Ginger
From London's Ghost Acres
Ginger
Contents
British Pharmacopoeia 1867
Ginger Zingber
“The scarped and dried rhizome of Zingiber officinale… From plants cultivated in the West Indies, India, and other countries.” (376)
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.” (376)/. Used in the preparations of:
- 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 (19-20)
- 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 (88-89)
- 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 (164)
- 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 (240)
- 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 (262)
- 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 (264)
- 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 (265)
- 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 (page 87)
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 (265-266)
- scammony, in powder (4 oz), jalap, in powder (3 oz), ginger, in powder (1 oz)]
- dose: 10-20 grains
Syrup of Buckthorn / Syrupus Rhamni (313)
- 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 (316)
- strong tincture of ginger (6 fl drachms), syrup (19 fl oz)
- dose: 1 fl drachm
Tincture of Ginger / Tinctura Zingiberis (345)
- 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 (345/346)
- 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 (366)
- 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
All page numbers are recorded as (PDF #/SOURCE #)
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.” (77/56)
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. (91/70)
Remedies Containing or to be used with
- Acid, Sulphuric, Diluted (31/10): syrup of ginger included in a “Tonic Draught.”
- Aloes, Socotrine (34/13): powdered ginger included in Dr. Baillie’s Pills for Indigestions and Costiveness
- Ammonia, Sesquicarbonate of (37/16): Jamaica ginger (in grains) combined to treat “gouty acidities of the stomach”
- Aromatic Confection (42/21): syrup of ginger included in “Aromatic Draught”
- Asses’ Milk (44/23) Artificial: preserved ginger is part of a recipe. Used to nurse infants (?)
- Calomel (57/36): syrup of ginger included in “Obstinate Costiveness” pills
- Essence of Ginger (77/56): see description
- Ether, Compound Spirit of (81/60) Hoffman’s Ether: syrup of ginger included in a recipe used as a substitute for Hoffman’s anodyne (Hoffman did not disclose the recipe)
- Extract of Colocynth, Compound (82/61): syrup of ginger used in cathartic pills
- Ginger, Jamaica (91/70): see def
- Gum, Guaiacum (96/75): powdered ginger is included in “The Electuary”
- Gum Myrrh (98/77): syrup of ginger used in the formation of pills, used “to open the bowels in a suppression of the menses.”
- Jalap (109/88): 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.
- Quassia (143/122): when combined with ginger it can be useful against gout, but there is danger should there be any irritation in the stomach.
- Rhubarb (147/126): syrup of ginger used to make pills to treat any dyspepsia and constipation.
- Senna Leaves (154/133): ginger is included in the basic purgative that includes senna.
- Soluble Tartar (158/137): syrup of ginger used in “An Aperient Draught”
- Spirit of Nitre (163/142): syrup of ginger used in a “Diaphoretic Draught”
- Sulphur, Sublimed (168/147): powdered ginger and syrup of ginger used in an electuary
- Syrup of Ginger (170/149): “stimulating and carminative, and is a useful adjunct to bitter and tonic infusions”
- Tincture of Guaiacum, Volatile (180/159): warm drinks (like ginger-tea) recommended to be taken after the initial dosage used to treat chronic rheumatism
Diseases Treated with
General Diseases
- Cholera Morbus (242/221): syrup of ginger used in a draught to be administered in the morning following a successful course of purgatives
- Cramps, or Spasms (246/225): essence of ginger and Jamaica ginger (powdered) recommended for treating cramps that are “constitutional”
- Dyspepsia, or Indigestion (265/244): tincture of ginger included in “Abernyth’s mixture for dyspeptic persons”
Infantile Diseases
- Worms (308/287): Powdered ginger included in “Anthelmintic Electuary”
Medical Articles Containing
- Infusion of Senna, or Senna Tea (312/291): sliced ginger
Prescriptions Containing
Antacids
- Antacid Draught (327/306): syrup of ginger
- Antacid Draught (Another) (328/307): syrup of ginger
- Antacid and Carminative Mixture (328/307): syrup of ginger
- Heartburn (328/307): Jamaica ginger, in powder
- Aromatic Magnesia Mixture (330/309): syrup of ginger
- Aromatic Chalk Draught (330/309): syrup of ginger
- Aromatic Chalk Draught (330/309): syrup of ginger
Aperients and Cathartics
- Aperient Mixture (332/311): syrup of ginger
- Aperient Draught (Another) (333/312): syrup of ginger
Anthelminics
- Anthelmintic Electuary (336/325): powdered ginger
Carminatives
- Stomach Mixture (342/321): syrup of ginger
Diuretics
- Strong Stimulating Diuretic Draught (346/325): syrup of ginger
- Diuretic Powder (Another) (347/326): powdered ginger
- Diuretic Pill (Another): syrup of ginger
Stimulants
- Stimulant Mixture (Another) (354/333): syrup of ginger
Tonics
- Tonic Mixture (Another) (355/334): syrup of ginger