Ginger

Health Benefits of Ginger

Ginger has been used as herbal medicine in Asia, India, and the Arab peninsula since ancient times. The Chinese used ginger for more than 2,000 years to aid digestion, treat stomach upset, diarrhea, and nausea. One teaspoon of fresh gingerroot has only 1 calorie, 0 fat and 0 fiber.

Ginger contains primarily gingerols and shagaols volatile oils including sesquiterpenes and monoterpenes. It also contains alkanes, aldehydes and sulfide derivatives. The rhizomes (underground stems) of ginger plants are used medicinally, with the most potent being the Indian and African types. Be sure to buy and use them fresh avoiding those with dry wrinkled skin mold or soft spots. Maximize the potency of ginger by grating or using a ginger press. Too much intake of ginger however can cause stomach upsets especially on an empty stomach.

Since natural ginger thins the blood, patients on anticoagulants should take extra care with high-dosage ginger. Gingerols may help reduce queasiness. A glass of cold ginger ale with no artificial flavorings can also be taken for its stomach-soothing effect. Other compounds may help ward off migraines and arthritis pain by blocking inflammation-causing prostaglandins.

Ginger herbs fight infection and reduces fever, helps to treat motion sickness, nausea, food poisoning, vomiting and stomach virus. It also treats migraine headaches, stimulates saliva flow and digestive activity, expels gas from intestines, eases pain from gas and bloating, relieves muscle and joint pains, and slows certain types of diarrhea. Ginger has anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-ulcer properties. It also acts as an antioxidant, aphrodisiac and mouth freshener. Children under two years old should not use ginger.

Health Benefits - Ginger can be used for the treatment of the following diseases: arthritis, aids digestion, anti inflammatory properties, anti cancer, anti ulcer, antioxidant, aphrodisiac, cholesterol, blood thinner, cold flu, constipation, dispels gas from intestines, eases pain from gas and bloating, fatigue, fever, fights infection and reduce fever, heartburn, helps to treat motion sickness, nausea vomiting, food poisoning & stomach virus, mouth freshener, relieves muscle and joint pains, stimulates saliva flow and digestive activity, slows certain types of diarrhea, treats migraine headaches.

Ginger Food Medicine:

General use
Make ginger tea by steeping 1 teaspoon chopped fresh ginger in 1 cup boiling water.

Arthritis
Apply on the affected area or take ginger tea orally everyday with vitamin E for joints.

Cholesterol, blood thinner
Drink a few cups of ginger tea a day. Ginger improves circulation by thinning the blood and reduces cholesterol.

Cold, flu
Sip ginger tea throughout the day. Ginger helps kill the influenza virus and the immune system fights infection. To avoid getting cold frequently, sip ginger tea once a week, and bathe warm water in the afternoons.

Constipation
Take few slices ginger and boil in hot water. Drink when cool. Ginger tea helps start bowel movement.

Fatigue
Take cold ginger ale.

Heartburn
Drink ginger tea.

Motion sickness
Drink ginger tea about ½ hour before travels.