Shanjiang (Alpinia japonica), medicinal plant. Chinese, 1655

The shanjiang plant (Alpinia japonica), woodblock print coloured by hand. Shunzhi reign period of the Qing dynasty. The roots, flowers and seeds of shanjiang are all thought to have medicinal properties. The roots are principally used to treat cold pain in the abdomen and are considered especially efficacious when boiled. The flowers and seeds are used to regulate the Qi of the middle and lower parts of the body, break down cold Qi, stop huoluan (cholera and similar diseases), promote digestion and treat the effects of alcohol. In Chapter 14 of Bencao gangmu (Systematic Materia Medica), Li Shizhen (1518-1593) writes: 'the flowers are red. It is extremely pungent. The seeds are like caodoukou (Alpinia globosa) while the root is similar to duruo (Pollia japonica) or gaoliangjiang (Alpinia officinarum).'