Ginger / Zingiber Officinal (gan jiang)  乾薑

Nature: Warm, pungent, attributive to stomach, spleen, heart, lungs and kidneys.

Characteristics: The dried rhizomes are used as medicine and the fresh ones often used in cooking for its digestive power and as a home remedy for colds and seafood poisoning. It is a general drug, good preventive against heart disease and arteriosclerosis.

Therapeutic effects: Dispel cold and warm lung and stomach energy; stimulate yang-energy; anti-inflammatory and dissolves phlegm; control nausea and vomiting and motion sickness. Used for pain and cold in abdomen; cold hands and feet; weak pulse; cough with profuse phlegm; ulcers and high cholesterol.