Skip to content
Cura x Cura

Rou Dou Kou肉豆蔻

Myristicae Semen · Nutmeg

Astringent Herbs 收涩药《药性论》

Overview

Nutmeg, used in Chinese medicine as a warming astringent rather than as a spice. Acrid and warm, it warms the middle and moves stalled qi while binding the intestines — the combination that suits chronic, cold, early-morning diarrhea of Spleen and Kidney yang deficiency, as in Si Shen Wan. For internal use the seed is roasted, usually wrapped in flour or bran, to draw off the irritating volatile oil; the unroasted seed is harsh on the stomach.

Nature & Flavor

Acrid · Warm

Channels

Spleen · Stomach · Large Intestine

Typical Dosage

3–9 g in decoction
肉豆蔻Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

3 core actions

  • Warms the middle, moves qiCold epigastric and abdominal distension with poor appetite, nausea or vomiting.
  • Binds the intestines, stops diarrheaChronic diarrhea, daybreak diarrhea and long-standing loose stools of Spleen and Kidney yang deficiency.
  • Prepared formRoasting removes much of the volatile oil, which is what makes internal use acceptable; the raw seed irritates the stomach and is not given internally.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Rou Dou Kou

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Chronic cold diarrhea and daybreak diarrhea
    - Cold abdominal distension and pain with poor appetite
    - Nausea and vomiting from cold in the middle burner

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

Chronic diarrheaIBSBloatingNausea

Contraindications

Cautions

Warm, drying and astringent: wrong for damp-heat diarrhea or dysentery, for diarrhea during an acute febrile illness, and for any pattern where holding a pathogen in would do harm. Nutmeg in quantities well above the medicinal dose is genuinely dangerous — nausea, dizziness, palpitations, dry mouth and confusion have all been reported — so keep strictly to the practitioner's dose and never take culinary spoonfuls as medicine.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Use with caution in pregnancy — keep to the prescribed medicinal dose and avoid large amounts.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
    2. 《中华人民共和国药典》.
    3. 《中药大辞典》.

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.