Amomum is the name of a traditional Chinese medicine. It consists of the dried, mature fruits of plants belonging to the genus Amomum in the Zingiberaceae family, specifically Yangchun Amomum (Amomum villosum Lour.), Green-shelled Amomum (Amomum villosum Lour. var. xanthioides T.L.Wu et Senjen), or Hainan Amomum (Amomum longiligulare T.L.Wu). It has the therapeutic effects of dispelling dampness and stimulating appetite, warming the spleen and stopping diarrhea, and regulating qi to stabilize the fetus.It is primarily used to treat dampness-turbidity obstructing the middle burner, epigastric fullness with loss of appetite, spleen-stomach deficiency-cold, vomiting and diarrhea, morning sickness during pregnancy, and fetal restlessness.
Amomum
Amomum is the name of a traditional Chinese medicine. It consists of the dried, mature fruits of plants belonging to the genus Amomum in the Zingiberaceae family, specifically Yangchun Amomum (Amomum villosum Lour.), Green-shelled Amomum (Amomum villosum Lour. var. xanthioides T.L.Wu et Senjen), or Hainan Amomum (Amomum longiligulare T.L.Wu). It has the therapeutic effects of dispelling dampness and stimulating appetite, warming the spleen and stopping diarrhea, and regulating qi to stabilize the fetus.It is primarily used to treat dampness-turbidity obstructing the middle burner, epigastric fullness with loss of appetite, spleen-stomach deficiency-cold, vomiting and diarrhea, morning sickness during pregnancy, and fetal restlessness.
Chinese Name : 砂仁
Latin Name : Amomi Fructus
Aliases : Spring Amomum, Shrunken Amomum Honey, Shrunken Amomum, Shrunken Amomum Honey
Authentic Producing Area : Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Hainan
Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Pungent in taste, warm in nature; enters the Spleen, Stomach, and Kidney meridians
Benefits & Efficacy
Benefits
Dispels dampness and stimulates appetite; warms the spleen and stops diarrhea; regulates qi and stabilizes the fetus.
Indications
Dampness and turbidity obstructing the middle burner, epigastric fullness with loss of appetite, spleen and stomach deficiency-cold, vomiting and diarrhea, morning sickness during pregnancy, and fetal restlessness.
Usage and Dosage
Oral use: Decoct 3–6 g, added late in the decoction; or incorporated into pills or powders.
Precautions
1. Use with caution in cases of yin deficiency with blood dryness or intense internal heat. 2. Vitamin C can break down the glycosides in Amomi Fructus into aglycones and sugars, thereby affecting its therapeutic efficacy; therefore, it should not be used concurrently.
Chemical Constituents
It primarily contains essential oils, such as bornyl acetate, camphor, camphene, and limonene; it also contains flavonoids and other compounds.
Pharmacological Actions
This herb has effects such as regulating gastrointestinal function, anti-inflammatory action, and analgesia.
Relevant Discussions
1. *Treatise on the Nature of Medicinal Substances*: “It treats abdominal pain caused by cold qi, stops intermittent dysentery, alleviates exhaustion and debility, aids in the digestion of food and drink, and warms the spleen and stomach.”
2. *Kaibao Materia Medica*: “It treats deficiency-related cold dysentery, undigested food, bloody and white diarrhea, abdominal pain due to deficiency, and relieves stagnant qi.”
Applications
Clinical Applications
1. To treat dampness obstructing the middle jiao, epigastric and abdominal distension, and loss of appetite, it is commonly used in combination with Magnolia officinalis and white cardamom.
2. To treat qi stagnation in the spleen and stomach, epigastric and abdominal fullness and oppression, loss of appetite, and loose stools, it may be used in combination with Wood Fragrance, Trifoliate Orange, and Atractylodes macrocephala, such as in the Xiang Sha Zhi Shu Pills (from *The Complete Works of Jingyue*).
3. To treat symptoms of spleen and stomach deficiency, it can be combined with Dangshen, Bai Zhu, and Poria—which strengthen the spleen and tonify qi—as in Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Decoction (*He Ji Ju Fang*).
4. To treat pregnancy-related vomiting and inability to eat, it may be used alone, such as in the Suo Sha San (from *Jisheng Fang*), or combined with Perilla Stem and Atractylodes macrocephala.
5. To treat deficiency of qi and blood with fetal restlessness, it may be combined with Ginseng, Atractylodes macrocephala, and Prepared Rehmannia to tonify qi, nourish blood, and stabilize the fetus, such as in the Taishan Pan Shi San (from *Gujin Yitong*).
Related Compatibility
1. Amomum combined with Magnolia Bark: Amomum primarily promotes qi circulation and stimulates appetite; Magnolia Bark primarily promotes qi circulation, relieves bloating, and alleviates fullness. When used together, these two herbs promote qi circulation, relieve abdominal distension, and alleviate pain; they are suitable for abdominal pain and bloating caused by qi stagnation or dampness accumulation.
2. Amomum combined with Mulberry Parasite: Amomum is effective at regulating qi, invigorating the spleen, and stabilizing the pregnancy; Mulberry Parasite is effective at tonifying the liver and kidneys and stabilizing the pregnancy.When used together, they provide strong support for pregnancy and are suitable for cases of lower back pain and abdominal distension and fullness associated with fetal restlessness.
3. Amomum combined with Zhi Ke: Amomum regulates qi, transforms dampness, harmonizes the stomach, stops vomiting, strengthens the spleen, and stops diarrhea; Zhi Ke regulates qi, relieves stagnation, reduces bloating, eliminates fullness, descends qi, and eliminates phlegm.When used together, these two herbs work synergistically to regulate qi and harmonize the middle burner. They are used to treat epigastric and abdominal distension and pain, a sensation of fullness and discomfort, vomiting, and diarrhea caused by qi stagnation in the spleen and stomach.
4. Amomum combined with Prepared Rehmannia Root: Amomum, which is pungent and warm, regulates qi and resolves stagnation; Prepared Rehmannia Root excels at nourishing blood, replenishing yin, and enriching essence and marrow, but it is overly greasy and heavy.When used together, Amomum not only prevents the cloying nature of Prepared Rehmannia from impeding digestion but also directs its action to the Kidney meridian, making this combination suitable for conditions involving deficiency of yin and blood.
5. Amomum combined with Wood Fragrance: Amomum promotes the flow of qi and resolves stagnation, while Wood Fragrance promotes the flow of qi and relieves pain. When combined, these two herbs enhance the effects of promoting qi flow and relieving pain, and are used to treat epigastric and abdominal distension and pain caused by qi stagnation, as well as indigestion.
Medicinal Identification
Amomum and Perilla: Both herbs have a fragrant aroma, enter the Spleen meridian, and possess the effects of regulating qi, relieving epigastric fullness, stopping vomiting, and stabilizing the fetus. They are used to treat spleen-stomach qi stagnation, chest tightness, poor appetite, and vomiting, as well as morning sickness and fetal restlessness during pregnancy.However, Amomum is aromatic and warming, with excellent effects in transforming dampness and regulating qi; it is suitable for conditions such as poor appetite and abdominal distension caused by damp-turbidity obstructing the middle jiao and spleen-stomach qi stagnation. It can also warm the spleen and stop diarrhea, making it useful for cold-damp diarrhea. Perilla, on the other hand, has a strong, pungent aroma; externally, it induces sweating and relieves exterior syndromes, while internally, it disperses lung qi, transforms phlegm, and relieves cough. It can also neutralize the toxins from fish and crabs and is used to treat fish and crab poisoning.
Related Medicines
Xiang Sha Zhi Shu Wan, Compound Chun Sha Granules, Xiang Sha Liu Jun Wan, Xiang Sha Yang Wei Wan (granules).
Related Prescriptions
Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Decoction (*Discussions on Formulas by Famous Physicians Throughout the Ages*), Shen Ling Bai Zhu Powder (*Formulas of the Bureau of Medicinal Preparations*), Liu He Decoction (*Formulas of the Bureau of Medicinal Preparations*).
Medicinal Diet Therapy
Beef Stew with Amomum
1. Benefits: Warms the middle burner to relieve pain, tonifies the spleen and stomach, and strengthens the body.
2. Ingredients: 1,500 grams of beef, 5 grams of Amomum, 10 grams of cassia bark, 5 grams of dried tangerine peel, scallions, ginger, ground black pepper, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, and braising sauce to taste.
3. Preparation: Rinse the dried tangerine peel and cinnamon bark to remove surface dust, break them into small pieces, and crush the amomum. Place all these ingredients together in a muslin bag and set aside. Wash the beef, cut it into square chunks, and boil in a pot of boiling water for 5 minutes to remove blood scum. Remove the beef and rinse it under cold water.In a separate pot, place the beef cubes and add the braising sauce. Bring to a boil over high heat, skim off any foam, then add the scallions, ginger, ground pepper, and salt. Add the spice bag, reduce the heat to low, and simmer the beef until tender. Remove the beef, drain well, and let cool. Slice the cooked beef into thin slices (3–5 mm thick), arrange on a plate, and drizzle with soy sauce, vinegar, and sesame oil.
4. Usage: Serve as a side dish with meals, 1–2 times daily.
Notes
Patients requiring treatment with traditional Chinese medicine should first consult a licensed TCM hospital, where a TCM practitioner will conduct a professional diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate herbal formula.
Processing & Preparation
Harvesting & Processing
Harvest when the fruits ripen in summer and fall, then sun-dry or dry at low temperatures.
Processing Methods
1. Amomum: Take the raw herb and remove impurities and fruit stalks. Crush before use.
2. Salted Amomum: Take clean Amomum, mix thoroughly with salt water, let it sit until thoroughly infused, place in a pot, heat over low heat, stir-fry until dry, then remove and let cool. Use 2.5 kg of salt per 100 kg of Amomum.
3. Ginger-Processed Amomum: Mix the cleaned Amomum with ginger juice, let it sit until the ginger juice is fully absorbed, place it in a pot, and lightly stir-fry over low heat. Remove and let cool. Use 0.2 kg of fresh ginger for every 1 kg of Amomum.
Storage Methods
Store in a dry container, tightly sealed, in a cool, dry place.
Crude Drug Identification
Properties of Crude Drugs
1. Yangchun Amomum: The fruit is elliptical, ovate, or ovoid, with three indistinct blunt ridges, 1.2–2.5 cm long and 0.8–1.8 cm in diameter. The surface is reddish-brown or brownish-black and densely covered with curved, spiny projections.with faintly visible, longitudinally running, ridge-like vascular bundles; the apex bears a protruding perianth remnant, and the base has a pedicel scar or pedicel; the pericarp is relatively thin and easily splits longitudinally; the inner surface is pale brown, with clearly visible longitudinal vascular bundles and thin septa; the placenta is central; the fruit is 3-chambered, each chamber containing 6–20 seeds, which are clustered together.The seeds are irregularly polygonal, 2–5 mm long and 1.5–4 mm in diameter. Their surface is reddish-brown to dark brown with irregular wrinkles. They are covered by a pale brown, membranous pseudocarp, with a depressed seed scar at the smaller end. The fusion point is located at the larger end, and the seed ridge is depressed to form a longitudinal groove. They have a strong, aromatic odor and a pungent, cool, and slightly bitter taste.
2. Green-shelled Amomum: The fruit is ovate, ovoid, or elliptical, with three faintly visible blunt ridges; it is 1.2–2.2 cm long and 1.0–1.6 cm in diameter. The surface is brown, yellowish-brown, or brownish-black, densely covered with slightly flattened spiny projections; the inner surface of the pericarp is pale yellow or brownish-yellow;Each locule contains 8–22 seeds; the seeds are irregularly polygonal, 2–4 mm long and 2–4 mm in diameter, with a pale brown or brown surface and relatively regular wrinkles. They have an aromatic odor and a pungent, cool, and slightly bitter taste.
3. Hainan Amomum: The fruit is ovoid, elliptical, fusiform-elliptical, or pear-shaped, with three distinct blunt ridges; 1–2 cm long and 0.7–1.7 cm in diameter; the surface is grayish-brown or grayish-brown, covered with scaly, branched short spines, and bears a pedicel scar at the base; the pericarp is thick and hard, with an inner surface that is mostly reddish-brown;Each locule contains 4–24 seeds; the seeds are polygonal, 2.5–4 mm long and 1.5–2 mm in diameter, with a reddish-brown or dark brown surface and irregular wrinkles. The odor is slightly faint.
Properties of Processed Slices
1. Amomum: See the “Characteristics of the Medicinal Material” section.
2. Salted Amomum: Resembles Amomum in appearance, but is darker in color and has a slightly salty taste.
3. Ginger-processed Amomum: Resembles Amomum in appearance, but has a slight ginger-like pungent odor.
Botanical Information
Botanical Classification
Plants of the genus Amomum in the Zingiberaceae family, including Yangchun Amomum, Green-shelled Amomum, and Hainan Amomum.
Morphological Characteristics
1. Yangchun Amomum: A perennial, erect herb reaching 1.2–2 m in height. The rhizome is cylindrical, creeping along the ground, with sheath-like, membranous scales at the nodes. Buds are bright red and conical. The stem is erect and cylindrical. Leaves are sessile or nearly sessile; the ligule is semicircular, 3–5 mm long, reddish-brown or sometimes green;leaves arranged in two rows; leaf blades narrowly elliptic or lanceolate, approximately 15–40 cm long and 2–5 cm wide, with a caudate apex, a gradually narrowing or nearly rounded base, entire margins, and glabrous on both surfaces or occasionally with fine hairs on the underside. The inflorescence arises from the rhizome and is 7–15 cm long;the inflorescence stalk is 3–10 cm long, covered with fine soft hairs; the bracts are membranous, elliptic, brown or green, 0.8–2.5 cm long, with a bluntly rounded apex, and the bases are often fused into a tube; the spike is elliptic; the involucral bracts are membranous, oblong, about 1.8 cm long, and about 0.6 cm wide;Bracts are tubular, white, about 1.1 cm long, membranous, and 2-lobed at the apex; the calyx is tubular, white, about 1.7 cm long, with three shallow teeth at the apex; the corolla tube is slender and elongated, white, 1.8–2.0 cm long;The labellum is spatulate, white, 1.6–2.0 cm long and wide, slightly thickened in the central portion, pale yellow or yellowish-green in color with scattered red spots, and shallowly bifid at the apex, with the lobes reflexed; there are two lateral rudimentary stamens, located at the base of the labellum and appearing as papillate projections;There is one stamen, approximately 1 cm long, with an anther about 6 mm long; the connective appendage is 3-lobed, with the apical lobe semicircular and recurved, while the lateral lobes are minute; the filament is flattened and slightly shorter than the anther; the ovary is covered with white soft hairs. The capsule is elliptical, 1.5–2 cm long and approximately 1.5 cm in diameter, bearing unbranched soft spines and is brownish-red.Seeds are numerous, clustered together, and possess a strong fragrance. Flowering occurs from March to May; fruiting occurs from July to September.
2. Green-shelled Sand: This variety is extremely similar in external morphology to the nominate species. The distinguishing features are that the buds and ligules at the tips of the rhizomes are mostly green, and the fruit is also green when ripe. Flowering occurs from April to May; fruiting occurs from July to September.
3. Hainan Sand: This variety has extremely long leaf ligules, measuring 2–4.5 cm in length. The fruit has distinct, blunt three-sided ridges; the pericarp is thick and hard, covered with plate-like, split soft spines, making it very easy to identify. Flowering period: April–June; fruiting period: June–September.
Distribution Area
1. Yangchun Sand: Distributed in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, and other areas. It is currently cultivated on a large scale in Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, and other regions. 2. Green-shelled Sand: Distributed in southern Yunnan. 3. Hainan Sand: Distributed in Hainan. It is cultivated on a large scale in Guangdong and Hainan.
Growth Habits
It thrives in the warm, humid climate of tropical and subtropical monsoon rainforests. It is not cold-hardy but can tolerate brief periods of low temperatures; exposure to -3°C results in frost damage and death. Production areas have an annual average temperature of 19–22°C; annual precipitation exceeds 1,000 mm, and relative humidity is above 90%. It is sensitive to drought and intolerant of waterlogging. It requires moderate shade and prefers diffused light.It is best to select mountain valley forests with intact forest cover, along the banks of streams with year-round flow, and in environments rich in pollinating insects. Cultivate in deep, loose loam or sandy loam soils with strong water and nutrient retention capacity; it is not suitable for cultivation in clay or sandy soils.
Propagation Methods
Propagation is by seed or division.
Cultivation Techniques
1. Seed Propagation: For new planting areas, seed propagation is recommended to reduce the difficulties associated with transporting seedlings. This method allows for the revitalization of the variety and enables rapid propagation. Harvest the fruit in early September to October, and sow the seeds as soon as possible while they are fresh to ensure a high germination rate and early seedling development. Seedlings can be transplanted from the nursery at the start of the rainy season in May of the following year. If sowing cannot be done in the same year, store the seeds in moist sand until February–March of the following year, when temperatures rise, before sowing.
2. Division Propagation: In established growing regions where seedlings are abundant, division propagation is commonly used. Select robust young plants directly from the field or nursery—those with 1–2 sprouting stolons and 5–10 leaves—to serve as planting stock.Plant at a spacing of 1 m × 1 m. Dig holes approximately 30 cm long × 20 cm wide × 20 cm deep. Plant one seedling per hole, cover with 6–7 cm of soil, firm the soil, water, and cover with straw to retain moisture.
Pest and Disease Control
1. Diseases
(1) Damping-off disease: Occurs during the seedling stage. Control by spraying a Bordeaux mixture at a ratio of 1:1:(120–140).
(2) Leaf spot disease, which occurs during the seedling stage, can be controlled by alternating sprays of 1:1:150 Bordeaux mixture or a 1,000-fold dilution of 50% Topsin-M.
(3) Fruit blight may also occur.
2. Pests
The yellow leaf miner is a common pest.