Aidus & E-Fong Herbal Solution
Herbal Medicine for Dispelling Dampness - Pai Lan
                                        
                                  
                                                          Sha Ren
                                                             
                                                    Amomum Fruit
                                                    Fructus Amomi

This herb is the dried ripen fruit of the perennial herb, Amomum villosum Lour. or Ammum lanthioides Wall. (Family
Zingiberaceae). The former is produced mainly in Guang Dong and Guang Xi, and the latter in Vietnam, Burma,
Thailand and Indonesia. The former is of the best quality. It is collected in July and August when the fruits are ripe, dried
at lower temperature, broken into pieces, used unprepared.
Properties: Being pungent in flavour, warm in nature, it acts on the spleen, stomach, and kidney channels. The
fragrance can dispel dampness and the pungent flavour is dispersing and can promote the Qi flow. It acts chiefly on
spleen and stomach channels, hence is one of the important drugs for dispelling dampness, enlivening the spleen,
promoting Qi flow and normalizing the functions of spl_en and stomach. It is often indicated for the syndromes of
dampness retention in the middle jiao, abdomenae, distention, vomiting, stagnation of spleen and stomach qi. In addition,
it also has miscarriage preventing action by promoting circulation of Qi.
Effects: Dispelling dampness, promoting circulation of Qi to prevent abortion.
Indications:
1. For dampness retention in the middle jiao, marked as poor appetite, nausea and vomiting, oppressive chest, greasy
tongue coating, it is often used in combination with removing dampness and appetising herbs, such as Cang Zhu
(atractylodes rhizome), Hou Pu (magnolia bark), Chen Pi (tangerine peel), etc. In cases of Qi stagnation in spleen and
stomach, abdominal distension, it is used with the dherbs for promoting Qi circulation and normalizing the functions of
spleen and stomach, such as Chen Pi (tangerine peel), Mu Xiang (aucklandia root).
2. For gravidie pernicious vomiting and threatened abortion, it is used in combination with Zi Su Geng (perilla stem), Bai
Zhu (White bighead  atractylodes rhizome) and Xiang Fu (cyperus tuber), i. e., the herbs for enlivening the spleen,
promoting Qi circulation and preventing abortion.
Besides, it can also be used to treat diarrhea caused by cold dampness.
Dosage and Administration: 3~6g. Break into pieces, and then decoct.
Modern Researches: The decoctions of Amomum villosum and Amomum lanthioides are excitatory to the isolated
intestinal anal, but the saturated aqueous solution of volatile oils of the former showed inhibitory effect.