Ginger

An ancient Indian proverb says that ginger contains everything good. Zingiber officinale is a versatile healing herb. Its glorious history proves that the Indians knew what they were saying. If you were ever given a glass of ginger ale to settle your stomach, you have already tested the digestive and antispasmodic properties of this herb. ginger

Having originated in tropical Asia, ginger is a widely accepted ancient remedy for stomach upset, cramps, motion sickness, nausea and indigestion. This multi-purpose herb also helps relieve fevers, alleviate pain and detoxifies the body. Ginger tonic has been used to treat mild coughs and colds too. Ginger is fairly easy to grow. It needs potting soil enriched with compost and a warm, tropical climate. Plants reach maturity in about 10 months to a year.

Components of Ginger

Ginger is rich in beta-carotene, volatile oils, potassium, iron, magnesium, selenium, zinc and Vitamins. It plays a very significant role in Chinese medicine where it is considered to be a ‘warming’ herb. The Chinese used the herb to treat chills, colds and digestive problems. They were so convinced of its usefulness that Chinese voyagers carried ginger to prevent seasickness.

Benefits of Ginger

If you ever feel heavy in the stomach, extract the juice of ginger and take a sip. Ginger is an effective remedy for nausea. It therefore easily settles a queasy stomach. It is particularly useful for small children who may find its astringent taste a bit difficult to withstand. By promoting the production of saliva in the mouth, it increases the appetite. It combats dyspepsia and relieves colic caused by flatulence. It is especially useful in cases of alcohol induced gastritis and hangovers. It also helps relieve stomach cramps. When included with a meal, ginger helps digest rich and fatty foods easily.

Ginger promotes perspiration and warms the body. In this capacity, it is excellent for flushing out toxins from the body. It also helps break fevers.

Ginger's slightly diuretic property helps strengthen the kidney by increaseing kidney filtration. Thus it helps clean the body thoroughly.

Ginger is an effective expectorant that has been used to expel the mucus buildup in the areas that cannot be easily reached – the sinuses, lungs and throat. As a natural blood thinner, ginger helps to keep cholesterol levels down in the body. Thus it helps prevent stroke and heart attack. Ginger also helps control the level of triglycerides and LDL cholesterol in the body.

Its ability to ease pain makes it useful in cases of abdominal pain associated with cough and colds. Ginger’s natural anti-inflammatory property makes it a natural favorite with patients suffering from arthritis and sprains. It also has the ability to heal minor skin infections and burns. Ginger offers a long term protection against the body’s tendency towards inflammation. By stimulating blood circulation, ginger facilitates relief from pain and increases joint mobility. Ginger is therefore an excellent treatment for people suffering from morning stiffness.

In Chinese Medicine, ginger is considered to effectively combat parasitic invasions of the body through fish and other food.

People who take blood thinners and patients suffering from gallstones or gallbladder disease should be careful while ingesting ginger.