和脾行水。
辛凉。和脾行水。治浮肿胀满。（以皮行皮、五皮散用之。古方以姜茶治痢、热痢留皮、
冷痢去皮、大妙。）
和中止呕。
用生姜惧其散。用干姜惧其燥。唯此略不燥散。凡和中止呕。及与大枣并用。取其行脾
胃之
津液而和营卫。最为平妥。老姜洗净。用湿粗草纸包。炭火内煨。令草纸纯焦。并姜外皮微
焦。中心深黄色则透矣。切片。
燥、温经逐寒、宣、发表通脉。
辛热。逐寒邪而发表温经。燥脾湿而定呕消痰。同五味。利肺气而治寒嗽。开五脏六腑。
通
四肢关节。宣诸络脉。治冷痹寒痞。反胃下利。腹痛症瘕积胀。开胃扶脾。消食去滞。母姜
晒干为干姜。白净结实者良。（如惧其散、炒黄用、或炒微焦、市医将干姜泡淡用之
、殊属可笑。）
燥、回阳。
辛苦大热。除胃冷而守中。（辛则散、炮则稍苦、故止而不移、非若附子走而不守。）去
脏腑
沉寒锢冷。能去恶生新。使阳生阴长。故吐衄下血。（炮黑、止吐衄诸血、红见黑则止也。）
有阴无阳者宜之。亦能引血药入气分而生血。故血虚发热。产后大热者宜之。（此非有余之
热、乃阴虚而阳无所附也、忌用表药寒药、炮姜能入肝、引众药生血、故与补阴药同用、而
热自退、乃热因热用、从治之法、故亦治目睛久赤。）引以黑附。能入肾而祛寒湿。能回脉
绝无阳。通心助阳。而补心气。（苦入心。）干姜炮黑为黑姜。按姜味大辛。辛能僭上。（好
古曰∶服干姜以治中者、必僭上、宜大枣辅之。）亦能散气走血。（辛热最能动血。）损阴伤
目。凡阴虚有热者勿服。孕妇尤忌。（ 鼻不通、干姜末蜜调塞鼻中、即通。）
Harmonizes the spleen and promotes water metabolism.
Pungent and cool in nature. Harmonizes the spleen and promotes water metabolism. Treats edema, swelling, and fullness. (Treating skin with skin; it is used in Wu Pi San [Five Peel Decoction]. Ancient formulas use ginger tea to treat dysentery: retaining the peel for heat-type dysentery and removing it for cold-type dysentery yields excellent results.)
Harmonizes the middle jiao and stops vomiting.
Using fresh ginger (Sheng Jiang) raises concern about excessive dispersing properties, while using dried ginger (Gan Jiang) raises concern about dryness. Only ginger peel (Jiang Pi) is slightly non-drying and non-dispersing. Whenever it is used to harmonize the middle jiao and stop vomiting, especially when combined with Jujube (Da Zao), it is to utilize its ability to circulate the fluids of the spleen and stomach, thereby harmonizing Ying (Nutritive Qi) and Wei (Defensive Qi). This is the most balanced and appropriate method. Old ginger should be washed clean, wrapped in damp coarse grass paper, and baked over charcoal fire until the paper is completely charred and the outer skin of the ginger is slightly charred, with the center turning deep yellow, indicating that the medicinal potency has penetrated. Slice for use.
Dries dampness, warms meridians, expels cold, disseminates exterior conditions, and unblocks collaterals.
Pungent and hot in nature. Expels cold pathogens, disseminates exterior conditions, and warms meridians. Dries spleen dampness, settles vomiting, and eliminates phlegm. When used together with Schisandra (Wu Wei Zi), it benefits Lung Qi and treats cold coughs. It opens the five zang organs and six fu organs, unblocks the joints of the four limbs, and disseminates through all collateral vessels. Treats cold bi-syndrome, cold pi-mass, regurgitation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, zheng-jia masses (abdominal masses), and accumulation/fullness. Benefits the stomach and supports the spleen, digests food, and removes stagnation. Mother ginger dried in the sun becomes Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger); those that are white, clean, and solid are superior. (If concerned about excessive dispersing effects, stir-fry until yellow or slightly charred; it is ridiculous for market physicians to soak Gan Jiang in water to dilute its potency before use.)
Dries dampness, restores Yang.
Pungent, bitter, and very hot in nature. Removes cold from the stomach and stabilizes the middle jiao. (Pungency disperses, but after processing it becomes slightly bitter, thus stopping movement rather than wandering, unlike Fu Zi [Aconite Root] which moves without stabilizing.) It removes deep-seated cold and stubborn chill from the zang and fu organs. It can remove evil blood and generate new blood, allowing Yang to grow and Yin to lengthen. Therefore, it is used to treat hematemesis, epistaxis, and lower bleeding. (Processed into black, it stops hematemesis and various types of bleeding, as red blood stops upon contact with black.) It is suitable for conditions characterized by Yin without Yang. It can also guide blood-invigorating herbs into the Qi level to generate blood. Therefore, it is suitable for fever due to blood deficiency and high fever postpartum. (This is not excess heat, but heat arising because Yin is deficient and Yang has no anchor. Exterior-releasing drugs and cold-natured drugs are contraindicated. Pao Jiang [Prepared Ginger] enters the Liver channel, guides other herbs to generate blood, so when used with Yin-nourishing drugs, the heat subsides naturally. This is "treating heat with heat," a method of following the disease's trend, so it also treats chronic redness of the eyes.) Guided by Hei Fu Zi [Black Aconite], it enters the Kidney channel to dispel cold and dampness. It can restore Yang where pulse and Yang are nearly absent, unblock Heart Yang, assist Yang, and tonify Heart Qi. (Bitter flavor enters the Heart.) Gan Jiang processed into black becomes Hei Jiang [Black Ginger]. According to the taste, ginger is highly pungent, and pungency tends to ascend excessively. (Li Haogu stated: Those who take Gan Jiang to treat the middle jiao will inevitably experience ascending rebellious Qi; Da Zao [Jujube] should be used to assist.) It can also disperse Qi and move Blood. (Pungent and hot nature easily agitates Blood.) It damages Yin and harms the eyes. Those with Yin deficiency and internal heat should avoid taking it. Pregnant women are especially cautioned against its use. (For nasal congestion, mix Gan Jiang powder with honey and insert into the nostrils for immediate relief.)