Actions

Ginger

From London's Ghost Acres


Ginger root is cultivated in the West Indies, India, “and other countries.” It is classified in the Compendium as a Stimulant, and is often used to treat gastrointestinal ailments. It is included in a wide range of mixtures in both the Pharmacopeia and Compendium.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginger


British Pharmacopoeia 1867

Ginger Zingber

“The scarped and dried rhizome of Zingiber officinale… From plants cultivated in the West Indies, India, and other countries.”[1]

Characteristics

“ Irregular lobed decorticated pieces, three of four inches long, subcompressed, yellowish-white, bit not chalky on the surface, with a short mealy fracture, hot taste, and agreeable aroma.”. Used in the preparations of:[2]

  • Confectio Opii
  • Confectio Scammonnii
  • Infusum Sennae
  • Pilula Scillae composite
  • Pulvis Cinnamomi compositus
  • Pulvis Jalapae compositus
  • Pulvis Opii compositus
  • Pulvis Rhei compositus
  • Pulvis Scammonii compositys
  • Syrupus Rhamni
  • Syrupus Zingiberis
  • Tinctura Zingiberis
  • Tinctura Zingiberis fortiori
  • Vinum Aloes

Preparations of Ginger

Aromatic Sulphuric Acid / Acidum Sulphuricum Aromaticum[3]

  • sulphuric acid (3 fl oz), rectified spirit (3 fl oz), cinnamon bark, in coarse powder (2 oz), ginger, in coarse powder (1 ¼ oz)
  • dose 5-30 minims

Confection of Scammony / Confectio Scammonii [4]

  • scammony, in fine powder (3 oz), ginger, in fin powder (1 ½ oz), oil of caraway (1 fl drachm), oil of cloves (1/2 fl drachm), syrup (3 fl oz), clarified honey ( 1 ½ oz)
  • dose: 10-30 grains

Infusion of Senna / Infusio Sennae [5]

  • Senna (1 oz), ginger, sliced (30 grains), boiling distilled water (10 fl oz)
  • dose: 1-2 fl oz
  • used in the preparations of: mistura Sennae composita

Compound Squill PIll / Pilula Scillae Composita [6]

  • squill, in powder (1 ¼ oz), ginger, in powder (1 oz), ammoniacum, in powder (1 oz), hard soap, in powder (1 oz), treacle, by weight (2 ounce, or more if needed)
  • dose 5-10 grains

Compound Powder of Cinnamon / Pulvis Cinnamomi Composita[7]

  • cinnamon bark, in powder (1 oz), cardamom seeds, in powder (1 oz), ginger, in powder (1 oz)
  • dose: 3-10 grains

Compound Powder of Jalap / Pulvis Jalapae Compositus[8]

  • jalap, in powder (5 oz), acid tartrate of potash (9 oz), ginger, in powder (1 oz)
  • dose: 20-60 grains

Compound Powder of Opium / Pulvis Opii Compositus [9]

  • opium, in powder (1 ½ oz), black pepper, in powder (2 oz), ginger, in powder (5 oz), caraway fruit, in powder (6 oz), tragacanth, in powder (1/2 oz)
  • dose: 2-5 grains
  • used in preparations of: Confectio Opii

Compound Powder of Rhubarb / Pulvis Rhei Compositus

  • rhubarb root, in powder (2 oz), light magnesia (6 oz), ginger, in powder (1 oz)
  • dose: 20-60 grains

Compound Powder of Scammony / Pulvis Scammonii Compositus [10]

  • scammony, in powder (4 oz), jalap, in powder (3 oz), ginger, in powder (1 oz)]
  • dose: 10-20 grains

Syrup of Buckthorn / Syrupus Rhamni [11]

  • buckthorn juice (4 pints), ginger, sliced (3/4 oz), pimento (3/4 oz), refined sugar (5 lb, more if needed), rectified spirit (6 fl oz)

Syrup of Ginger / Syrupus Zingiberis[12]

  • strong tincture of ginger (6 fl drachms), syrup (19 fl oz)
  • dose: 1 fl drachm

Tincture of Ginger / Tinctura Zingiberis[13]

  • ginger, in coarse powder ( 2 ½ oz), rectified spirit (1 pint)
  • dose: 15 minims to 1 fl drach

Strong Tincture of Ginger / Tinctura Zingiberis Fortior[14]

  • ginger, in fine powder (10 oz), rectified spirit (as needed)
  • dose: 5-20 minims
  • used in preparations of: syrupus zingiberis

Wine of Aloes / Vinum Aloes[15]

  • socotrine aloes (1 ½ oz), cardamom seeds, freed from the pericarps and bruied (80 grains), ginger, in coarse powder (80 grains), sherry (2 pints)
  • dose: 1-2 fl drachms

A Compendium of Domestic Medicine, 1865

Savory classifies ginger as a Stimulant (Remedies Which Speedily Increase the Frequency of the Pulse and the Heat of the Body.)

“In disorders proceeding from impaired digestion, in flatulent and spasmodic affections of the stomach, in hysterical and nervous complaints, in gouty habits, and in the debility of the system, from whatever cause it may arise, the restorative powers of ginger are well known.” [16]

The name ginger is derived from the Gingi Mountains, located in Hindustan, however, more recently the ginger used in Europe has been cultivated in the West Indies. Powdered ginger can be used to treat gout, indigestion, and flatulence. Ginger-tea (a weak infusion of powdered ginger) is often used to treat “persons of dyspeptic and gouty habits.” It is also popularly combined with rhubarb to create stomachic pills.[17]

Remedies Containing or to be used with

  • Acid, Sulphuric, Diluted: syrup of ginger included in a “Tonic Draught.”[18]
  • Aloes, Socotrine: powdered ginger included in Dr. Baillie’s Pills for Indigestions and Costiveness [19]
  • Ammonia, Sesquicarbonate of: Jamaica ginger (in grains) combined to treat “gouty acidities of the stomach”[20]
  • Aromatic Confection: syrup of ginger included in “Aromatic Draught”[21]
  • Asses’ Milk Artificial: preserved ginger is part of a recipe. Used to nurse infants (?)[22]
  • Calomel: syrup of ginger included in “Obstinate Costiveness” pills[23]
  • Essence of Ginger: see description[24]
  • Ether, Compound Spirit of (Hoffman’s Ether): syrup of ginger included in a recipe used as a substitute for Hoffman’s anodyne (Hoffman did not disclose the recipe)[25]
  • Extract of Colocynth, Compound: syrup of ginger used in cathartic pills[26]
  • Ginger, Jamaica: see def[27]
  • Gum, Guaiacum: powdered ginger is included in “The Electuary”[28]
  • Gum Myrrh: syrup of ginger used in the formation of pills, used “to open the bowels in a suppression of the menses.”[29]
  • Jalap: syrup of ginger included in a draught used for “evacuating the bowels of school-boys who have over-indulged themselves in eating.” Also used in an electuary that is sometimes effective against dropsy.[30]
  • Quassia: when combined with ginger it can be useful against gout, but there is danger should there be any irritation in the stomach.[31]
  • Rhubarb: syrup of ginger used to make pills to treat any dyspepsia and constipation.[32]
  • Senna Leaves: ginger is included in the basic purgative that includes senna.[33]
  • Soluble Tartar: syrup of ginger used in “An Aperient Draught”[34]
  • Spirit of Nitre: syrup of ginger used in a “Diaphoretic Draught”[35]
  • Sulphur, Sublimed: powdered ginger and syrup of ginger used in an electuary[36]
  • Syrup of Ginger: “stimulating and carminative, and is a useful adjunct to bitter and tonic infusions” [37]
  • Tincture of Guaiacum, Volatile: warm drinks (like ginger-tea) recommended to be taken after the initial dosage used to treat chronic rheumatism [38]

Diseases Treated with

General Diseases

  • Cholera Morbus: syrup of ginger used in a draught to be administered in the morning following a successful course of purgatives[39]
  • Cramps, or Spasms: essence of ginger and Jamaica ginger (powdered) recommended for treating cramps that are “constitutional”[40]
  • Dyspepsia, or Indigestion: tincture of ginger included in “Abernyth’s mixture for dyspeptic persons”[41]

Infantile Diseases

  • Worms: Powdered ginger included in “Anthelmintic Electuary”[42]

Medical Articles Containing

  • Infusion of Senna, or Senna Tea: sliced ginger[43]

Prescriptions Containing

Antacids

  • Antacid Draught: syrup of ginger[44]
  • Antacid Draught (Another): syrup of ginger[45]
  • Antacid and Carminative Mixture: syrup of ginger[46]
  • Heartburn: Jamaica ginger, in powder[47]
  • Aromatic Magnesia Mixture (330/309): syrup of ginger[48]
  • Aromatic Chalk Draught: syrup of ginger[49]
  • Aromatic Chalk Draught (330/309): syrup of ginger[50]

Aperients and Cathartics

  • Aperient Mixture: syrup of ginger[51]
  • Aperient Draught (Another): syrup of ginger[52]

Anthelminics

  • Anthelmintic Electuary: powdered ginger[53]

Carminatives

  • Stomach Mixture: syrup of ginger[54]

Diuretics

  • Strong Stimulating Diuretic Draught: syrup of ginger[55]
  • Diuretic Powder (Another): powdered ginger[56]
  • Diuretic Pill (Another): syrup of ginger[57]

Stimulants

  • Stimulant Mixture (Another): syrup of ginger[58]

Tonics

  • Tonic Mixture (Another): syrup of ginger[59]

References

  1. ↑ General Medical Council of Great Britain, British Pharmacopeia, (London: Spottiswoode & Co.,1867), 376https://archive.org/details/britishpharmacop00gene
  2. ↑ GMCGB, 376
  3. ↑ GMCGB, 19-20
  4. ↑ GMCGB, 88-89
  5. ↑ GMCGB, 164
  6. ↑ GMCGB, 240
  7. ↑ GMCGB, 262
  8. ↑ GMCGB, 264
  9. ↑ GMCGB, 265
  10. ↑ GMCGB, 265-66
  11. ↑ GMCGB, 313
  12. ↑ GMCGB, 316
  13. ↑ GMCGB, 345
  14. ↑ GMCGB, 345-46
  15. ↑ GMCGB, 366
  16. ↑ Savory, John. A Compendium of Domestic Medicine (London: John Churchill and Sons, 1865), 56. https://books.google.ca/books?id=VxoDAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false
  17. ↑ Savory, 70
  18. ↑ Savory, 10
  19. ↑ Savory, 13
  20. ↑ Savory, 16
  21. ↑ Savory, 21
  22. ↑ Savory, 23
  23. ↑ Savory, 36
  24. ↑ Savory, 56
  25. ↑ Savory, 60
  26. ↑ Savory, 61
  27. ↑ Savory, 70
  28. ↑ Savory, 75
  29. ↑ Savory, 77
  30. ↑ Savory, 88
  31. ↑ Savory, 122
  32. ↑ Savory, 126
  33. ↑ Savory, 133
  34. ↑ Savory, 137
  35. ↑ Savory, 142
  36. ↑ Savory, 147
  37. ↑ Savory, 149
  38. ↑ Savory, 159
  39. ↑ Savory, 221
  40. ↑ Savory, 225
  41. ↑ Savory, 244
  42. ↑ Savory, 287
  43. ↑ Savory, 291
  44. ↑ Savory, 306
  45. ↑ Savory, 307
  46. ↑ Savory, 307
  47. ↑ Savory, 307
  48. ↑ Savory, 309
  49. ↑ Savory, 309
  50. ↑ Savory, 309
  51. ↑ Savory, 311
  52. ↑ Savory, 312
  53. ↑ Savory, 325
  54. ↑ Savory, 321
  55. ↑ Savory, 325
  56. ↑ Savory, 326
  57. ↑ Savory, 326
  58. ↑ Savory, 333
  59. ↑ Savory, 334


Imported from

Retrieved from "http://drcspatial.usask.ca/wiki/index.php?title=Ginger&oldid=2248"