Gan Song – Chinese Nardostachys Rhizome – Radix et Rhizoma Nardostachys

Gan Song

English Name: nardostachys rhizome/root, Chinese (or Indian) spikenard rhizome/root

Literal Translation: “sweet pine”

Pharmaceutical Name: Radix seu Rhizoma Nardostachys

Medica Category: Qi-Regulating Herbs

Properties: Gan Song enters the Spleen and Stomach channels; it is acrid and sweet in nature and warm in temperature.

What is Gan Song?:

The Chinese Herb Gan Song is the dried root and rhizome of Chinese (or Indian) spikenard (Nardostachys chinensis Batal.; Nardostachys jatamanse DC.), a small flowering herb in the valerian family native to the Himalayan regions of China, India, and surrounding areas.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Therapeutic Actions of Gan Song:

Gan Song regulates qi and relieves pain/opens stagnation in the middle jiao and is primarily used to address feelings of chest oppression with epigastric pain and poor appetite in persons who have damaged their Spleens from excessive worry.

**safety notes:

Gan Song is contraindicated during pregnancy; also, do not use continuously on its own due to its low cumulative toxicity.