Shēng Jiāng (生姜), known in English as Fresh ginger (Zingiber officinale (fresh)), is a warm, acrid Chinese herb from the Release exterior (Cold) category. It enters the Lung, Spleen and Stomach channels. Its main action: releases exterior, disperses Wind-Cold (mild).
| Pinyin | Shēng Jiāng (Sheng Jiang) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 生姜 |
| English | Fresh ginger |
| Botanical name | Zingiber officinale (fresh) |
| Category | Release exterior (Cold) |
| Nature | Warm |
| Flavour | Acrid |
| Channels | Lung, Spleen, Stomach |
| Dosage | 3–9g |
| Cautions | Heat patterns; Yin deficiency with Heat |
Actions
- Releases exterior, disperses Wind-Cold (mild)
- Warms Middle Jiao, stops nausea and vomiting
- Warms Lung, stops cough
- Detoxifies Ban Xia and Fu Zi
Indications
- Mild Wind-Cold
- Morning sickness
- Vomiting from various causes
- Cold Phlegm cough
- Antidote for herb toxicity
How to remember Shēng Jiāng
Release exterior (Cold) herbs are mostly warm or hot and acrid, and most enter the Lung channel.
- You can work these out
- Warm, Acrid: like most Release exterior (Cold) herbs
- Lung channel: from its action “Warms Lung”
- Spleen and Stomach channels: from its action “Warms Middle Jiao”
Formulas containing Shēng Jiāng
- Guì Zhī Tāng
- Bǔ Zhōng Yì Qì Tāng
- Guī Pí Tāng
- Xiāo Yáo Sǎn
- Jiā Wèi Xiāo Yáo Sǎn
- Èr Chén Tāng
- Wēn Dǎn Tāng
- Píng Wèi Sǎn
- Xiǎo Jiàn Zhōng Tāng
- Xiǎo Chái Hú Tāng
- Dà Chái Hú Tāng
- Wēn Jīng Tāng
- Sū Zǐ Jiàng Qì Tāng
- Zhēn Wǔ Tāng
- Fáng Jǐ Huáng Qí Tāng
- Huáng Qí Jiàn Zhōng Tāng
- Nuǎn Gān Jiān
- Bā Zhēn Tāng
- Rén Shēn Yǎng Yíng Tāng
- Bàn Xià Bái Zhú Tiān Má Tāng
- Xuán Fù Dài Zhě Tāng
- Dí Tán Tāng
- Zhì Gān Cǎo Tāng
Other Release exterior (Cold) herbs
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Shēng Jiāng?
Shēng Jiāng is warm and acrid.
Which channels does Shēng Jiāng enter?
Shēng Jiāng enters the Lung, Spleen and Stomach channels.
What are the actions of Shēng Jiāng?
Releases exterior, disperses Wind-Cold (mild); Warms Middle Jiao, stops nausea and vomiting; Warms Lung, stops cough; Detoxifies Ban Xia and Fu Zi.
What is Shēng Jiāng used for?
Mild Wind-Cold; morning sickness; vomiting from various causes; Cold Phlegm cough; antidote for herb toxicity.
Which formulas contain Shēng Jiāng?
Guì Zhī Tāng, Bǔ Zhōng Yì Qì Tāng, Guī Pí Tāng, Xiāo Yáo Sǎn, Jiā Wèi Xiāo Yáo Sǎn, Èr Chén Tāng, Wēn Dǎn Tāng, Píng Wèi Sǎn, Xiǎo Jiàn Zhōng Tāng, Xiǎo Chái Hú Tāng, Dà Chái Hú Tāng, Wēn Jīng Tāng, Sū Zǐ Jiàng Qì Tāng, Zhēn Wǔ Tāng, Fáng Jǐ Huáng Qí Tāng, Huáng Qí Jiàn Zhōng Tāng, Nuǎn Gān Jiān, Bā Zhēn Tāng, Rén Shēn Yǎng Yíng Tāng, Bàn Xià Bái Zhú Tiān Má Tāng, Xuán Fù Dài Zhě Tāng, Dí Tán Tāng and Zhì Gān Cǎo Tāng.
Practise Shēng 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.