Gāo Liáng Jiāng (高良姜), known in English as Galangal (Alpinia officinarum), is a hot, acrid Chinese herb from the Warm interior category. It enters the Spleen and Stomach channels. Its main action: warms Middle Jiao, disperses Cold, relieves epigastric pain.
| Pinyin | Gāo Liáng Jiāng (Gao Liang Jiang) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 高良姜 |
| English | Galangal |
| Botanical name | Alpinia officinarum |
| Category | Warm interior |
| Nature | Hot |
| Flavour | Acrid |
| Channels | Spleen, Stomach |
| Dosage | 3–6g |
| Cautions | Yin deficiency with Heat; no Cold pattern |
Actions
- Warms Middle Jiao, disperses Cold, relieves epigastric pain
- Stops vomiting
Indications
- Cold epigastric and abdominal pain
- Vomiting from Stomach Cold
How to remember Gāo Liáng Jiāng
Warm interior herbs are mostly warm or hot and acrid, and most enter the Stomach, Spleen and Kidney channels.
- You can work these out
- Hot, Acrid: like most Warm interior herbs
- Spleen channel: from its action “Warms Middle Jiao”
- Stomach channel: from its use for “vomiting from Stomach Cold”
Other Warm interior herbs
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Gāo Liáng Jiāng?
Gāo Liáng Jiāng is hot and acrid.
Which channels does Gāo Liáng Jiāng enter?
Gāo Liáng Jiāng enters the Spleen and Stomach channels.
What are the actions of Gāo Liáng Jiāng?
Warms Middle Jiao, disperses Cold, relieves epigastric pain; Stops vomiting.
What is Gāo Liáng Jiāng used for?
Cold epigastric and abdominal pain; vomiting from Stomach Cold.
Practise Gāo Liáng Jiāng and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.