\r生姜\ph147.bmp\r,生犍为山谷及荆州、扬州,今处处有之,以汉、温、池州者为
良。苗高二、三尺;叶
似箭竹叶而长,两两相对;苗青;根黄;无花实。秋采根,于长流水洗过,日晒为干姜。汉
州干姜法∶以水淹姜三日,去皮,又置流水中六日,更刮去皮,然后暴之,令干,酿于瓮中
,三日乃成也。近世方有主脾胃虚冷,不下食,积久羸弱成瘵者,以温州白干姜一物,浆水
煮,令透心润湿,取出焙干,捣筛,陈廪米煮粥饮,丸如梧子,一服三、五十枚,汤使任用
,其效如神。又《千金方》主痰 ,以姜附汤治之。取生姜八两,附子生用四两,中破之,
二物以水五升,煮取二升,分再服。亦主卒风。禁猪肉、冷水。崔元亮《集验方》载敕赐姜
茶治痢方,以生姜切如麻粒大,和好茶一、两碗,呷,任意,便瘥。若是热痢,即留姜皮,
冷即去皮大妙。刘禹锡《传信方》,李亚治一切嗽,及上气者,用干姜,须是合州至好者。
皂荚炮去皮子,取肥大无孔者,桂心紫色辛辣者,削去皮,三物并,别捣,下筛了。各秤等
分多少,任意和合后,更捣筛一遍,炼白蜜和搜,又捣一、二千杵。每饮服三丸,丸稍加大
如梧子,不限食之先后。嗽发即服,日三五服。禁食葱、油、咸、腥热面,其效如神。刘在
淮南与李同幕府,李每与人药,而不出方,或讥其吝。李乃情话曰∶凡人患嗽多进冷药,若
见此方用药热燥,即不肯服,故但出药,多效。试之信然。李卿换白发方云∶刮老生姜皮一
大升,于铛中以文武火煎之,不得令过沸,其铛惟得多油腻者尤佳,更不须洗刷,便以姜皮
置铛中,密固济,勿令通气。令一精细人守之,地色未分便,须煎之缓缓,不得令火急。如
其人稍疲,即换人看火,一复时即成,置于瓷钵中,极研之。李云∶虽曰一复时,若火候匀
即至日西药成矣。使时先以小物点取如麻子大,先于白须下点药讫,然后拔之。再拔,以手
指熟捻之,令入肉。第四日当有黑者生,神效。
**Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger, *Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens*)**, grows in the valleys of Jianwei as well as Jingzhou and Yangzhou; it is now available everywhere, with those from Hanzhou, Wenzhou, and Chizhou being considered superior. The plant is two to three chi high; the leaves resemble bamboo leaves of the arrow type but are longer, growing in opposite pairs; the stems and leaves are green; the rhizome is yellow; it does not flower or bear fruit. In autumn, the rhizomes are harvested, washed in flowing water, sun-dried to produce **Ganjiang (Dried Ginger, *Zingiberis Rhizoma*)**. The method for making Ganjiang in Hanzhou: soak the ginger in water for three days, peel it, then place it in flowing water for another six days, scrape off the skin again, sun-dry it thoroughly, and finally ferment it in a jar for three days until complete. Recent medical formularies record a prescription for treating deficiency-cold of the Spleen and Stomach, inability to eat, and chronic emaciation leading to consumptive disease (**Xiezhai, Consumptive Disease**), using a single ingredient: white dried ginger from Wenzhou. Boil it in sour rice wash until moist throughout, take out, bake dry, pound and sieve. Mix with congee made from aged grain warehouse rice to form pills the size of **Wuzi (Cocculus seeds)**. Take 30-50 pills per dose, with decoction as needed; the effect is miraculous. Additionally, *Qianjin Fang* treats phlegm-rheum (**Tan Yin**) with **Jiangfu Tang (Ginger and Aconite Decoction)**. Take eight liang of Shengjiang and four liang of raw Fuzi, split in the middle. Add five sheng of water to these two ingredients, boil down to two sheng, and divide into two doses. This formula also treats sudden wind-stroke (**Cu Feng**). Avoid pork and cold water during treatment. Cui Yuanliang's *Jiyan Fang* records an imperial gift recipe for ginger tea to treat dysentery (**Li Ji**): cut fresh ginger into sesame-sized pieces, mix with one or two bowls of good tea, sip at will, and recovery follows. For heat-type dysentery, retain the ginger skin; for cold-type dysentery, removing the skin is highly effective. Liu Yuxi's *Chuanxin Fang*, attributed to Li Ya, treats all types of cough and upward rushing of Qi (**Shangqi**) using Ganjiang, specifically requiring top-quality product from Hezhou. Processed Zaojiao (Gleditsia sinensis), peeled and seeded, selecting plump ones without holes; Guixin (Cinnamon twig heart), purple and pungent, peeled. Combine these three, pound separately, sieve, then mix in equal parts according to need, pound and sieve again. Knead with refined white honey, pounding 1,000-2,000 times more. Take three pills per dose, slightly larger than cocculus seeds, regardless of meal timing. Take when cough starts, 3-5 times daily. Avoid scallions, oil, salty foods, fishy/meaty foods, and hot-natured noodles; the effect is miraculous. Liu Yuxi served in Huainan alongside Li Qing. Li often dispensed medicine without providing the prescription, leading others to mock his stinginess. Li privately explained: "Most people suffering from cough take cold-natured medicines. If they see this prescription uses hot and drying herbs, they refuse to take it. Thus, I only provide the herbs, and the efficacy is high." Trials confirmed this truth. Li Qing's formula for reversing white hair: Scrape one da-sheng of old ginger skin. Simmer in a pot over alternating mild and strong fire, ensuring it does not boil vigorously. The pot should ideally be one previously used for oily foods, preferably uncleaned. Place the ginger skin in the pot, seal tightly to prevent gas leakage. Assign a meticulous person to watch; start simmering slowly before dawn, avoiding intense fire. If the watcher becomes tired, rotate personnel. Complete within one shichen (two hours). Store in a porcelain bowl and grind extremely fine. Li stated: "Although it says one shichen, if the fire is even, the medicine is ready by sunset." To use, dip a small object to take a amount the size of a hemp seed. Apply under white beard hairs first, then pluck the white hair. Upon replucking, rub gently with fingers to let the medicine penetrate the flesh. On the fourth day, black hairs should grow; this is miraculous.