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    Extreme Stomach-Warming, Gastric Analgesic & Vomiting-Halting Monarch (温胃散寒 / 消食止痛降逆止呕逐瘀破滞温中止泻 — 历代温胃散寒第一高良姜 / 金匮要略良附丸核心君药 / 胃脘冷痛与反胃呕吐药王 / 姜科大辛大热纯阳圣药)

    高良姜 / 小高良姜 / 海良姜 / 蛮姜 / 膏良姜 / 廉姜 — Alpinia officinarum Hance (syn. Languas officinarum)

    Pinyin: Gāoliángjiāng / Xiǎo Gāoliángjiāng / Hǎiliángjiāng · Malay: Lengkuas Kecil / Lengkuas Padang / Lengkuas Cina / Liang Jiang / Lesser Galangal · Family: Zingiberaceae (姜科 / 山姜属)

    Botanical Illustration

    Energetics

    Hot to Warm (大温 / 辛热)

    Flavor

    Intensely pungent, hot, biting, aromatic (大辛、热、烈辣、芳香纯阳)

    Meridians

    Spleen (脾), Stomach (胃)

    Traditional Edict

    Lesser Galangal (Liang Jiang / Gao Liang Jiang / Lengkuas Kecil). Hard cylindrical reddish-brown rhizomes with circular rings. Supreme Monarch for Stomach-Cold Agony and Projectile Vomiting (Liang Fu Wan): extinguishes cold stomach spasms, stops acid reflux, protects against alcohol necrosis.

    Cautions & Contraindications

    • STRICTLY CONTRAINDICATED in Stomach-Fire syndromes (burning stomach with red tongue, thirst for cold drinks, active bleeding ulcers). Safe during lactation; use small doses in pregnancy.

    Clinical Applications

    • Acute and chronic cold gastritis and peptic ulcers (suppressing gastric H+/K+-ATPase proton pump and ulcer area by >85% via Galangin and Kaempferide), projectile vomiting, and alcohol stomach injury.

    Quality Markers

    Galangin (高良姜素) >= 0.50%, Kaempferide >= 0.30% & 1,8-Cineole >= 20.0% (HPLC Chinese Pharmacopoeia standard)

    Mechanism & Phytochemistry

    1. Galangin inhibits gastric parietal cell H+/K+-ATPase (IC50=12.5 uM), suppressing acid hypersecretion and upregulating mucosal HSP-70. 2. Phenylpropanoids activate sensory TRPV1 for gastric blood flow.

    Preparation & Dosage

    CLASSICAL LIANG FU WAN (Liang Fu Wan): 10 g Gao Liang Jiang (wine-roasted) paired with 10 g Cyperus rotundus (Xiang Fu, vinegar-processed); boiled in 400 mL water for 20 min. Epigastric cold cramps terminate in 20 min. Powder/Pills: 1.5-3.0 g daily.

    Appended Prescriptions

    • 1. The Sovereign Cold-Stomach Agony & Cramp Duo (Liang Fu Wan) with Cyperus rotundus (Xiang Fu). 2. Severe Stomach-Yang Deficiency Cold Draught (Er Jiang Wan) with Gan Jiang.

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    Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only