Zingiber. Ginger
Description
This section is from the book "Materia Medica Pharmacy, Pharmacology And Therapeutics", by W. Hale White. Also available from Amazon: Materia Medica Pharmacy, Pharmacology And Therapeutics..
Zingiber. Ginger
The rhizome of Zingiber officinale Roscoe (nat. ord. Sci-laminea).
Habitat
India; cultivated in the tropics.
Characters
About 5 to 10 cm. long, 10 to 15 mm. broad, and 4 to 8 mm. thick, flattish, on one side lobed or clavately branched; deprived of the corky layer; pale, buff-colored, striate, breaking with a mealy, rather fibrous fracture, showing numerous small, scattered resin-cells and fibro-vascular bundles, the latter enclosed by a nucleus sheath; agreeably aromatic, and of a pungent and warm taste. Resembling Ginger. - Turmeric, which is yellow.
Composition
The chief constituents are - (1) An aromatic volatile oil, 3/4 to 2 per cent. giving the flavor. (2) Resin. (3) Gingerol, to which the pungent taste is due (Thresh).
Ginger is contained in Pulvis Rhei Compositus and Pulvis Aromaticus.
Dose, 5 to 15 gr.; .30 to 1.00 gm.
Preparations
1. Extractum Zingiberis Fluidum. - Fluid Extract of Ginger. By maceration and percolation with Alcohol, and evaporation.
Fluid Extract of Ginger is used in Syrupus Zingiberis. Dose, 5 to 15 m.; .30 to 1.00 c.c.
2. Oleoresina Zingiberis. - Oleoresin of Ginger. By percolation with Ether, distillation, and evaporation of the residue.
Dose, 1/2 to 2 m.; .03 to .12 c.c.
3. Tinctura Zingiberis. - Tincture of Ginger. Ginger, 200. By percolation with Alcohol to 1000.
Tincture of Ginger is used in Trochisci Zingiberis. Dose, 1/4 to 1 fl. dr.; 1. to 4. c.c.
4. Syrupus Zingiberis. - Syrup of Ginger. Fluid Extract of Ginger, 30; Sugar, 850; Water to 1000. By trituration with Precipitated Calcium Phosphate, solution and filtration.
Dose, 1/2 to 2 fl. dr.; 2. to 8. c.c.
5. Trochisci Zingiberis. - Troches of Ginger. Tincture of Ginger, 20; Tragacanth, 4; Sugar, 130 gm.; Syrup of Ginger in sufficient quantity to make 100 troches.
Dose, freely.
Action And Therapeutics Of Ginger
Its action is the same as that of other substances containing aromatic volatile oils. It is chiefly used as a stomachic, carminative, and flavoring agent. The oleoresin is a useful addition to purgative pills to prevent griping.
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