Sha Ren – Amomum villosum or A. xanthioides – “Sand Seeds”

Nature: acrid, warm

Enters: Spleen, Stomach

Actions: Warms the middle Jiao; promotes Qi circulation; transforms dampness; calms the fetus; stops vomiting; strengthens the stomach.

Indications:
• Dampness and Qi stagnation in the middle Jiao: distending pain in the epigastrium and abdomen, nausea, vomiting, and especially poor appetite.
• Spleen Yang deficiency cold: diarrhea.
• Morning sickness or violent fetal movement.
• Often added to tonic herbs to keep them from causing stagnation.
• Crush before use.
• Short cook – add near the end of cooking a decoction.
Liu: Sha ren is much warmer than Pei lan, Huo xiang, Cang zhu, and Hou po. Caution with heat conditions.
• This herb consists only of the seeds inside the shell – the shell should be discarded unless its properties are intentionally desired.
• The shell – Sha ren ke – is better at promoting Qi circulation, is less warming, and is weaker overall.
Jin: Great herb for women, including in pregnancy.
• Good for liver invading the spleen.
Chen: Used successfully in one study for treating peptic ulcer.

Dose: 1.5-6g (Sha ren ke is dosed at 3-4.5g)

One comment on “Sha Ren – Amomum villosum or A. xanthioides – “Sand Seeds”

  1. Hello I found your website through herbal friend. I use cardamom some evenings before bedtime to help me breathe easier and sleep better- I had forgotten why I started that habit but reading your page I see it is it to do with the caffeine – I don’t drink coffee but do drink tea and eat chocolate.

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