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Ginger (Shengjiang)

Pungent, slightly warm. Mainly treats headache and nasal congestion caused by Shanghan (Cold Damage), counterflow coughing, and vomiting. Long-term consumption removes bad breath and clarifies the spirit. Grows in Jianwei Valley and Jingzhou, Yangzhou regions; harvested in the ninth lunar month. (Qinjiao serves as its guiding herb; it neutralizes the toxicity of Banxia and Langdang, but is incompatible with Huangqin, Huanglian, and Tianshu Fen.)

Tao Hongjing states: Dried Ginger (Ganjiang) is currently only produced in Linhai and Zhang'an, where only two or three villages know how to make it. Jiang from Shu-Han was historically excellent, and Jingzhou also has good ginger, but neither can be processed into dried ginger. The general method for making dried ginger is: soak the ginger in water for three days, remove the skin, place it in flowing water for six days, remove the skin again, then sun-dry it, and store it in an urn or jar; this process is called "brewing" (niang). He further states that fresh ginger enters the five zang organs, resolves phlegm, directs qi downward, stops vomiting, and dispels wind-cold-heat. Excessive consumption leads to diminished willpower and intelligence, and damages heart qi. Therefore, it should not be consumed in large quantities over long periods; it is suitable only when one is ill. Nowadays, among various pungent foods people consume, ginger is the most common. Thus, the *Analects* says: "Do not discard ginger food." This means ginger can be eaten regularly, just not in excess. The *Tang Bencao Zhu* notes: Ginger, when taken long-term, clarifies the spirit, and treats wind pathogens and phlegm qi. Fresh ginger is particularly effective. The *Classic* (Shennong Bencao Jing) states that long-term use clarifies the spirit, implying it can be eaten daily. The claim that it reduces intelligence and damages heart qi, prohibiting excessive intake, is a fallacious theory without evidence. Currently, Tao's commentary on ginger is moved from the Vegetable section under Leek, and the Tang commentary is integrated here. Ministers Yuxi et al. verify according to *Yaoxing Lun*: Dried Ginger is a Minister herb, bitter and pungent. It treats cold pain and cold qi in the waist and kidneys, breaks blood stasis and dispels wind, unblocks joints of the four limbs, opens the five zang and six fu organs, removes wind-toxic cold bi, and treats frequent nocturnal urination. Dried ginger treats cough, warms the middle, using Qinjiao as an Assistant herb. It treats persistent Huoluan (cholera-like syndrome), abdominal pain, eliminates distension, treats cold dysentery, and manages blood obstruction. It is suitable for patients who are deficient and cold. Also, Fresh Ginger is an Envoy herb. It treats fullness due to phlegm-fluids, directs qi downward. Both fresh and dried ginger treat cough, manage epidemic diseases, stop vomiting, and promote appetite. Fresh ginger combined with Banxia treats acute pain in the epigastrium. For those with severe internal heat unable to eat, crush ginger and mix juice with honey. Additionally, ginger juice boiled with almonds creates a paste that expels all qi-knots and excesses, relieves chest oppression, and is highly effective for cold-heat disorders. Xiao Bing states: Fresh ginger is also known as Mother Ginger. Meng Shen states: Fresh ginger is warm. It resolves phlegm and directs qi downward; excessive consumption diminishes mental acuity. Eating it in the eighth and ninth months harms the spirit. Furthermore, for cold dysentery, take Sichuan pepper, roast and powder it, mix equally with dried ginger powder, combine with vinegar and flour to make small wontons, take 14 pills at a time. Boil first, then re-boil in thin gruel, take out when cool and swallow, guided down with gruel drink. Doing this once daily on an empty stomach is beneficial. Verification indicates it stops counterflow, dissipates irritability, and opens the stomach qi. Additionally, ginger dust mixed with wine removes hemiplegia. Ginger juice boiled into a paste expels all solid accumulations and clears evil qi from the chest and diaphragm, proving miraculous. Chen Cangqi states: Besides original functions, ginger juice detoxifies medicines; otherwise, it breaks blood, harmonizes the middle, removes cold, resolves phlegm, and opens the stomach. Peel if heat needs clearing; keep peel if cold needs dispersing. Ri Hua Zi states: Dried ginger resolves phlegm, directs qi downward, treats muscle twitching, vomiting and diarrhea, cold abdomen and viscera, regurgitation and dry retching, blood stasis, traumatic injuries, stops epistaxis, resolves cold-heat toxins, opens the stomach, and digests retained food.

*Tujing* states: Ginger grows in Jianwei Valley and Jingzhou, Yangzhou; now available everywhere, with those from Han, Wenzhou, and Chizhou being superior. The sprout is two to three chi high, leaves resemble arrow bamboo leaves, long and opposite. Sprouts are green, roots yellow, no flowers or fruits. Roots harvested in autumn, washed in running water, sun-dried to become dried ginger. Method in Han Prefecture: Soak ginger in water for three days, peel, place in running water for six days, scrape peel again, then sun-dry until dry, brew in urns for three days to complete. Recent prescriptions treat spleen-stomach deficiency-cold, inability to eat, and chronic weakness leading to consumptive disease. Use one ingredient: Wenzhou white dried ginger, boil in grain wash until thoroughly moist, take out, bake dry, grind and sieve, cook with aged millet porridge drink, form pills like wattle seeds. Take 30-50 pills per dose, any decoction for delivery, effect is miraculous. Also, *Qianjin Fang*: Treats phlegm-fluids with Jiangfu Decoction. Take 8 liang of fresh ginger, 4 liang raw Fuzi, split into four pieces. Two ingredients with 5 sheng water, boil to 2 sheng, divide into two doses. Also treats sudden wind stroke. Contraindicated with pork and cold water. Cui Yuanliang's *Jiyan Fang* records an imperial gift recipe for ginger tea treating dysentery: cut fresh ginger like hemp seeds, mix with 1-2 bowls of good tea, sip as desired, recovery follows. If hot dysentery, keep ginger peel; if cold dysentery, remove peel; very excellent. Liu Yuxi's *Chuanxin Fang*, Li Ya treats all coughs and upward qi. Use Ganjiang, preferably from Hezhou best quality; Zaojiao roasted, peeled, pitted, select plump ones without holes; Guixin select purple, pungent ones, peel off. Three items separately ground and sieved. Weigh equal parts, amount arbitrary, mix and sieve again, blend with refined white honey, knead, pound 1000-2000 times. Take 3 pills per dose with drink, pill size slightly larger than wattle seed, regardless of meal timing. Take when cough starts, 3-5 times daily. Contraindicate scallion, oil, salt, fishy foods, hot noodles; effect is miraculous. Liu served in Huainan with Li in the same office. Li often gave medicine without formula; some mocked his stinginess. Li candidly said: "People suffering cough usually take cold medicines. Seeing this formula uses hot/dry drugs, they refuse to take it. Thus, I only provide medicine, and it works; try it and see." Li Qing's Hair Whitening Reversal Formula: Scrape one da sheng of old ginger peel, simmer in a pot with alternating mild and strong fire, do not let it boil excessively. The pot should be oily, no need to wash, put ginger peel directly in, seal tightly to prevent air leakage. Have a careful person watch it. Start before dawn, heat slowly, do not let fire be urgent. If watcher gets tired, replace them. One xishi (approx. 2 hours) later, it is done. Place in porcelain bowl, grind extremely fine. Li Qing said: Although called one xishi, if fire control is even, it finishes by sunset. To use, dip small object to get size of hemp seed, apply under white beard first, then pull hair. Pull again, use finger to knead skillfully, letting it enter flesh. On the fourth day, black hairs should grow; miraculous effect.

Dietary Therapy: Ginger, warm. Resolves phlegm, directs qi downward, removes vigorous heat, treats muscle twitching, chest fullness, removes foul odor from chest, clarifies spirit. Also, for stomach qi deficiency, wind-heat, inability to eat: half eggshell of ginger juice, small amount of Shengdihuang juice, one spoonful of honey, mix with 3 he of water, take at once for immediate cure. Also, ginger peel is cold, ginger flesh is warm. Powdered ginger mixed with wine treats hemiplegia. Ginger juice and almond juice boiled into paste, taken with wine or water, effectively expels solid accumulations rushing to chest and diaphragm. *Waitai Miyao*: Treats Huoluan, persistent diarrhea, muscle twitching entering abdomen causing near death. Crush 3 liang ginger, boil in 1 sheng wine for 3-4 boils, take at once. Another prescription: For chronic cough and hiccups, continuous coughing 40-50 times. Take 0.5 he ginger juice, one spoonful honey, boil until cooked, take warm. Three such doses bring immediate effect. Another prescription: Treat cough/hiccups. Pound 4 liang ginger, add 2 liang Lanxiang leaves, 1 qianbi pepper powder, mix with 4 liang flour and salt, wrap and bake like flatbread, eat on empty stomach, within 2-3 times. Another prescription: Remove dry feces. Shape ginger like little finger, 2 cun long, coat with salt, insert into anus, immediate passage. *Qianjin Fang*: Treats dry retching, especially with cold extremities. Eat ginger; this is the holy medicine for vomiters. Also treats epigastric hardness preventing eating, chest vomiting/retching. Cut 8 liang ginger finely, boil in 3 sheng water to 1 sheng. Wash 5 he Banxia to remove slipperiness, boil in 5 sheng water to 1 sheng. Combine both decoctions, boil to 1.5 sheng, take gradually. Another prescription: Treat throat closure and toxic vapors. Juice 2 jin ginger, mix with 5 he good honey, slow-fire boil until blended. Take 1 he per dose, 5 times daily. Another prescription: Treat postpartum lochia retention and abdominal fullness. Boil 2 jin ginger in water, take juice, expulsion follows. *Zhouhou Fang*: Treats Huoluan, abdominal distension/pain, irritability/fullness, shortness of breath, before vomiting/downward purging. Cut 1 jin ginger, boil in 7 sheng water to 2 sheng, divide into 3 doses. Experiential Prescription: Excellent for fox odor, apply ginger juice to armpits to eradicate root. Mei Shi Fang: Treats Huoluan with persistent vomiting/diarrhea, near death. 5 liang ginger, 1 sheng cow dung. Cut ginger, boil in 4 sheng water to 2 sheng, take warm divided doses. Another prescription: Treat abdominal fullness preventing oral medication. Wrap baked ginger in silk, insert into anus, change when cold. Sun Simiao treats pediatric cough by bathing child in decoction of 4 liang ginger. Sun Simiao Dietary Taboos: In the first lunar month, eat Five Pungents to ward off pestilential qi; ginger is one. Another prescription: Eating ginger in Aug/Sep leads to eye diseases in Spring, shortens life, reduces sinew strength. *Shiyi Xinjing* treats vomiting refractory to hundred medicines. Cut 1 liang ginger like mung beans, boil in 7 he vinegar slurry in silver vessel to 4 he, sip warm residue on empty stomach. Also, ginger enters five zang organs, manages Shanghan, headache, resolves phlegm, directs qi, promotes sweating, removes nasal congestion, treats counterflow cough, stops vomiting, removes bone-cooked odor, clears chest foulness, dispels wind/Shanghan, harmonizes diet. Tanghu Jushi states: Ginger kills intestinal worms; long-term eating reduces wisdom and damages heart nature. Ministry of War Manual treats regurgitation, weakness unwilling to move. Pound 2 jin mother ginger, squeeze juice, make into porridge. Make like kudzu starch porridge. Yang's Obstetrics: Postpartum blood rushing to heart. Cut 5 liang ginger, boil in 8 sheng water to 3 sheng, divide into 3 doses. Tang Cui Wei Gong Xuan died suddenly at night. Liang Xinwen diagnosed: Food poisoning. Servant said: Often ate bamboo chickens, many Banxia seedlings. Must be Banxia toxicity. Ordered ginger juice squeezed, forced through teeth, patient survived.

*Yanyi* states: Ginger treats sudden counterflow qi. Chew 3-2 licorice-sized pieces, swallow to settle; repeated doses settle repeatedly. For initial cold-heat phlegm cough, burn a piece, chew throughout the day, cough self-heals. For sudden red eyes without sores, scrape clean ginger with ancient copper coin to get juice, dot on eye margin with coin edge, tears flow. Dot today, heal tomorrow. Children fear it greatly, no need to doubt, tested and verified.