Villous Amomum Fruit

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi. Imported sha ren is produced in Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, and Indonesia.

Amomum villosum Lour., Amomum villosum Lour. var. xanthioides T. L. Wu et Senjen: elliptical or oval shape, with three unobvious ridges. 1.5~2cm long, 1~1.5cm diameter. Externally brown, densely have spiny protrusions; apex has remnants of perianth, base often has fruit stem. Exocarp is thin and soft. Seeds are bound together in a cluster, with three blunt ridges, center has white membrane that splits seeds into three sections, each has 5~26 seeds. Seeds are irregular polyhedrons, 2-3mm in diameter; externally brownish-red or dark brown, with thin wrinkles, externally covered with a pale brown membranous pseudocarp; hard texture, endosperm is milky-white. Potent aromatic odor, acrid and cool, slightly bitter taste. Amomum longiligulare T. L. Wu.: long elliptical or oval-round shape, with three obvious ridges, 1.5~2cm long, 0.8~1.2cm diameter. Externally covered flake-like and branched soft spines; base has scar of fruit stem. Exocarp is thick and hard. Seed cluster is relatively small, each has 3~24 seeds; seed diameter is 1.5~2mm. Slightly light odor and taste.

Superior medicinal material is large, firm, full, with potent aroma.

Acrid, warm

Transforms dampness, increases appetite, warms spleen, relieves diarrhea, regulates qi, calms fetus. Apply to retention of dampness in the middle, abdominal fullness and anorexia, deficiency and cold spleen and stomach, vomit and diarrhea, pernicious vomiting, restless fetal movements.