The herb known as Cao Kou, or False Cardamom, is the seed of the perennial plant Cao Kou. Its main use is as a spice, and after being harvested in the autumn, it can be dried and used for seasoning. Now let's take a look at the benefits and medicinal uses of Cao Kou!
The medicinal part of Cao Kou is the mature fruit. The fruit is a cluster of seeds, with a white membrane dividing it into 3 lobes. Each lobe contains numerous seeds that are tightly attached to each other, and the cluster of seeds is slightly smooth.
The fruit of Cao Kou is oval-shaped, or elliptical, or olive-shaped, measuring 1.5 to 3 cm in length and 1 to 2 cm in diameter. It is yellow-brown or reddish-brown, with slightly pointed ends. The skin is thick and without thorns, with raised longitudinal lines. When mature, it cracks and exposes the seeds.
The seeds are irregularly polyhedral, about 3 to 5 mm in length and approximately 3 mm in diameter. They are covered with a light brown membranous false seed coat. There is a longitudinal groove along the seed ridge, and one end has a hilum;
The seeds are hard. When the seeds are longitudinally split along the seed ridge, the cross-sectional view is oblique heart-shaped, with the seed coat extending inward along the seed ridge, covering about half of the surface area. The endosperm is grayish-white. The fruit skin is smooth, easily broken, and contains the cluster of seeds. It has a fragrant aroma and a cool, spicy taste.
Cao Kou is not only edible, but can also be used medicinally. It is mainly used in decoctions, and sometimes it can be ground into a fine powder and taken orally.
