气热，味大辛。辛，大热，味薄气浓，阳中之阳也。辛、温。无毒。
《象》云∶治沉寒痼冷，肾中无阳，脉气欲绝，黑附子为引，用水煎二物，名姜附汤。
亦治中焦有寒。水洗，慢火炮。
《心》云∶发散寒邪，如多用则耗散元气，辛以散之，是壮火食气故也，须以生甘草缓
之。辛热，散里寒，散阴寒、肺寒，与五味同用，治嗽，以胜寒蛔。正气虚者，散寒，与
人参同补药，温胃腹中寒，其平以辛热。
《珍》云∶寒淫所胜，以辛散之。经炮则味苦。
《本草》云∶主胸满咳逆上气，温中止血，出汗。逐风湿痹，肠 下利，寒冷腹痛，中
恶霍乱，胀满，风邪诸毒，皮肤间结气。止唾血，生者尤良，主胸满，温脾燥胃，所以理中
，其实主气而泄脾。
易老云∶干姜能补下焦，去寒，故四逆汤用之。干姜本味辛，及见火候，稍苦，故止而
不移，所以能治里寒。非若附子行而不止也。理中汤用此者，以其四顺也。
或云∶干姜味辛热，人言补脾，今言泄而不言补者，何也？东垣谓∶泄之一字，非泄脾
之正气也，是泄脾中寒湿之邪，故以姜辛热之剂燥之，故曰泄脾也。
气温，味辛、苦，辛、凉。无毒。
手太阴经、厥阴经药。
《象》云∶能发汗，通骨节，解劳乏。与薤相宜。新病瘥人，勿多食，令虚汗出不止。
去枝、梗，搓碎用。
《心》云∶上行之药。
陈士良云∶能引诸药入荣卫，又主风气壅并。
气味：气热，味大辛。性味：大热，味薄而气浓，属于阳中之阳。性味：辛、温。无毒。
《象》（李东垣）说：治疗沉寒痼冷，肾中无阳，脉气欲绝，以黑附子为引经药，用水煎煮干姜和黑附子两味药，名为姜附汤。也治疗中焦有寒。使用时需水洗，用慢火炮制。
《心》（张元素）说：发散寒邪，如果多用则会耗散元气，因为“辛以散之”，这是壮火食气的缘故，必须用生甘草来缓和它。辛热，能散里寒，散阴寒、肺寒，与五味子同用，治疗咳嗽，以克制寒蛔。正气虚弱的人，散寒时与人参同用作为补药，温暖胃腹中的寒邪，其性质平和而偏辛热。
《珍》（王好古）说：寒邪淫盛时，用辛味药发散它。经过炮制后味道变苦。
《本草》（陶弘景等）说：主治胸满、咳嗽、气逆上冲，温中止血，发汗。驱逐风湿痹痛，肠澼下利，寒冷腹痛，中恶霍乱，胀满，风邪诸毒，皮肤间的结气。止唾血，生用的效果更好，主治胸满，温脾燥胃，所以能调理中焦，其实质是主气而泄脾。
易老（张元素）说：干姜能补下焦，去寒，所以四逆汤中使用它。干姜本味辛，遇到火候后稍带苦味，所以作用止而不走窜，因此能治疗里寒。不像附子那样行散而无止息。理中汤使用此药，是因为它能顺应四时之气（或指配合其他药物使气机顺调）。
有人说：干姜味辛热，人们说它补脾，现在说它泄而不说补，为什么呢？东垣（李杲）说：“泄”这个字，不是泄脾的正气，而是泄脾中寒湿的邪气，所以用姜辛热的药剂来燥湿，因此称为泄脾。
气味：气温，味辛、苦，辛、凉。无毒。
归经：手太阴肺经、厥阴肝经的药物。
《象》（李东垣）说：能发汗，通利骨节，解除劳乏。与薤白相宜。新病初愈的人，不要多吃，会导致虚汗不止。去掉枝梗，搓碎后使用。
《心》（张元素）说：是上行作用的药物。
Qi is hot, taste is extremely pungent. Pungent, extremely hot, thin in taste but dense in qi, it is yang within yang. Pungent, warm. Non-toxic.
Xiang (Li Dongyuan) states: It treats deep-seated cold and stubborn coldness, absence of yang in the Kidney, and impending exhaustion of pulse qi. Using Black Aconite Root Lateralis Preparata (Hei Fuzi) as a guiding herb, decocting these two herbs—Dried Ginger (Ganjiang) and Hei Fuzi—in water creates Jiang Fu Tang (Ginger and Aconite Decoction). It also treats cold in the Middle Jiao. Wash with water and slow-fire roast before use.
Xin (Zhang Yuansu) states: It disperses cold pathogens. If used in large doses, it dissipates primordial qi; because "pungency disperses," this is due to the principle that "vigorous fire consumes qi." Therefore, Raw Licorice Root (Sheng Gancao) must be used to moderate its action. Pungent and hot, it disperses interior cold, yin cold, and Lung cold. When used together with Schisandra Fruit (Wuweizi), it treats cough by overcoming cold roundworms. For those with deficient righteous qi, when dispersing cold, it is combined with Ginseng Root (Renshen) as a tonic to warm cold in the stomach and abdomen; its nature is mild yet pungent and hot.
Zhen (Wang Haogu) states: When cold pathogenic factors prevail excessively, use pungent herbs to disperse them. After processing, its taste becomes bitter.
Bencao (Tao Hongjing et al.) states: It primarily treats chest fullness, cough, rebellious qi ascending, warms the middle to stop bleeding, and induces sweating. It expels wind-damp bi syndrome, dysentery with diarrhea, cold abdominal pain, sudden evil cholera, distension and fullness, various toxins from wind pathogens, and knotted qi in the skin. It stops spitting blood; fresh ginger is particularly effective. It treats chest fullness, warms the Spleen and dries the Stomach, thereby regulating the Middle Jiao. In essence, it governs qi and drains the Spleen.
Yi Lao (Zhang Yuansu) states: Dried Ginger can tonify the Lower Jiao and remove cold; thus, it is used in Si Ni Tang (Four Reversal Decoction). Dried Ginger is originally pungent in taste, but upon exposure to heat, it becomes slightly bitter. Therefore, its action is stationary rather than moving, enabling it to treat interior cold. This differs from Aconite Root Lateralis Preparata (Fuzi), which moves without stopping. Li Zhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction) uses this herb because it harmonizes the four directions (or ensures smooth qi transformation).
Some say: Dried Ginger is pungent and hot. People claim it tonifies the Spleen, yet here it is said to drain rather than tonify. Why? Dong Yuan (Li Gao) explains: The term "drain" does not refer to draining the righteous qi of the Spleen, but rather draining the pathogenic cold-dampness within the Spleen. Therefore, pungent and hot agents like Ginger are used to dry dampness, hence it is called "draining the Spleen."
Qi is warm, taste is pungent and bitter, pungent and cool. Non-toxic.
Meridian tropism: Herb of the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and Jueyin Liver Meridian.
Xiang (Li Dongyuan) states: It can induce sweating, unblock joints, and relieve fatigue. It is compatible with Scallion Bulb (Xie). Persons recovering from recent illness should not consume it in excess, as it may cause continuous deficiency sweating. Remove branches and stems, crush, and use.
Xin (Zhang Yuansu) states: It is an ascending herb.
Chen Shiliang states: It can guide other herbs into the Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) levels, and primarily treats stagnation and accumulation of wind-pathogens.