Rhizoma Alpiniae
Officinarum
Source
The rhizome of Alpinia officinarum Hance, family Zingiberaceae.
Characteristics
Rhizome ramified-terete and curved, 5-9 cm long, 1.0-1.5 cm in 
diameter.
Epidermis brown-red, with wavy ringed nodes; intemodes 0.5-1.0 cm long,
with root scars under the node. Section grey-brown, fibrous, stele being
one third of the section. Aromatic in odour. Acrid in taste, heat in nature,
and attributive to spleen and stomach channels.
Indication
Dispel
cold and warm the middle jiao, alleviate pain and relieve vomiting: For
deficiency-cold of the middle jiao with cold pain in the abdomen and vomiting.
Pharmacological
Action
1. Bacteriostatic.
2. Its 0.25~0.75% decoction stimulates while 1.0-1.25% decoction inhibits
the intestinal peristalsis of guinea pigs in vitro.
Administration Decoction: 3-10g