（芳草）逐胃口上风寒止当心疼痛
草豆蔻（专入脾胃）。辛热香散。功与肉蔻相似。但此辛热。燥湿除寒。性兼有涩。不
似肉蔻
涩性居多。能止大肠滑脱不休也。又功与草果相同。但此止逐风寒客在胃口之上。症见当心
疼痛。不似草果辛热浮散。专治瘴疠寒疟也。故凡湿郁成病而见胃脘作疼。服之最为有效。
若使郁热内成。及阴虚血燥者。服之为大忌耳。（时珍曰。草豆蔻治病。取其辛热浮散。能
入太阴阳明。除寒燥湿。开郁化食之力而已。南地卑下。山岚烟瘴。饮啖酸咸。脾胃常多寒
湿
郁滞之病。故食疗必用与之相宜。然过多亦能助脾热。伤肺损目。或云与知母同用治瘴疟寒
热。助其一阴一阳。无偏胜之害。盖草果治太阴独胜之寒。知母治阳明独胜之火也。）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。（草果其义另详。）面裹煨熟取仁。忌
铁器。
（芳草）温胃逐寒治瘴疠寒疟
草果（专入胃。）与草豆蔻诸书皆载气味相同。功效无别。服之皆能温胃逐寒。然此气
味浮散
。（出自汉广。）凡冒巅雾不正瘴疟。服之直入病所而皆有效。故合常山用则能以截久疟。同
知母用则能以除瘴疠寒热。（义详草豆蔻。）同橘半用则能以除膈上痰。同楂曲用则能以解面
湿
鱼肉。若使非由疯瘴。或因湿热。而见瘀滞。与伤暑而见暴注溲赤口干者。则并禁焉。忌铁
。
（芳草类）驱除胃口上的风寒，缓解心窝处的疼痛。
草豆蔻（主要作用于脾经和胃经）。味道辛、性热，气味芳香且能发散。其功效与肉豆蔻相似。但草豆蔻的辛热之性更强，擅长燥湿散寒，性质兼有收敛涩滞的特点，不像肉豆蔻那样以涩性为主（肉豆蔻主要用于止住大肠滑脱不止的症状）。此外，其功效又与草果相同，但草豆蔻专门驱散停留在胃口的风寒，症状表现为心窝处疼痛；不像草果那样辛热而浮散，草果专门治疗山岚瘴气和寒性疟疾。因此，凡是因湿气郁结导致疾病并出现胃脘疼痛的患者，服用此药最为有效。如果是体内郁热形成，或者阴虚血燥的患者，服用则是大忌。（李时珍说：草豆蔻治病，是利用它辛热浮散的特性，能够进入太阴经和阳明经，起到散寒燥湿、开郁化食的作用罢了。南方地势低洼，山间烟雾瘴气弥漫，人们饮食多酸咸之物，脾胃常患寒湿郁滞的疾病，所以食疗中必须使用与之相宜的药物。然而过量服用也会助长脾热，损伤肺部和眼睛。有人说将草豆蔻与知母同用可以治疗瘴疟引起的寒热往来，借助其一阴一阳的配合，避免偏胜的危害。大概草果是治疗太阴经独盛的寒邪，而知母是治疗阳明经独盛的火邪。）福建出产的叫草蔻，形状像龙眼但略长，皮呈黄白色且薄而有棱角，仁像砂仁一样，味道辛香温和。云南和广东出产的叫草果，形状像诃子，皮黑厚且棱纹密集，种子粗大且气味辛臭。虽然是一类东西，但略有不同。（草果的含义详见下文。）食用时需将表面包裹起来煨熟后取仁，忌用铁器处理。
（芳草类）温补胃部，驱散寒气，治疗山岚瘴气和寒性疟疾。
草果（主要作用于胃经）。各种书籍都记载它与草豆蔻的气味相同，功效没有区别，服用都能温胃散寒。然而草果的气味更加浮散。（产自汉地和广地）。凡是遭遇山顶雾气和不正之气导致的瘴疟，服用它能直达病所并产生疗效。因此，与常山合用就能截断久治不愈的疟疾，与知母合用就能消除瘴疠引起的寒热症状。（原理详见草豆蔻条目）。与陈皮、半夏合用就能消除膈膜上方的痰饮，与山楂、神曲合用就能化解面食、湿肉带来的积滞。如果不是由疯瘴引起，而是因为湿热导致瘀滞，以及伤暑导致突然腹泻、小便短赤、口干的患者，则都在禁忌之列。忌用铁器。
(Aromatic herbs) Dispel wind-cold in the stomach region and alleviate pain in the epigastric area.
Caodoukou (Grass Cardamom Seed, *Amomi Fructus Rotundus*) (specifically enters the Spleen and Stomach meridians). Pungent, hot, aromatic, and dispersing. Its efficacy is similar to that of Roukou (Nutmeg, *Myristicae Semen*). However, Caodoukou is pungent and hot, drying dampness and dispelling cold, with a property that is also astringent. It does not resemble Roukou, which has a predominant astringent nature (Roukou is capable of stopping chronic diarrhea due to intestinal slippage). Furthermore, its efficacy is similar to that of Caoguo (Tsaoko Fruit, *Amomi Fructus*), but Caodoukou specifically targets wind-cold lodged in the stomach region, manifesting as pain in the epigastrium ("dangxin"). It does not resemble Caoguo, whose pungent and hot nature is floating and dispersing, and which specifically treats mountain miasma and cold-type malaria. Therefore, for diseases caused by dampness stagnation presenting with stomach ache, this herb is most effective. However, it is strictly contraindicated for those with internal heat from stagnation or yin deficiency with dry blood. (Li Shizhen stated: The therapeutic use of Caodoukou lies in its pungent, hot, and floating-dispersing nature, allowing it to enter the Taiyin and Yangming meridians to dispel cold, dry dampness, open stagnation, and transform food retention. In southern regions where the terrain is low-lying and mountain miasma prevails, and people consume sour and salty foods, the Spleen and Stomach often suffer from cold-damp stagnation. Thus, dietary therapy must employ suitable herbs. However, excessive consumption can aggravate spleen heat, damage the lungs, eyes, and vision. Some claim that using Caodoukou together with Zhimu (Anemarrhena Rhizome, *Anemarrhenae Rhizoma*) treats chills and fever from malaria, leveraging their yin-yang balance to prevent excess. Essentially, Caoguo treats cold dominating the Taiyin, while Zhimu treats fire dominating the Yangming.) Produced in Fujian, called "Cao Kou," it resembles a longan but is slightly longer, with thin yellowish-white skin and sharp ridges. The seed resembles Sharen (Cardamom Seed, *Amomi Fructus*) but has a mild, fragrant aroma. Produced in Yunnan and Guangdong, called "Caoguo" (Tsaoko Fruit), it resembles Hezi (Chebula Fruit, *Terminaliae Chebulae Fructus*), with thick black skin and dense ridges. The seeds are coarse and have a pungent, foul odor. Although they are of the same category, there are slight differences. (The meaning of Caoguo is detailed elsewhere.) When preparing, wrap the fruit in flour and roast until cooked to extract the seed. Avoid ironware.
(Aromatic herbs) Warm the stomach, dispel cold, and treat mountain miasma and cold-type malaria.
Caoguo (Tsaoko Fruit, *Amomi Fructus*) (specifically enters the Stomach meridian). Various texts record that its flavor and nature are identical to Caodoukou, with no difference in efficacy; both can warm the stomach and dispel cold. However, Caoguo's aroma is more floating and dispersing. (Originating from Han and Guang regions.) For conditions caused by exposure to mountain mist and pathogenic qi leading to malaria, it enters the disease site directly and is effective. Therefore, when combined with Changshan (Bitter Orange Root, *Phellodendri Radix*), it can arrest chronic malaria; when used with Zhimu (Anemarrhena Rhizome, *Anemarrhenae Rhizoma*), it can eliminate chills and fever from miasma. (Principle detailed under Caodoukou.) When combined with Ju Hong (Aged Tangerine Peel, *Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium*) and Banxia (Pinellia Tuber, *Pinelliae Rhizoma*), it eliminates phlegm above the diaphragm; when used with Zhangqiao (Hawthorn and Medicated Leaven, *Crataegi Fructus* and *Shenqu*), it resolves stagnation from greasy meats and wheat products. If the condition is not caused by miasma, but rather by damp-heat causing stasis, or by summerheat injury presenting with sudden diarrhea, scanty dark urine, and dry mouth, it is strictly contraindicated. Avoid ironware.