Fresh ginger (Shengjiang)
Pharmaceutical Name: Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens
Botanical Name: Zingiber officinale Willd. Rosc
Common Name: Fresh ginger
Source of Earliest Record: Mingyi Bielu
Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The rhizomes are dug from September to November. After the fibrous roots have been removed, the rhizomes are washed, cut into slices and pounded to extract the juice, or the skin is peeled off for usage.
Properties & Taste: Pungent and warm.
Meridians: Lung, spleen and stomach
Functions: 1. To promote diaphoresis and release the exterior; 2. To warm the spleen and stomach and alleviate vomiting; 3. To warm the lungs and alleviate cough
Indications & Combinations:
1. Wind-cold exterior syndrome manifested as chills, fever, headache and nasal obstruction. The herb is used to strengthen the diaphoretic function.
2. Vomiting due to cold in the stomach. Fresh ginger (Shengjiang) is often used with Pinellia tuber (Banxia). In vomiting due to heat in the stomach, Fresh ginger (Shengjiang) should be used with Bamboo shavings (Zhuru) and Coptis root (Huanglian).
Dosage: 3-10 g.
Cautions & Contraindications: This herb is contraindicated in yin deficiency with excessive heat in the interior.
Fresh ginger skin (Shengjiangpi)
Fresh ginger skin refers to the skin of the Zingiberis rhizome, which is pungent and cool in property. The herb harmonizes the spleen and promotes water-metabolism. It is mainly indicated in edema. Fresh ginger skin (Shengjiangpi) is often combined with Poria peel (Fulingpi) and Mulberry bark (Sangbaipi) to treat edema. The dosage is 3-10 g.
