Pinyin: Sheng Jiang  Chinese: 生姜
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens
Taxonomy: Zingiber officinale
English: Fresh Ginger

Tastes: Pungent, warm
Meridians Entered: Lung, Spleen and Stomach

Actions & Indications:

1. Releases the Exterior, induces perspiration and disperses Cold
   Wind-Cold
2. Warms the Middle and stops vomiting
   Cold in the Stomach especially with vomiting
3. Warms the Lungs and stops coughing
   Cough due to Wind-Cold Cough due to Lung Deficiency with Phlegm
4. Reduces the toxicity of other herbs and seafood
   Herb toxicity or seafood poisoning
5. Adjusts the Ying and Wei - normalizes the flow of Qi at the center
   Taiyang Zhong Feng - Wind-Cold with Deficiency

Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: It should be used with caution for yin deficiency with internal heat and heat exuberance because it helps promote fire and injure yin.

Pinyin: Cu  Chinese: 醋
Pharmaceutical: Acetum
English: Vinegar / 苦酒 Ku Jiu (Bitter Wine) / 淳酢 Chun Cu (Pure Vinegar) / 醯 Xi (Acyl)

Tastes: Sweet, sour, bitter, warm
Meridians Entered: Liver and Stomach

Actions & Indications:

1. Invigorates Blood, dispels Blood Stasis and stops pain
   Abdominal pain, due to Blood Stasis or Qi Stagnation (especially with Mu Xiang)
   Assists other herbs to break up masses and tumors in the abdomen (e.g. Da Huang, and also reduces its purgative effects)
   Applied externally with powdered Da Huang and mixed into a paste for early stage boils, first-degree and second-degree burns, or on its own for bruises and contusions due to external trauma
   As a mouthwash to relieve the pain of toothache.
2. Courses the Liver, regulates Qi, and moves Stagnation
   Enhances the Qi-regulating and pain-reducing properties of other herbs (e.g. Xiang Fu, Qing Pi or Xiao Hui Xiang)
   With cooling herbs can treat headaches due to Liver Fire or ascending Liver Yang
3. Relieves Toxicity
   Sore throat (egg white cooked in vinegar)
   As an external wash to prevent insect bites, or as a treatment after an insect bite has occurred
   Clear epidemic toxins from the air and prevent colds and flu
   Used in cooking to remove any toxicity that might be present in meat and fish and to prevent food stagnation
   Diluted in water to relieve the symptoms of hangovers.
4. Expels roundworms
   Especially if lodged in the Gall Bladder

Standard Dosage: 10-30ml in decoction. Usually combined with other herbs by washing them to bring out their Qi and Blood moving aspects, or added to a decoction to enhance these aspects in the entire formula.
Cautions: Overuse can damage the spleen and stomach.

Pinyin: Jiu  Chinese: 酒
Pharmaceutical: Alcohol
English: Rice Wine

Tastes: Hot, pungent, sweet, bitter, toxic
Meridians Entered: Stomach, Heart, Lung and Liver, but reaches every part of the body

Actions & Indications:

1. Nourishes and moves Blood and Qi, opens the Meridians
   Taken internally or applied topically as the medium for liniments in Blood stasis, especially from trauma or Bi syndromes in the elderly
2. Warms Yang and Expels Cold
   All Cold syndromes including Cold Bi, Interior Cold and Yang deficiency
   Often serves as the basis for longevity "elixirs" by soaking Yang tonifying herbs
3. Strengthens the Shen, dispels sorrow and promotes happiness
   Temporary low mood, celebration

Standard Dosage: 10-60ml, two to three times per day. Often combined with other herbs to bring out their Blood moving or warming aspects by washing them, or adding to a decoction, or soaking herbs in alcohol to make medicinal wines.
Cautions: Caution with Damp-Heat syndromes or long term consumption in the young and middle aged.

The Materia Dietetica (Shiwu Bencao 食物本草) by Lu He 卢和 from the Ming Dynasty says that excess drinking can hurt the spirit and consume blood, damage the stomach and deplete the body fluid, produce phlegm and induce fire.