Ginger

Ginger root is used extensively as a spice in many if not most cuisines of the world. Though called a root, it is actually the rhizome of the monocotyledonous perennial plant Zingiber officinale. Ginger contains upt to 3% of an essential oil which causes the fragrance of the spice.


Medical research has shown that ginger root is an effective treatment for nausea caused by motion sickness or other illness. Although very effective against all forms of nausea, PDR health officials do not recommend taking ginger root for morning sickness commonly associated with pregnancy. Ginger root also contains many antioxidants. Powdered dried ginger root is made into pills for medicinal use. Chinese women traditionally eat ginger root during pregnancy to combat morning sickness. Ginger ale and ginger beer have been recommended as “stomach settlers” for generations in countries where the beverages are made. Ginger water was commonly used to avoid heat cramps in the United States in the past.

In Japan, ginger is pickled to make beni shoga and gari or grated and used raw on tofu or noodles. In Western cuisine, ginger is traditionally restricted to sweet foods, such as ginger ale, gingerbread, ginger snaps (a type of cookie), ginger cake and ginger biscuits.

Ginger has been used as a medicine in India and China from early times. Ginger has many properties that makes it very unique. Some of the medicinal benefits and usage is listed below:

1) Healing Power and Curative Properties: Ginger is a stimulative carminative. It is counter-irritant for relief of muscular pain.
2) Aphrodisiac: Ginger with honey and half boiled egg taken in night for a month has been effective in curing impotency, premature ejaculation and spermatorrhoea.
3) Digestive Disorders: Ginger is extremely useful in the treatment of dyspepsia, flatulence, colic, vomiting, spasms and other painful affections of stomach and bowels, not accompanied by fever.
4) Coughs and Colds: Ginger root or powder with honey has been used for cough & colds for decades.
5) Respiratory Disorders: Ginger with fenugreek and honey acts as an expectorant in bronchitis, asthama and wooping cough.
6) Menstural Disorders: Ginger and honey in boiled water reduces painful and irregular menstruations.
7) Aches and Pains: Ginger is an excellent pain killer. It can cure all types of pain.

Ginger has not been approved as medicine by USFDA. Please consult your natural health physicians for taking it as a medicine.