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Zingiber officinale
Family: Zingiberaceae: other members include turmeric and cardamom.
Family: Zingiberaceae: other members include turmeric and cardamom.
Ginger is best known as a remedy for treating motion sickness and nausea, but it plays a close second to garlic for all of its natural healing benefits, just check out how long the healing properties list goes! Not only is this a great healing herb, it also tastes great which makes it easier to take and enjoy. You can use ginger fresh, dried or powdered, studies have shown that the healing benefits are the same whether fresh or dried, however dried ginger tends to be more "hot" than fresh.
Properties
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Medicinal Uses
- Taking a ginger bath at the onset of illness will stop it dead in it’s tracks.
- Poor circulation, cold hands and feet
- Moves blood, activates brain function and boosts immune system.
- Decongestant and expectorant.
- Cough, cold and flu.
- Sore throat and respiratory ailments.
- Viral and bacterial infections, including staph, strep and malaria.
- Earache
- Arthritis/joint pain (anti-inflammatory).
- Heart Tonic (reduces cholesterol, lowers blood pressure, prevents clots).
- Cleanses the bowels and kidneys.
- Digestive aid (diarrhea, gas, constipation).
- Nausea, motion sickness, morning sickness.
- Gastrointestinal infections and food poisoning including E. coli, Salmonella and dysentery.
- Lowers blood level triglycerides.
- Pancreas support
- Ulcers
- Relieves aches and pains.
- Induces sweating which helps with fever and kills viruses and bacteria.
- PMS and menstrual cramps (warm cup of ginger tea and a ginger bath).
- Support for male and female reproductive systems.
- Removes excess toxins from the body.
- Ginger is high in potassium and contains manganese, silicon, vitamins A, C, B-complex, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, iron and zinc.
- The book Herbal Antibiotics by Stephen Harrod Buhner includes a list of other conditions ginger has been found effective in treating: cataracts, migraine, stroke, amenorrhea, angina, athlete's foot, bursitis, chronic fatigue, depression, dizziness, infertility, kidney stones, sciatica, and tendinitis.
Methods of Use
- Food - incorporate in your meals and snacks.
- Juiced - apply topically to skin infections or add to beverages for internal use.
- Herbal Infusion (tea) with fresh ginger. This can be made warm for cold weather or chilled for summer months. To make an infusion with ginger combine 6 Tbsp. of fresh chopped ginger to 1 quart of water and bring just to a boil then take off heat and cover for 10 minutes. For acute conditions sip on this throughout the day.
- For treating external aches, pains and inflammations, simmer 5 oz. of chopped or grated ginger in 2 quarts of water for 10 minutes. Apply to affected area with a cloth and re-apply to keep warm - reddening skin indicates increased circulation.
- Make an herbal oil combining the juice of fresh grated ginger with equal parts olive oil. Use for muscle pain, dandruff and earache. For an earache, put a few drops of the oil on a piece of cotton and insert into the ear.
- Herbal bath and foot soak
- Herbal honey and syrup
- Tincture and vinegar
- Salve
- Herbal sprinkles and salt
- Herbal pills and capsules
- essential oil
Where Do I Get Ginger?
I only use organic ginger, you can purchase this at your local health food store. I use what I can fresh and then shred and dry the rest before it goes bad. You can also freeze ginger and grate when ready to use. For powdered ginger I wouldn't trust the grocery store ginger to be that medicinal, I would get that from Mountain Rose Herb or Bulk Herb Store.
Recipes
Ginger Bath
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Ginger Lemonade
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Gut Healer Herbal Blend
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Cold Remedy Herbal Sprinkle
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Immune Booster Tea
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Pumpkin Pie Spice
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Liver Cleanse & Support
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Ginger Honey
Candied Ginger Root
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Resources
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