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Wrap the cardamom in flour and bake it, then remove the skin for use.

Pungent, warm, non-toxic, with a floating nature. Enters the Foot-Taiyin (Spleen) and Foot-Yangming (Stomach) meridians. It directs Qi downward, opens depression, dries dampness, drives out cold, aids digestion, awakens from alcohol intoxication, resolves phlegm, and attacks accumulation.

It relieves cholera-like disorder and stops dysentery; wards off miasma and retards cold malaria. It eliminates foul breath and kills the toxicity of fish and meat.

It grows in the South Sea region, and is now found throughout Lingnan. The plant resembles ginger, flowering in clusters in the second lunar month. Li Shizhen said: "The Caodoukou produced in Jianning today is as large as a longan, slightly elongated in shape, with thin yellowish-white skin and distinct ridges. Its kernel is as large as Amomi Fructus Rotundus (Sharen). The Caoguo produced in Yunnan and Guangdong is larger than Terminalia chebula Retzius (Hezi), with thick black skin and tight ridges; its seeds are coarse and have a pungent, foul odor. Although Caokou and Caoguo are essentially the same category, there are slight differences. People in the south also use a type of large bayberry to counterfeit Caoguo; its shape is round and coarse, and its odor is pungent and fierce but not harmonious, so one must be careful to distinguish them."

For foul breath, mix with Asari Radix et Rhizoma (Xixin) powder and hold in the mouth. (Verified Formula 1.)

For epigastric and abdominal fullness and distension, shortness of breath, grind into powder and take with Decoction of Chaenomelis Fructus (Muqua) and Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens (Shengjiang). (Formula 2.)

For spleen pain and fullness/distension, decoct in wine and take. (Formula 3.)

For malaria with predominant chills, or only chills without fever, decoct with Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata (Fuzi), Zingiberis Rhizoma (Shengjiang), and Jujubae Fructus (Zao) and take. (Formula 4.)

Remove the skin and stir-fry for use.

Pungent, warm, non-toxic, with a floating nature. Enters the Hand-Taiyin (Lung) meridian. It moves Qi and warms the stomach, aids digestion and resolves alcohol intoxication, stops vomiting and relieves distension, tonifies the Lung and benefits the Spleen. It treats dysphagia and regurgitation while eliminating cold malaria; treats retroflexion of the stomach (fanwei) and consolidates escaping Qi. It reduces nebula on the white of the eye and removes red veins from the eyes.

Those with excess pathogen are called Zikou, originating from the country of Gaguluo, referred to as 'Duogu'. The herb resembles a banana leaf, growing eight or nine chi tall, smooth, remaining green in winter and summer. The flowers are pale yellow; the fruits grow in clusters like grapes, initially light green, turning white when ripe, harvested in the seventh lunar month. Guangzhou now produces it, but it is not as good as that imported by foreign ships.

For fanwei due to Spleen deficiency, mix with selected Amomi Fructus (Sharen), Syzygii Aromatisati Flos (Gongding), and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (Chenpi), each stir-fried with rice until scorched, form pills with Ginger Juice (Jiangzhi), and take. (Verified Formula 1.)

For infants' spitting up milk due to deficiency-cold, mix with selected Amomi Fructus (Sharen), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao), and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle (Zhigancao), grind into powder, and sprinkle into the mouth. (Formula 2.)

For immediate desire to vomit after eating, take with wine powder or chew directly. (Formula 3.)

For nausea, chew directly. (Formula 4.)