Witnessed by: TCM
Black cardamom (Alpinia oxyphylla), of the Zingiberaceae family. Clumping ginger-family herb with lance-shaped leaves; native range: Hainan and southern Guangdong. Globally recognized as yi zhi ren (益智仁) in Chinese, and sharp-leaf galangal, bitter-seed cardamom in English. The part used is fruit. Small spindle-shaped fruit, aromatic, pungent and slightly bitter.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
BLACK CARDAMOM
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- black cardamom
- Scientific name
- Alpinia oxyphylla Miq.
- Family
- Zingiberaceae
Form
- Part used
- fruit
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- pungent
Temperature
- TCM
- warm
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Spleen · Kidney
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- warms the Kidney, retains the essence and urine, warms the Spleen, stops diarrhea and checks excessive salivation
Cautions
- Contraindications
- contraindicated in yin deficiency with heat and in damp-heat causing frequent urination
- Toxicity
- well tolerated within dose
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