Sand Ginger (Shan Nai) slices

Sand Ginger (Shan Nai) magnified (shrunken skin and protruding flesh) (nearly round, white with yellowish-brown skin, spicy and pungent)

【Naming】

Shan Nai (Sand Ginger)

 【Source】

Compendium of Materia Medica (綱目)

 【Frequency of Use】

F

 【Botanical Origin】

The rhizome of Kaempferia galanga L., a plant in the ginger family (Zingiberaceae).

 【Appearance】

Commercially available as nearly circular transverse slices, with a few longitudinal slices. Whole, uncut medicinal material is not commonly seen. The slices are approximately 2 mm thick and 1-2 cm in diameter. The surface is grayish-brown or light grayish-brown, wrinkled and uneven, with a small number of fibrous roots and root scars. The inside is white, showing a powdery texture, smooth and delicate, slightly convex. The outer skin is wrinkled, commonly known as “shrunken skin and protruding flesh.” It is brittle and easily broken, with a fragrant aroma resembling ginger, and a pungent taste.

 【Identification】

Good quality Shan Nai should be dry, with fine wrinkles on the skin, plump, with protruding upper and lower surfaces, white in color with abundant powder, and a strong aroma and pungent taste.

 【Identification Terminology】

1. Shrunken skin and protruding flesh: Transverse slices of Shan Nai are whitish, rich in powder, and the central column protrudes more than the cortex, appearing as a central bulge, while the outer skin on the edges is wrinkled.

 【Category】

Rhizomes