药之辛温而滑泽者，惟薤白为然。最能通胸中之阳与散大肠之结。故仲圣治胸痹用薤白，
治泄利下重亦用薤白。但胸痹为阳微，痢则有冷有热，第借以疏利壅滞，故外台于冷痢热痢，
皆有治以薤白者。
生姜是老姜所生之子姜，干姜则老姜造成者。故干姜得秋气多，功兼收敛。生姜得夏气
多，功主横散。干姜温太阴之阴，生姜宣阳明之阳。一脏一腑，亦治分母子。
生姜气薄发泄，能由胃通肺以散邪。凡外感鼻塞与噫气呕吐胸痹喉间凝痰结气皆主之。
惟不能治咳。小柴胡汤咳去生姜，痰饮门凡言咳者，亦皆无生姜。以生姜纯乎辛散，适以伤
肺，不能止咳。太阳病表不解而有咳，如小青龙汤尚不用生姜，何论他经。乃肺痿门之咳有
用之者，肺家邪实，非太阳之表病比，正不妨与麻黄同泄肺邪。浓朴麻黄汤有麻黄而不用生
姜者，以脉浮则外达自易，已有麻黄散表，石膏清热，盒饭以干姜温而敛之。泽漆汤无麻黄
而即用生姜者，脉沉则有伏饮在里，泽漆紫参辈之苦寒，所以驱之于下，生姜桂枝等之辛甘，
所
或曰∶小青龙汤、射干麻黄汤、真武汤，皆有水饮而咳，而一用干姜，一用生姜，一生
姜干姜并用，何治之不侔若是耶？曰∶此正方义之当寻究者矣。小青龙汤外寒与内饮相搏，
麻黄桂枝所以散外寒，细辛半夏所以蠲内饮，以芍药辅辛夏，则水气必由小便而去，此内外
分解之法，不宜重扰其肺，使内外连横，故温肺之干姜，敛肺之五味则进之，而劫肺之生姜
则退之也。射干麻黄汤喉中水鸡声，乃火吸其痰，痰不得下而作声，其始必有风寒外邪，袭
入于肺，故咳而上气，与小青龙相似而实有不同。彼用麻黄为发太阳之表邪，必得加桂；此
用麻黄但搜肺家之伏邪，不必有桂。彼以辛夏蠲饮，法当温肺，温肺故用干姜；此以辛夏蠲
饮，法当清肺，清肺故用射干。彼导心下之水走小便，故加芍药；此散上逆之痰在喉中，故
加生姜。盖干姜不独增肺热，而亦非肺家散剂也。真武汤因发汗太过，引动肾水上泛，为悸、
为眩、为身 ，非真阳本虚，不至于是。方名真武，是表热不足虑，而寒水必当亟镇。附子
补阳，白术崇土，所以镇寒水者至矣。驱已泛之水以归于壑，则苓芍不可无。散逆气、逐阴
邪，以旋转其病机，则生姜尤不可缺。若寒水射肺而有咳，亦即治以肺咳之药加细辛干姜五
味，咳非主病，与小青龙有间，故小青龙细辛干姜各三两，而此止各一两。生姜乃证中要药，
不以有干姜而去之也。
生姜泻心汤，有生姜又用干姜，以生姜治干噫食臭，干姜治腹鸣下利也。通脉四逆汤，
有干姜又加生姜，以干姜止利通脉，生姜散寒治呕也。
生姜去臭气通神明，其用全在于肺胃，而胃与脾以膜相连，故脾家气分有治之者，如浓
朴生姜甘草半夏人参汤治腹胀是也。血分亦有治者，如当归生姜羊肉汤治腹痛是也。驱使之
妙，不在一物而在全方，是故制方尤难于识药。
姜枣调营卫与姜多于枣之义，详见大枣。其有生姜无大枣者，仲圣每与桂枝半夏橘红等
物并用，重在鬯阳，故不取大枣之甘壅。
气味辛温且滑润的药物，只有薤白是这样的。它最能通达胸中的阳气并消散大肠的结滞。所以张仲景治疗胸痹时使用薤白，治疗泄泻痢疾伴肛门重坠感时也使用薤白。但是胸痹属于阳气微弱，而痢疾则有寒热之分，只是借用薤白来疏通利导壅滞之气，所以《外台秘要》中对于冷痢和热痢，都有用薤白治疗的记载。
生姜是老姜所生的子姜，干姜则是老姜加工制成的。所以干姜得秋季之气较多，功效兼有收敛作用；生姜得夏季之气较多，功效主要在于横向发散。干姜温暖太阴脾脏之阴，生姜宣发阳明胃腑之阳。一脏一腑，也分别对应母子关系的治疗侧重。
生姜气薄而善于发泄，能由胃通达肺部以驱散邪气。凡是外感引起的鼻塞、嗳气呕吐、胸痹以及喉间凝结的痰气和郁结之气，都主治这些病症。唯独不能治疗咳嗽。小柴胡汤证中出现咳嗽时去掉生姜，痰饮病篇中提到咳嗽的方剂，也都不用生姜。因为生姜纯属辛散之性，恰好会损伤肺气，不能止咳。太阳病表证未解而有咳嗽的情况，像小青龙汤这样严重的表寒证尚且不用生姜，何况其他经络的病证呢？至于肺痿门中的咳嗽有用到生姜的，那是肺家有实邪，不同于太阳病的表证，正不妨碍与麻黄一同宣泄肺邪。厚朴麻黄汤中有麻黄却不用生姜，是因为脉浮则邪气向外达出容易，已有麻黄疏散表邪，石膏清热，应当用干姜来温中并收敛肺气。泽漆汤中没有麻黄而直接用生姜，是因为脉沉说明里有伏留的水饮，泽漆、紫参等药的苦寒之性，是用来将邪气向下驱逐的，而生姜、桂枝等药的辛甘之性，是用来……（原文此处似有缺漏或语意未尽，依文意推测为“用以宣通”之类，但严格翻译需忠实原文，此处原文中断，故译为：生姜、桂枝等药的辛甘之性，用来……）
有人问：小青龙汤、射干麻黄汤、真武汤，都有水饮导致咳嗽，却一个用干姜，一个用生姜，还有一个生姜干姜并用，为什么治疗效果差异如此之大呢？回答说：这正是方剂义理值得探究的地方。小青龙汤是外寒与内饮相互搏结，麻黄、桂枝用来疏散外寒，细辛、半夏用来清除内饮，用芍药辅助细辛和半夏，那么水气必然通过小便排出，这是内外分解的方法，不宜过度扰动肺部，使内外邪气连横交织，所以用干姜温肺，用五味子敛肺，而把劫伤肺气的生姜退去不用。射干麻黄汤喉咙里发出如青蛙叫的声音，这是火气吸灼痰液，痰液不能下行而发出的声音，其开始一定有风寒外邪侵袭入肺，所以咳嗽且气逆上冲，与小青龙汤相似但实际上不同。彼方用麻黄是为了发越太阳经的表邪，必须加上桂枝；此方用麻黄只是为了搜剔肺家潜伏的邪气，不必加桂枝。彼方用辛味药和半夏清除水饮，治法应当温肺，温肺故用干姜；此方用辛味药和半夏清除水饮，治法应当清肺，清肺故用射干。彼方引导心下的水气走小便排出，所以加芍药；此方疏散上逆至喉中的痰液，所以加生姜。大概干姜不仅会增加肺热，而且也不是肺家疏散邪气的药物。真武汤因为发汗太过，引动肾水上泛，出现心悸、眩晕、身体颤动等症状，如果不是真阳本虚，不会到了这种地步。方名真武，说明热象不足虑，而寒水必须紧急镇压。附子补益阳气，白术培土制水，用来镇压寒水已经足够彻底了。驱赶已经泛滥的水气回归正道，那么茯苓、芍药不可没有。疏散逆气、驱逐阴邪，从而扭转病机，那么生姜尤其不可缺少。如果寒水射肺导致咳嗽，也就用治疗肺咳的药物加上细辛、干姜、五味子，咳嗽不是主病，与小青龙汤有所区别，所以小青龙汤中细辛、干姜各用三两，而真武汤中只各用一两。生姜是此证中的关键药物，不会因为用了干姜就把它去掉。
生姜泻心汤，既有生姜又用干姜，是用生姜治疗干噫食臭（打嗝伴有食物腐臭味），用干姜治疗腹鸣下利。通脉四逆汤，既有干姜又加生姜，是用干姜止利通脉，用生姜散寒治疗呕吐。
生姜能去除腥臭气、通神明，它的作用全在于肺和胃，而胃与脾通过膜相连，所以脾的气分有病也能用它治疗，比如厚朴生姜甘草半夏人参汤治疗腹胀就是例子。血分也有用它治疗的，比如当归生姜羊肉汤治疗腹痛就是例子。驱使药力的妙处，不在于单一药物而在于整个方剂的配伍，所以制定方剂比识别药物更为困难。
姜枣配合调和营卫，以及生姜多于大枣的意义，详见大枣条目。那些只有生姜没有大枣的方子，张仲景通常将它们与桂枝、半夏、橘红等药物并用，重在畅达阳气，所以不取大枣甘缓壅滞的特性。
Among herbs that are pungent, warm, and slippery in nature, only *Allii Macrostemonis Bulbus* (Xiebai) is like this. It is best at unblocking the Yang Qi of the chest and dissipating stagnation in the Large Intestine. Therefore, Zhang Zhongjing uses Xiebai to treat Chest Bi (Thoracic Obstruction Syndrome), and also uses it for dysentery with a sensation of heaviness in the anus. However, Chest Bi is characterized by deficient Yang, whereas dysentery can be either cold or hot; Xiebai is merely borrowed for its ability to dredge and relieve stagnation. Thus, the *Wai Tai Mi Yao* records treatments using Xiebai for both cold and hot dysentery.
Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger) is the young ginger sprouted from old ginger, while Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger) is processed from old ginger. Therefore, Gan Jiang absorbs more of the Qi of Autumn, possessing functions of both warming and astringing. Sheng Jiang absorbs more of the Qi of Summer, with its primary function being lateral dispersion. Gan Jiang warms the Yin of the Taiyin Spleen, while Sheng Jiang disseminates the Yang of the Yangming Stomach. One is a Zang organ and the other a Fu organ, reflecting treatment distinctions based on mother-son relationships.
Sheng Jiang has a thin Qi and is good at venting; it can communicate from the Stomach to the Lung to disperse pathogens. It is indicated for nasal congestion due to external contraction, belching, vomiting, Chest Bi, and condensed phlegm and Qi stagnation in the throat. However, it cannot treat cough. In Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction), Sheng Jiang is removed when cough is present; in the Phlegm-Fluids category, formulas mentioning cough also generally exclude Sheng Jiang. This is because Sheng Jiang is purely pungent and dispersing, which may damage Lung Qi and fail to stop cough. In Taiyang disease where the exterior is unresolved accompanied by cough, even Xiao Qing Long Tang (Minor Blue Dragon Decoction) does not use Sheng Jiang, let alone formulas for other meridians. However, in cases of cough in Fei Wei (Lung Withered Disease), Sheng Jiang is used. Here, the Lung has excess pathogenic factors, unlike Taiyang exterior diseases, so it is acceptable to use it together with Ma Huang (Ephedrae Herba) to vent Lung pathogens. Hou Po Ma Huang Tang contains Ma Huang but no Sheng Jiang because a floating pulse indicates easy outward expulsion of pathogens; Ma Huang already disperses the exterior, Shi Gao (Gypsum Fibrosum) clears heat, and Gan Jiang should be used to warm and astringe. Ze Qi Tang lacks Ma Huang but uses Sheng Jiang directly because a deep pulse indicates latent fluid retention inside. The bitter-cold properties of Ze Qi (Phytolaccae Radix) and Zi Shen (Bistortae Rhizoma) drive pathogens downward, while the pungent-sweet properties of Sheng Jiang and Gui Zhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus) serve to... [Text incomplete in source].
One might ask: Xiao Qing Long Tang, She Gan Ma Huang Tang (Belamcanda and Ephedra Decoction), and Zhen Wu Tang (True Warrior Decoction) all involve fluid retention causing cough, yet one uses Gan Jiang, one uses Sheng Jiang, and one uses both. Why are their therapeutic effects so different? The answer is: This is precisely the aspect of formula rationale that requires careful investigation. In Xiao Qing Long Tang, external cold and internal fluids contend. Ma Huang and Gui Zhi disperse external cold, while Xi Xin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma) and Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) eliminate internal fluids. With Shao Yao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) assisting Xi Xin and Ban Xia, water qi will exit via urination. This is a method of separating interior and exterior; it is inappropriate to overly disturb the Lung, causing interior and exterior pathogens to intertwine. Therefore, Gan Jiang is used to warm the Lung, Wu Wei Zi (Schisandrae Fructus) to astringe the Lung, and Sheng Jiang, which depletes Lung Qi, is excluded. She Gan Ma Huang Tang presents with a sound in the throat like a frog croaking, caused by fire scorching phlegm so it cannot descend, creating noise. Initially, there must be wind-cold external pathogens invading the Lung, causing cough and rebellious Qi. This resembles Xiao Qing Long Tang but differs essentially. The former uses Ma Huang to release Taiyang exterior pathogens, requiring Gui Zhi; the latter uses Ma Huang only to search out latent pathogens in the Lung, without needing Gui Zhi. The former uses pungent herbs and Ban Xia to clear fluids, requiring lung warming, hence Gan Jiang is used; the latter uses pungent herbs and Ban Xia to clear fluids, requiring lung clearing, hence She Gan (Belamcandae Rhizoma) is used. The former guides water from the epigastrium out through urine, adding Shao Yao; the latter disperses rebellious phlegm in the throat, adding Sheng Jiang. Generally, Gan Jiang not only increases Lung heat but is also not a dispersing agent for the Lung. Zhen Wu Tang results from excessive sweating, stirring up Kidney Water rising upward, causing palpitations, dizziness, and tremors. Without underlying deficiency of True Yang, this would not occur. Named Zhen Wu, it implies heat is not the primary concern, but cold water must be urgently suppressed. Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) tonifies Yang, Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) strengthens Earth, sufficiently suppressing cold water. To drive overflowing water back to its channel, Fu Ling (Poria) and Shao Yao are indispensable. To scatter rebellious Qi and expel Yin pathogens, thereby rotating the pathological mechanism, Sheng Jiang is particularly irreplaceable. If cold water attacking the Lung causes cough, it is treated with Lung cough medicines plus Xi Xin, Gan Jiang, and Wu Wei Zi. Cough is not the main disease here, distinguishing it from Xiao Qing Long Tang; thus, in Xiao Qing Long Tang, Xi Xin and Gan Jiang are each 3 liang, whereas here they are only 1 liang each. Sheng Jiang is a crucial herb for this syndrome and is not omitted just because Gan Jiang is present.
Sheng Jiang Xie Xin Tang (Fresh Ginger Drain the Epigastrium Decoction) uses both Sheng Jiang and Gan Jiang: Sheng Jiang treats dry belching with food odor, while Gan Jiang treats abdominal borborygmus and diarrhea. Tong Mai Si Ni Tang (Pulse-Unblocking Counter-Yang Decoction) uses Gan Jiang and adds Sheng Jiang: Gan Jiang stops diarrhea and unblocks pulses, while Sheng Jiang dispels cold and treats vomiting.
Sheng Jiang removes foul odors and clarifies the spirit; its actions are entirely focused on the Lung and Stomach. Since the Stomach and Spleen are connected by membranes, it also treats Qi-level disorders of the Spleen, such as in Hou Po Sheng Jiang Gan Cao Ban Xia Ren Shen Tang (Magnolia Bark, Fresh Ginger, Licorice, Pinellia, and Ginseng Decoction) treating abdominal distension. It also treats Blood-level disorders, such as in Dang Gui Sheng Jiang Yang Rou Tang (Angelica Sinensis, Fresh Ginger, and Mutton Decoction) treating abdominal pain. The subtlety of directing medicinal forces lies not in a single herb but in the entire formula; therefore, formulating is more difficult than identifying herbs.
The meaning of combining Ginger and Jujube to harmonize Ying and Wei, and the principle of using more Ginger than Jujube, are detailed under the entry for Da Zao (Jujubae Fructus). When formulas contain Sheng Jiang but no Da Zao, Zhang Zhongjing typically combines them with Gui Zhi, Ban Xia, Ju Hong (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Rubrum), etc., focusing on unblocking Yang. Thus, the sweet and cloying nature of Da Zao is avoided.