高良当作高凉。即今高州。汉为高凉县。生内郡者不堪入药。（濒湖）
根味辛兼苦。气温热纯阳。浮也。入足太阴阳明经。温中下气。疗心脾久冷作痛。治内
冷腹痛
苓佐之。为其解散胃中风邪也。（士瀛）秽迹佛方。凡男女心口一点痛者。乃胃脘有滞或有
虫。多因怒及受寒而起。遂致终身。俗言心气痛者非也。用高良姜酒洗七次焙研。香附子醋
洗七次
寒怒兼有。各一钱半。以米饮加入生姜汁一匙盐一捻。服之立止。霍乱吐利。高良姜炙令香。
每用
钱。为末。每服三钱。醋汤调下。
〔论〕凡辛温辛热之味。温多就土。以土喜暖也。热多就火。同气相求也。辛味胜于温
热者。则就金。辛温独胜。即能开滞散结。辛温兼苦。则又散而下行。如良姜之辛温。治冷
气吐泻翻食等证。以其辛而兼苦。有下气之功也。人身中土。实司升降之枢。而升降者只是
一气。若阳并于阴。则升降之道穷。故即病于中土。或为霍乱。甚则为反胃。其谓良姜能去
风冷者。以阳气大虚。则亦病于风。故不止曰风。而曰风冷。惟此能奏功于阳也。
此味用根。其仁即红豆蔻。红蔻辛热。最能动火伤目致衄。
缪氏云。良姜辛温大热。惟客寒犯胃而呕逆。及伤生冷致成霍乱者。宜之。如胃火作呕。
伤
〔修治〕宜炒过入药。亦有以姜同吴萸东壁土炒用者。
Gao Liang Jiang (Alpiniae Officinarum Rhizoma) should be written as "Gao Liang". This refers to modern Gaozhou. In the Han Dynasty, it was called Gao Liang County. Those grown in inland commanderies are unsuitable for medicinal use. (Li Shizhen [Binhu])
The rhizome tastes pungent and bitter. Its nature is warm and hot, belonging purely to Yang. It tends to float. It enters the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian and the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian. It warms the middle jiao, directs rebellious Qi downward, and treats chronic cold-induced pain in the heart and spleen. It treats abdominal pain caused by internal cold. Combined with Poria (Fuling), because Poria can dissipate wind pathogens in the stomach. (Shiyin's words) The Huiji Fo Fang records: For any male or female suffering from a pinpoint pain at the heart/mouth area, this indicates stagnation or parasites in the epigastrium. This often arises from anger and exposure to cold, leading to lifelong affliction. The common saying of "Heart Qi Pain" is incorrect. Use Alpiniae Officinarum Rhizoma washed seven times in wine, then dried and powdered. Use Cyperi Rhizoma (Xiangfu) washed seven times in vinegar. If both cold and anger are present, take 1.5 qian of each. Take with rice water, adding one spoonful of fresh ginger juice and a pinch of salt. The pain stops immediately upon administration. For cholera-like disorder with vomiting and diarrhea, roast Alpiniae Officinarum Rhizoma until fragrant. Use 1 qian per dose. Powder it. Take 3 qian per dose, mixed with vinegar-infused water.
[Discussion] Any flavor that is pungent-warm or pungent-hot: Warmness tends to associate with Earth, as Earth prefers warmth. Heat tends to associate with Fire, following the principle of similar energies attracting each other. When the pungent quality surpasses the warm/hot qualities, it associates with Metal. When pungent-warm prevails alone, it can open stagnation and dissipate accumulations. When pungent-warm combines with bitter, it can both disperse and descend. Like Alpiniae Officinarum Rhizoma, which is pungent-warm, it treats syndromes such as cold-induced vomiting, diarrhea, and regurgitation. Because it is pungent and bitter, it has the function of directing Qi downward. The Earth element within the human body (Spleen/Stomach) actually serves as the pivot of ascending and descending mechanisms. Ascending and descending are merely movements of one Qi. If Yang merges into Yin, the pathway of ascent and descent becomes blocked. Thus, disease manifests in the central Earth. It may present as cholera-like disorder. Severe cases may become regurgitation. The claim that Alpiniae Officinarum Rhizoma removes wind-cold is because when Yang Qi is extremely deficient, one is also susceptible to Wind. Hence, it is referred to not just as Wind, but as Wind-Cold. Only this herb can achieve efficacy through tonifying Yang.
This herb uses the root. Its kernel is Hong Dou Kou (Red Cardamom Seed). Hong Dou Kou is pungent and hot; it easily stirs up Fire, damages the eyes, and causes epistaxis.
Mr. Miao states: Alpiniae Officinarum Rhizoma is pungent, warm, and greatly hot. It is suitable only for vomiting and retching caused by exogenous cold invading the Stomach, and for cholera-like disorders resulting from consuming raw/cold foods. If vomiting is caused by Stomach Fire...
[Processing] It is appropriate to stir-fry before use. Some methods involve stir-frying with fresh ginger, Evodiae Fructus (Wuyu), and soil from the east wall.