Caodoukou 草豆蔻 Katsumada Galangal Seed

Caodoukou 草豆蔻 Katsumada Galangal Seed

Science Name / Latin Pharmaceutical Name: Alpiniae Katsumadai Semen

– Parts of plants that have useful value: Fruits and seeds

– Origin: The dried nearly mature seed of Alpinia katsumadai Hayata

• • Macroscopic Features: Semi-spherical seed clusters, 1.5~2.7cm diameter. Externally grayish-brown, yellowish-white sections form a semi-spherical shape, the seed clusters form 3 separate lobes, each lobe has numerous seeds and sticks together; the cluster is slightly smooth. Seeds are oval-shaped polyhedrons, 3~5mm long, about 3mm diameter; the outside is covered with a pale brown aril, raphe is one longitudinal groove, the other end has hilum. Hard texture, breaks along the raphe into two lobes, longitudinal cut surface is oblique heart-shaped; seed coat extends inwards along raphe, taking 1/2 area of the whole; endosperm is grayish-white. Aromatic odor; taste acrid, and slightly bitter.
  • Quality Requirements: Superior medicinal material has full seeds, firm, semi-spherical, and potent aroma and taste.
  • Properties: Acrid; warm.
  • Functions: Dries dampness, relieves intention, promoting qi-flowing, warms center, fortifies the stomach, digests food. Splenic and gastric stagnation of cold-damp, chest impediment of damp-warm, lost appetite, cold-dampness and vomiting, cheats and abdominal impediment, indigestion.

Caodoukou 草豆蔻 Katsumada Galangal Seed

– 拉丁:    Alpiniae Katsumadai Semen

– 類別:    果實及種子類

– 來源:    薑科植物草豆蔻Alpinia katsumadai Hayata 的乾燥近成熟種子。

• • 性狀: 該品為類球形的種子團，直徑1.5~2.7cm。表面灰褐色，中間有黃白色的隔膜，將種子團分成3 瓣，每瓣有種子多數，粘連緊密，種子團略光滑。種子為卵圓狀多面體，長3~5mm，直徑約3mm，外被淡棕色膜質假種皮，種脊為一條縱溝，一端有種臍；質硬，將種子沿種脊縱剖兩瓣，縱斷面觀呈斜心形，種皮沿種脊向內伸入部分約占整個表面積的1/2 ；胚乳灰白色。氣香，味辛，微苦。
  • 品質: 以種子飽滿、堅實、類球形、氣濃者為佳。
  • 性味: 辛，溫。
  • 功效: 化濕消痞，行氣溫中，開胃消食。用於濕濁中阻，不思飲食，濕溫初起胸悶不饑，寒濕嘔逆，胸腹脹痛，食積不消