The efficacy and function of nine-winged cardamom

Nine-winged cardamom is a common Chinese medicine in clinical practice. For people with poor physical constitution, eating nine-winged cardamom can help us maintain better health. Today I will introduce nine-winged cardamom to you.

【source】

Medicinal material source: the fruit or root of the ginger family plant cardamom.

[Original form]

Cardamom is a perennial evergreen herb, 2-3m tall, with clustered stems. The lower leaves of the plant are sessile or nearly sessile, and the petioles of the middle and upper leaves are 1-8 cm long; the ligule is 2-lobed, oblong, 1.2-2 cm long, and covered with sparse white pubescence, and the margin of the ligule is dry membranous and light yellow-green. The leaves are oblong or oblong, 30-90cm long and 10-20cm wide, with a pointed tip and a gradually narrowed base that extends downward. The leaves are glabrous on the upper side, and covered with white-green soft hairs on the lower side and on the petiole. The spike inflorescence is nearly spherical, about 5cm in diameter, and the scales are ovate; the pieces are light brown, caducous, 2-2.5cm long, and covered with short soft hairs; the calyx tube is about 2.3cm long, membranous, with light purple-red spots inside the tube, 3 teeth, lanceolate, about 5mm long; the corolla is white, the corolla tube is slightly longer than the calyx tube, and the lobes are oblong; the lip is ovate, about 3.5cm long, entire, slightly recurved at the apex, white, yellow on both sides of the midrib, and with red stripes on both sides of the base; the filaments are short, the anthers are linear, about 1cm long, the connective appendages are semilunar, light yellow, and slightly curled inward at the apex; the stigma is ciliate. The capsule is oval, 2.5-3cm long and 1.8-2.5cm wide. It is purple-green when mature and 3-lobed. The pericarp has nine distinct wings and is covered with sparse white short soft hairs, which are more dense on the wings. There is a remnant persistent calyx at the tip. Many seeds. The flowering period is from May to June, and the fruiting period is from June to August.

【Habitat distribution】

Ecological environment: Grown in the shade and wet places beside streams in forests at an altitude of 350-800m.

【Properties】

Characteristics identification: The fruit is oval or elliptical, slightly curved to one side. The surface of the fruit peel is light yellow or yellow-brown, with nine obvious wings and covered with sparse white short hairs. Except for the fruit wings, obvious longitudinal ridges can be seen. The peel is thin and easily cracks along the edges after being pressed. The inner surface is yellow. Placenta axile, 3-chambered. The seed cluster is oval or conical, with one end being longer and pointed, and each chamber contains 2-12 seed clusters. The seeds are irregular in shape, slightly flat, and brown, dark brown or light brown in color. It has a fragrant aroma and a spicy and cool taste.

【Nature and flavor】

Spicy taste; warm in nature

【Meridian】

spleen; stomach meridian

【Function and indications】

Warms the middle and relieves pain; stimulates appetite and helps digestion. It is used to treat cold pain in the abdomen; abdominal distension; loss of appetite; belching and acid regurgitation.

【Usage and Dosage】

For internal use: decoction.

【Discussions by Various Schools】

"Flora of Hainan": The fruit has the functions of stimulating appetite, helping digestion, promoting qi circulation and relieving pain.

【extract】

Chinese Materia Medica

This article introduces to us what nine-winged cardamom is. We know that nine-winged cardamom has very high medicinal effects, but we must remind everyone that nine-winged cardamom should not be eaten indiscriminately, otherwise it will cause serious consequences. I hope everyone will treat it with caution.