宣,行气,暖胃
辛热。流行三焦,温暖脾胃(三焦利,脾胃运,则诸证自平矣)而为肺家本药(肺主气)。
散滞气,消酒积,除寒燥湿,化食宽膨。
治脾虚疟疾,感寒腹痛,吐逆反胃(肺胃火盛及气虚者禁用),白睛翳膜(白睛属肺,
能散肺滞),太阳经目 红筋(太阳脉起目 )。
番舶者良,研细用。
一名肉果
燥脾,涩肠
辛温气香。理脾暖胃,下气调中,逐冷祛痰,消食解酒。
治积冷心腹胀痛(挟痰、挟食者并宜之),中恶吐沫,小儿吐逆,乳食不下。又能涩大
肠,止虚泻冷痢(初起忌用)。
出岭南。似草蔻,外有皱纹,内有斑纹。糯米粉裹,煨熟用。忌铁。
一名草果
燥湿祛痰,除痰截疟
辛热香散。暖胃健脾,破气开郁,燥湿祛寒,除痰化食。
治瘴疠寒疟(佐常山能截疟。或与知母同用,取其一阴一阳,治寒热瘴疟。盖草果治太
阴独胜之寒,知母治阳明独胜之火),寒客胃痛(散滞气,利膈痰,因滞因寒者多效),霍乱
泻痢,噎膈反胃,痞满吐酸,痰饮积聚。解口臭气、酒毒、鱼肉毒(故食料用之)。过剂助
脾热,耗气损目。
闽产名草蔻,如龙眼而微长,皮黄白、薄而棱峭,仁如砂仁,而辛香气和。滇广所产名
草果,如诃子,皮黑、浓而棱密,子粗而辛臭,虽是一物,微有不同。面裹,煨熟,取仁用
。忌铁。
【白豆蔻】
功效:宣通,行气,暖胃。
性味:辛,热。
归经与主治:通行三焦(上、中、下三焦),温暖脾胃(三焦通畅,脾胃运化功能正常,各种病症自然平息),因此是肺脏的主药(因为肺主司气机)。
作用:疏散停滞之气,消除酒食积滞,去除寒邪、燥湿之邪,化解食物积滞,消除腹部胀满。
应用:治疗脾虚引起的疟疾,感受寒邪导致的腹痛,呕吐逆气及反胃(肺胃火盛以及气虚者禁用);治疗白睛上的翳膜(白睛属于肺,本品能疏散肺部的滞气);治疗太阳经目中的红筋(太阳经脉起始于眼部)。
用法:来自海外番邦的药材品质较好,需研成细粉使用。
【肉豆蔻】
别名:肉果
功效:燥湿健脾,涩肠止泻。
性味:辛,温,气味芳香。
作用:调理脾胃,温暖胃腑,降气调和中焦,驱除冷邪,祛除痰饮,消食解酒。
应用:治疗因积冷导致的心腹胀痛(兼有痰湿或食积者也适宜);治疗中恶邪气导致的吐沫,小儿呕吐逆气,乳汁和食物无法下行。又能固涩大肠,止住虚寒性的腹泻和冷痢(疾病初起阶段忌用)。
产地与性状:产于岭南地区。外形类似草豆蔻,外表有皱纹,内部有斑纹。用糯米粉包裹,煨熟后使用。忌与铁器接触。
【草豆蔻/草果】
别名:草果
功效:燥湿祛痰,截断疟疾。
性味:辛,热,香气发散。
作用:温暖胃腑,健脾益气,破气开郁,燥湿祛寒,消除痰饮,化食导滞。
应用:治疗瘴疠寒疟(配合常山使用可以截断疟疾发作。或者与知母同用,取其一阴一阳的特性,治疗寒热往来的瘴疟。大概是因为草果治疗太阴经独盛的寒邪,而知母治疗阳明经独盛的火热邪气);治疗寒邪客于胃部引起的疼痛(对于因气滞和寒邪引起的症状多有效,因其能散滞气、利膈痰);治疗霍乱、腹泻痢疾;治疗噎膈、反胃;治疗痞满、吐酸水;治疗痰饮积聚。能解除口臭、酒毒、鱼肉中毒(因此在烹饪调料中使用)。过量服用会助长脾热,耗损元气,损伤视力。
产地与鉴别:福建出产的叫草蔻,形状像龙眼但稍长,皮呈黄白色,薄且棱角陡峭,仁像砂仁,但辛香之气温和。云南、广东出产的叫草果,形状像诃子,皮黑、厚且棱角密集,种子粗大且气味辛臭。虽然是一类东西,但有细微差别。用面粉包裹,煨熟后,取出仁使用。忌与铁器接触。
[White Cardamom]
Efficacy: Promotes diffusion, moves Qi, warms the Stomach.
Nature and Flavor: Pungent, Hot.
Meridian Tropism and Actions: Circulates through the Sanjiao (Triple Burner), warms and benefits the Spleen and Stomach (when the Sanjiao is unobstructed and the Spleen and Stomach transform and transport effectively, various symptoms will resolve spontaneously); thus it is a primary herb for the Lung organ (as the Lung governs Qi).
Functions: Disperses stagnant Qi, eliminates alcohol accumulation, removes cold and dries dampness, transforms food stagnation, and relieves abdominal distension.
Indications: Treats malaria due to Spleen deficiency, abdominal pain caused by Cold invasion, vomiting, regurgitation, and reverse flow of Qi (contraindicated in cases of excessive Fire in the Lung and Stomach, or Qi deficiency); treats pterygium on the sclera (the sclera belongs to the Lung; this herb can disperse Lung stagnation); treats red blood vessels in the eyes along the Taiyang channel (the Taiyang meridian originates from the eye).
Usage: Those imported via foreign ships are of superior quality; grind into fine powder before use.
[Nutmeg]
Alias: Rouguo (Meat Fruit)
Efficacy: Dries the Spleen, binds the Intestines.
Nature and Flavor: Pungent, Warm, aromatic.
Functions: Regulates the Spleen, warms the Stomach, directs Qi downward and harmonizes the Middle Jiao, expels cold and dispels phlegm, aids digestion, and resolves alcohol toxicity.
Indications: Treats abdominal and chest fullness/pain due to accumulated cold (suitable even when complicated by phlegm or food stagnation); treats sudden evil qi causing foaming vomit, infantile vomiting and regurgitation, and inability to digest milk and food. It also astringes the Large Intestine, stopping chronic diarrhea and cold dysentery (contraindicated in the early stage of acute onset).
Origin and Characteristics: Produced in the Lingnan region. Resembles Kaempferia galanga externally with wrinkles, and internally with mottled patterns. Wrap in glutinous rice flour, roast until cooked, then use. Avoid contact with iron.
[Grass Cardamom / Tsaoko]
Alias: Caoguo (Tsaoko)
Efficacy: Dries dampness, dispels phlegm, arrests malaria.
Nature and Flavor: Pungent, Hot, aromatic and dispersing.
Functions: Warms the Stomach, strengthens the Spleen, breaks Qi stagnation and opens depression, dries dampness and expels cold, eliminates phlegm, and transforms food stagnation.
Indications: Treats miasma-induced cold malaria (when combined with Dichroa Root [Chanshan], it can arrest malaria; alternatively used with Anemarrhena Rhizome [Zhimu], utilizing their Yin-Yang properties to treat alternating chills and fever in malarial syndromes. This is because Tsaoko addresses Cold dominating the Taiyin, while Anemarrhena addresses Fire dominating the Yangming); treats stomach pain caused by Cold pathogen invading the Stomach (effective for conditions due to stagnation and cold, as it disperses stagnant Qi and benefits diaphragmatic phlegm); treats cholera-like disorder, diarrhea, and dysentery; treats dysphagia, regurgitation, epigastric fullness, and acid reflux; treats phlegm-fluid retention and accumulation. Resolves bad breath, alcohol toxicity, and fish/meat poisoning (thus used in culinary seasonings). Overdose may assist Spleen Heat, deplete Qi, and damage vision.
Origin and Identification: Produced in Fujian, known as "Caokou," resembling a longan fruit but slightly longer, with thin yellowish-white skin and sharp ridges; the kernel resembles Amomum kravanh [Sharen] but has a milder pungent aroma. Produced in Yunnan and Guangdong, known as "Caoguo," resembling Terminalia chebula [Hezi], with thick black skin and dense ridges; the seed is coarse and has a pungent, foul odor. Although they are essentially the same category, there are slight differences. Wrap in flour, roast until cooked, extract the kernel for use. Avoid contact with iron.