砂仁 / 广砂仁 / 阳春砂 — Amomum villosum Lour.

Pinyin: Shārén / Yángchūn Shā · Malay: Pelaga Nanyang / Buah Pelaga Liar · Family: Zingiberaceae (姜科)

Energetics

Warm (温)

Flavor

Pungent, Acrid, Aromatic (辛)

Meridians

Spleen (脾), Stomach (胃), Kidney (肾)

Traditional Edict

Transforms dampness and awakens the Spleen (化湿开胃), warms the Spleen to arrest diarrhea (温脾止泻), regulates Qi to calm the fetus (理气安胎). Foremost of Lingnan's Four Great Southern Medicinals for dampness stagnation, nausea, and morning sickness.

Cautions & Contraindications

Prolonged boiling destroys bornyl acetate. Contraindicated in Yin Deficiency with Internal Heat (crimson tongue without coat) and hot active gastric bleeding.

Clinical Applications

Peptic and gastric ulceration, H. pylori-associated gastritis, functional dyspepsia, hyperemesis gravidarum, IBS-D, and diabetic gastroparesis.

Quality Markers

Bornyl Acetate (乙酸龙脑酯) >= 0.90% (Chinese Pharmacopoeia)

Mechanism & Phytochemistry

1. Bornyl acetate (>= 0.90%) downregulates TNF-a, IL-1b, COX-2 via NF-kB and MAPK inhibition, elevating mucosal PGE2 and HSP70. 2. Camphor and borneol modulate enteric neurotransmission and relieve visceral spasms. 3. Tocolytic uterine smooth muscle relaxation prevents oxytocin hyper-reactivity.

Preparation & Dosage

Crushed immediately before decoction. MUST be added during final 3-5 minutes of boiling (Hou Xia / 后下). Dosage: 3-6 g in decoction; 1-2 g swallowed as fine powder.

Appended Prescriptions

1. Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang (香砂六君子汤) with Saussurea, Codonopsis, Atractylodes, Poria, and Tangerine Peel. 2. Classical Fetal Stabilization Formulation with Taxillus (Sang Ji Sheng), Dipsacus, and Scutellaria.

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Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only