Library

Taste and Nature: Sweet, neutral, non-toxic. Indications: Treats abdominal distension and heart pain caused by pathogenic factors; promotes urination and defecation; tonifies the middle jiao and benefits qi.
(Baihe [Lilii Bulbus] is found everywhere in valleys near roads. In the third lunar month, shoots emerge, growing two or three chi high, with a single stem rising straight up. The leaves resemble those of bamboo and willow, growing in all directions. In the fifth month, white flowers bloom at the tip of the stem, fragrant with six petals drooping downwards. They open during the day and close at night, hence the name "Night-closing Flower" (Yehéhuā). Its root resembles garlic, being slender, white, and long, composed of twenty to thirty overlapping scales. Boiled for food, it is sweet and delicious. Propagation is done by separating the scales, similar to planting garlic. One variety has red flowers that do not droop, known as Shandan [Lilium brownii]. Another variety has red flowers tinged with yellow that droop, with black spots on them and black seeds forming among the branches and leaves, known as Juandan [Lilium lancifolium]. Their roots are identical to Baihe and can all be boiled for food, but their taste is not pleasant. Essentially, these are one species with three varieties; only the white-flowered variety is used medicinally, while the others are not suitable.)
Baihe is white and belongs to Metal; its sweet taste belongs to Earth. It opens during the day and closes at night, corresponding to the Heavenly Dao where Yang moves by day and Yin moves by night. Its growth in four directions and six aspects corresponds to the Qi of Earth reaching the four peripheries. Regarding its indication for abdominal distension and heart pain caused by pathogenic factors: when pathogenic factors descend to invade the Spleen, Earth Qi fails to ascend, leading to abdominal distension. When pathogenic factors ascend to invade the Lung, Heaven Qi fails to descend, leading to heart pain. The abdomen is the domain of the Spleen, and the Lung is the canopy over the Heart. Promoting urination and defecation occurs because when Spleen Qi ascends and Lung Qi descends, body fluids distribute widely, and waste materials are transported and excreted. "Tonifying the middle" refers to tonifying the Spleen. "Benefiting Qi" refers to benefiting the Lung.

Taste and Nature: Pungent, warm, non-toxic. Indications: Treats chest fullness, coughing, rebellious Qi ascending; warms the middle; stops bleeding; induces sweating; expels wind-damp bi syndrome; treats intestinal dysentery. Raw Ganjiang is particularly effective.
(Ganjiang [Zingiberis Rhizoma] is made by sun-drying mother ginger. The best quality is thick-fleshed, white and clean, solid and bright like Tianma [Gastrodiae Rhizoma], hence also called Baijiang [White Ginger]. It can be produced in Linhai, Zhang'an, Hanwen, Chizhou, and other places. Currently, it is available in Jiangxi and Zhejiang, with the best quality coming from Kaihua in Sanqu.)
Taiyin is the utmost Yin within Yin. Foot Taiyin governs Damp-Earth, and Hand Taiyin governs Clear-Metal. Ganjiang has a pungent and warm nature, and its color is yellowish-white, making it a herb for both Foot and Hand Taiyin meridians. Located in the upper chest, cold in the Lung causes fullness. Coughing and rebellious Qi ascending result from the Qi of Hand and Foot Taiyin failing to connect smoothly, causing Lung Qi to rebel upward. "Warming the middle" means that Ganjiang treats chest fullness, coughing, and rebellious Qi ascending because it can warm the middle jiao. Deficiency-cold in the Spleen collaterals causes blood to overflow externally. Because Ganjiang is warm, it stops bleeding. "Inducing sweating" refers to the pungent flavor moistening through opening the couli (pores), allowing fluids and Qi to circulate. "Expelling wind-damp bi" is due to the dispersing action of the pungent flavor. Intestinal dysentery is caused by deficiency-cold of the Spleen organ. The *Shanghan Lun* states: "When Spleen Qi is isolated and weak, the five fluids pour downward, and the lower jiao fails to consolidate, resembling pig liver." Ganjiang can warm Spleen-Earth, thus treating intestinal dysentery. "Raw is particularly good" implies that Shengjiang [Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens] can disseminate and reach Stomach Qi, making it especially good to use.
Note: Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction), Gegen Tang (Pueraria Decoction), Chaihu Tang (Bupleurum Decoction), etc., along with rebellious vomiting due to Stomach Qi and various syndromes of exterior cold, mostly use Shengjiang. Shengjiang is the "son ginger" born from old ginger. Yangming is the fu organ of Taiyin. Therefore, Ganjiang treats the Spleen, and Shengjiang treats the Stomach. The Zang-Fu organs represent the relationship of mother and son.
Note: The *Shennong Bencao Jing* lists only Ganjiang and Shengjiang, without Paogjiang [Roasted Ginger]. Later generations roasted Ganjiang until black and called it Paogjiang. The *Jingui Yaolue* uses Gancao Ganjiang Tang (Licorice and Dried Ginger Decoction) to treat Feiwei [Lung Withering], using roasted Ganjiang therein. Thus, Zhongjing [Zhang Zhongjing] anticipated the use of Paogjiang. Ginger's original taste is pungent; after roasting, the pungency slightly decreases. It treats postpartum heat due to blood deficiency, and syndromes of hematemesis, epistaxis, and hematochezia due to interior cold. If roasted excessively, the essential nature is lost, and it is called Jiangtan [Ginger Charcoal]. Its taste becomes slightly bitter and not pungent, and its substance becomes light and floating, lacking substantiality, rendering it inferior even to Paogjiang. Even when using Paogjiang, one must use mother ginger from Kaihua in Sanqu to ensure efficacy. Currently, many pharmacies use Shengjiang that has been damaged by water and altered in flavor, drying and roasting it, which is merely nominal without practical effect.