blood deficiency and flaming deficient fire. Pregnant women who consume too much may exhaust Qi, leading to difficult labor.
[Bamboo Shavings / Bamboo Mucilage] (Zhuru)
Taste: Sweet; Nature: Slightly Cold; Toxicity: Non-toxic. Meridian Tropism: Stomach. Alias: Zhu Er Qing (Second layer of bamboo after scraping green skin).
Action: Distributes rebellious Qi, thereby calming vomiting, hiccups, and dysphagia; clears Heat from the Blood level, thereby treating hematemesis, epistaxis, and metrorrhagia (profuse uterine bleeding).
Selection Criteria: Among the many varieties of bamboo, those that are large and sweet-tasting are superior. They must be young, having grown for just one year, to be tender and potent. However, long-term use can damage Qi.