草果
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: The ripe fruit is gathered in autumn and dried in the sun. The seeds are collected after the carbonized fruit is broken into pieces.
Natural Properties & Taste: Pungent and warm
Meridians: Spleen and stomach
Therapeutic Effects:
1. To dry dampness and warm spleen and stomach.
2. To relieve malaria.
Indications:
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