Tsaoko (Caoguo)

Pharmaceutical Name : Fructus Tsaoko

Botanical Name : Amomum tsao-ko Crevost et Lemaire

Common Name : Tsaoko, Amomum seed

Source of Earliest Record: Yinshan Zhenyao

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations : The ripe fruit is gathered in autumn and dried in the sun. The seeds are collected after the carbonized fruit is broken into pieces.

Properties & Taste : Pungent and warm

Meridians : Spleen and stomach

Functions:
1. To dry dampness and warm spleen and stomach;
2. To relieve malaria

Indications & Combinations:

1. Cold-damp blocking and stagnating spleen and stomach manifested as epigastric and abdominal distension and fullness, cold pain, vomiting and diarrhea. Tsaoko (Caoguo) is used with Magnolia bark (Houpo), Atractylodes rhizome (Cangzhu) and Pinellia tuber (Banxia).

2. Malaria. Tsaoko (Caoguo) is used with Dichroa root (Changshan) and Bupleurum root (Chaihu).

Dosage: 3-6 g