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Cardamomum (Nutmeg)

Pungent, warm, non-toxic. It primarily treats "Gui Qi" (ghost qi, referring to mental abnormalities or sudden illnesses caused by evil influences), warms the middle jiao to treat accumulated cold, alleviates abdominal distension and pain, treats cholera and "Zhong E" (sudden severe discomfort or poisoning), cold "Zhu" (a type of chronic consumptive disease), vomiting of frothy cold qi, promotes digestion, stops diarrhea, and treats infantile "Ru Huo" (infantile vomiting and diarrhea due to fright or improper diet). Its shape is round and small, with a purple, tight, and thin skin, and pungent internal flesh. It originates from Hu countries, where it is called "Jia Ju Le" by the locals. (Currently appended)

Minister Yuxi et al., according to *Xing Ming Lun* (Treatise on the Properties of Medicinals), state: Cardamomum is a sovereign herb, bitter and pungent in taste. It can primarily treat infantile regurgitation and vomiting, inability to suckle milk, and abdominal pain; it directs qi downward, stops dysentery and diarrhea, opens the stomach, and promotes digestion. Its peel and external network direct qi downward, resolve alcohol toxicity, and treat cholera. It is precious in flavor, and its efficacy is even more remarkable.

*Tujing* states: Cardamomum originates from Hu countries. Currently, only people in the Lingnan region cultivate it. Sprouts emerge in spring. The flowers and fruits resemble cardamom but are rounder and smaller, with purple, tight, and thin skin, and pungent internal flesh. They are harvested in June and July.

*Xu Chuanxin Fang* states: To treat spleen diarrhea and qi-type dysentery, take two nutmegs, wrap them in flour mixed with rice vinegar, place them in ash fire, roast until cooked, grind into a fine powder (one tael), and mix well. Also, grind roasted aged millet into powder. Each time, use two qian bi (measurements) of millet powder, decoct into a drink, and mix with three qian bi of the aforementioned two substances. Take once in the morning and once in the evening, and the illness will recover.

Chen Cangqi says: It arrives via large ships; there is none in China proper. *Haiyao Bencao* states: According to *Guang Zhi*, it grows in Qin country and Kunlun. Pungent, warm, non-toxic. Taking it with ginger soup is beneficial. Lei Gong says: When using it, one must make glutinous rice into powder, knead and wrap the nutmeg with hot water, roast it in ash fire until the rice ball is scorched yellow and cooked, then take it for use. Do not let it touch copper. *Shenghui Fang* states: To treat cold dysentery and abdominal pain preventing eating. Take one tael of Cardamomum, remove the skin... [Text fragment missing in original].

*Yanyi* states: Cardamomum is distinguished from Caodoukou (Grains of Paradise). Remove the shell and use only the flesh. Flesh with high oil content and good color is superior. Dry, white flesh with weak flavor and shriveled appearance is of inferior grade. It also effectively directs qi downward, but excessive consumption depletes qi. Moderate consumption harmonizes the qi.