Alpinia Fruit – 1 lb (454 g)

Alpinia Fruit, known in Chinese as 草豆蔻 (Cǎodòukòu) and scientifically as Semen Alpiniae Katsumadai, is a valued herb in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This TCM herb has been traditionally used to support natural wellness, maintain vitality, and encourage holistic balance. At TCMforyou.com, we provide premium-quality Alpinia Fruit carefully sourced to preserve its therapeutic properties.

As a herbal supplement, Alpinia Fruit helps promote overall well-being and supports natural energy, immunity, and balance. Integrating this herb into your wellness routine offers a gentle, time-tested approach to enhancing daily health. Whether brewed as tea, added to herbal remedies, or taken as part of a TCM formula, Alpinia Fruit provides a safe, natural way to experience the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine.

Trusted for centuries, Alpinia Fruit has been used in TCM to harmonize the body and encourage optimal functioning of key systems. At TCMforyou, we prioritize authenticity and quality. Each batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure purity and potency, delivering an herbal product aligned with traditional practices.

Experience the natural support of Alpinia Fruit, promoting immune health, vitality, and holistic well-being. Embrace the wisdom of TCM and incorporate this gentle, effective herbal remedy into your daily wellness journey.

[Overview] This herb is also known as Doukou, Caokou, Caokouren, and Caoguo. It is the nearly mature seed of the Zingiberaceae plant Alpinia katsumadai Hayata. It is mainly produced in Hainan, Guangxi, Guangdong, and other regions. The fruit is harvested when nearly mature in summer and autumn, sun-dried to about 90% dryness, or briefly blanched in water, then sun-dried to half dry, the pericarp removed, and the seed clusters taken out and dried.

[Properties] The taste is pungent, and the nature is warm. It enters the spleen and stomach meridians.

[Actions] Dries dampness and promotes qi movement; warms the stomach and stops vomiting.

[Applications] Used for epigastric and abdominal distension and cold pain caused by cold-damp obstruction of the spleen and stomach, vomiting, hiccups, and chronic diarrhea that does not stop. For cold-damp encumbering the spleen causing epigastric and abdominal cold pain, it is often combined with Evodia rutaecarpa (Wuzhuyu) and Alpinia officinarum (Gaoliangjiang). If cold-damp obstructs causing epigastric and abdominal fullness and distension, it can be combined with Atractylodes (Cangzhu) and Magnolia officinalis (Chuanpou). If qi deficiency with cold congealing causes vomiting and poor appetite, it is often combined with Panax ginseng, Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Gancao), and fresh ginger. For cold-damp stagnation causing vomiting, it is commonly combined with Pinellia ternata (Banxia) and fresh ginger. For spleen and stomach deficiency cold with chronic diarrhea, it is often combined with Cinnamomum cassia (Rougui), Zingiber officinale (Ganjiang), and Myristica fragrans (Rou Dou Kou).

[Dosage and Administration] Internal use: decoction, 3–6 g; or incorporated into pills or powders.

[Cautions] Not suitable for prolonged decoction. Contraindicated in cases of yin deficiency and blood dryness.

[Modern Research]
1. Chemical Constituents: The seeds of Semen Alpiniae Katsumadai contain volatile oils, with main components including 1,8-cineole, α-pinene, and linalool, as well as more than twenty other compounds such as nerolidol, nerol, camphor, pinene-4-ol, acetyl borneol ester, ethyl benzoate, and methyl cinnamate. It also contains flavonoids such as quercetin, kaempferol, and dihydrokaempferol.
2. Pharmacological Effects: A 10% extract of Semen Alpiniae Katsumadai showed no significant effect on total acid secretion in Pavlov’s dog model but significantly increased gastric pepsin activity.