（本经中品）
母姜作种，子姜顿长，母姜便宜，取出即子母更相生长之意。白净结实具金之色与形，
乃能存金之味，尽金之用。
点火成金，金复归火，循环之理，非拟议所到。
尽金之性，所以全火之用，乃能备暖热之火体，以火缘物以显用，因用以见体故也。游
溢水谷，正疆界所司之事。
【气味】辛温，无毒。
【主治】主胸满咳逆上气，温中，止血，出汗，逐风湿痹，肠 下痢。生者尤良。久服
主臭
【核】曰∶出汉、温、池州，江西、浙江诸处。宜原隰沙地。四月种种，五月生苗，如
嫩芦，而叶稍阔，两两相对，恶湿洳，而畏日，故秋热则无姜。设一茎稍霉，则根病矣。社
前后，新芽顿长，如列指状，一种可生百指，皆分歧而上，即宜取出种姜，否则子母俱败。
秋分采芽，柔嫩可口；霜后，则老而多筋，干之，即曰干生姜。干姜者，即所取姜种，水淹
三日，去皮，置流水中，漂浸六日，更刮去皮，然后晒干，入瓷缸中，覆酿三日乃成，以白
净结实者为良。故人呼为白姜，入药则宜炮用。
先人云∶辛温夏长，色相微红，具火大之力。通心王之令，若降下之阴不及，酝藉之德
稍逊者，所当避忌。又云∶血病有二阳乘阴而血溢者，其治在阳，以寒待之。阴乘阳而血溢
者，其治在阴，以温待之。
【 】曰∶姜，疆也，界也。如营卫气血，阴阳表里，逾越疆界者，能使之各各旋归，
有如捍御外侮之侵犯边疆者。味辛气温，宣发生阳之气，充益火大之源，以消阴翳冷气，寒
酸木僵，设火毒炽盛，岂堪僭服。故治胸满咳逆之因肺气浮越；血衄妄行之因阴气乘阳；尝
自汗出之因营弱卫强；风湿成痹之因气不宣通，肠 下痢之因脾胃虚寒，致水谷失于游溢。
生
（金曰从革，从革作辛。姜以辛胜，禀庚辛之味独专。新秋前后，三庚曰三伏，正所以
缓火刑也。秋热，则烁金殆甚，金且难于从革，从革更难作辛矣。故秋热则无姜，姜之畏日，
亦
(Shennong Bencao Jing classifies it as a Middle Grade herb)
When mother ginger is used as seed, the daughter ginger grows rapidly. The mother ginger is inexpensive; once removed, it demonstrates the mutual growth between mother and offspring. Its color is white and clean, its texture is firm, possessing the luster and form of Metal (Jin),
thereby preserving the flavor of Metal and exerting its functions.
Igniting fire transforms into Metal, and Metal returns to Fire; this is the principle of cyclic transformation, which cannot be reached by ordinary speculation.
Fully utilizing the nature of Metal preserves the utility of Fire; thus, it can prepare the warm and hot body of Fire. Since Fire manifests its function through external objects, and its essence is seen through its function, this is why it operates this way. The circulation and overflow of water and grain are precisely matters managed by boundaries (Jiang).
[Flavor and Nature] Pungent, Warm, Non-toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats chest fullness, cough with rebellious Qi ascending, warms the Middle Jiao, stops bleeding, induces sweating, expels wind-damp bi-syndrome, and treats intestinal dysentery. Raw use is particularly effective. Long-term consumption primarily treats foul odor from the mouth.
[Verification] It states: Dry Ginger originates from Han Prefecture, Wenzhou, Chizhou, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, and other places. It thrives in low-lying sandy soils. Sown in April, seedlings emerge in May, resembling young reeds but with slightly broader leaves arranged oppositely. It dislikes damp mud and fears the sun; therefore, no ginger exists when autumn heat prevails. If even one stem molds slightly, the root will suffer disease. Around the She Festival, new buds grow rapidly, resembling rows of fingers. One plant can produce a hundred "fingers," all branching upward. At this stage, they should be harvested for planting ginger; otherwise, both the offspring and mother ginger will deteriorate. Buds harvested around the Autumn Equinox are tender and palatable; after frost, they become tough and fibrous. Drying them yields "Gan Jiang Sheng" (Dried Fresh Ginger). Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger) refers to the selected ginger seeds: soaked in water for three days, peeled, then rinsed in running water for six days, scraped again to remove skin, sun-dried, placed in porcelain jars, covered, and fermented for three days before completion. Those that are white, clean, and firm are considered superior. Hence, people call it "White Ginger." For medicinal use, it is suitable for processing (pao zhi).
My late father said: Gan Jiang is pungent and warm, grows in summer, has a slightly red hue, and possesses great Fire power. It communicates the command of the Heart King. In cases where Yin descending is insufficient, or its nurturing virtue is slightly lacking, it should be avoided. Furthermore, he stated: There are two types of blood disorders. One is caused by Yang pathogens invading Yin positions leading to hemorrhage; treatment focuses on Yang, using cold methods. The other is caused by Yin pathogens invading Yang positions leading to hemorrhage; treatment focuses on Yin, using warm methods.
[Commentary] It states: "Jiang" means boundary. Just as Ying-Qi, Wei-Qi, Blood, Qi, Yin-Yang, and Interior-Exterior have boundaries, if they transgress these limits, Gan Jiang can cause them to return to their proper places, similar to defending against foreign invasion of borders. With a pungent flavor and warm nature, it promotes the generation and dissemination of Yang Qi, replenishes the source of Fire, eliminates Yin shadows and cold air, and resolves stagnation caused by cold and sourness. However, if Fire toxicity is blazing, how could it bear such usurping administration? Thus, it treats chest fullness and cough due to floating Lung Qi; epistaxis due to Yin attacking Yang; spontaneous sweating due to weak Ying and strong Wei; wind-damp bi-syndrome due to obstructed Qi circulation; and dysentery due to Spleen-Stomach deficiency-cold causing failure of water and grain to circulate properly.
(Metal's nature is "Cong Ge" [following change], which manifests as Pungency. Ginger excels in Pungency, uniquely inheriting the flavors of Geng and Xin metals. Around early autumn, the third Geng day marks the Sanfu period, which serves to mitigate Fire punishing Metal. In autumn heat, Metal is scorched severely; Metal finds it difficult to undergo "Cong Ge," and transforming into Pungency becomes even harder. Therefore, no ginger exists during intense autumn heat. Ginger's fear of the sun is also...)