We all know about ginger - the plant that seems to have a
cure for everything, a panacea for a myriad of ills, but do we
really know of the powers of this seemingly miracle herb. Are
we truly aware of what this inauspicious little root can do for
the modern person?
History
The earliest example of ginger use leads us to India, where it was utilized by the Yogi as a seasoning to promote mental clarity. Also, the Yogi contrasted it to garlic, where the ginger had a sweet essence which was inoffensive to the gods. Soon, ginger usage spread to China, where it was used in treating nausea, vomiting, and motion sickness. Also, it was adopted in reducing the toxicity of other herbs, absorbing and neutralizing the toxins in the stomach.
Further, Asian countries used the ginger as a diaphoretic, purging the body of toxins via its invigoration of the sweat glands. Made into a tea, ginger was used as a carminative, an agent which expels gas from intestines.In the sixth century, usage of ginger spread to Japan, where
today it remains the favored base for soups and sauces, and
prescribed topically for aches and pains. In the Western World,
ginger received its debut from the Muslims, who after
occupying Spain, made it popular. The Spaniards in
turn introduced it to the West Indies and Jamaica.
Application
Cochin ginger, it is most common in Jamaica, India, Africa, China, and Indonesia, where it is used as a spice, condiment, and flavoring agent.
Other possible applications:
- Stomach flu
- Post-chemotherapy nausea
- Hot flashes
- Menstrual cramps
- Cleanses colon
- Stimulates circulation - improves body heat
- Inhibits deleterious blood clotting and atherosclerosis
- Clears head of sinus and allergy complications
- Used for colitis and diverticolosis
- Helps with paralysis of tongue
- Protects from ulcers
- Promotes secretions of liver, gall bladder, saliva, and gastric juices.
- Protects liver from toxins
- Antibacterial
- fights e. coli, proteus, staph, strep, salmonella
- beneficial when eating sushi due to its parasite fighting power (including Anisakis - the most common parasite in Japan, and Schistosoma, the second major parasitic disease in the world. )
- Stimulates immunity
- Stimulates growth of lactobacillus - a beneficial microflora
- Expectorant - helps with bronchitis, coughs,
sore throats, colds, flu, and mild fevers. - Lowers blood cholesterol, strengthen heart muscles
- Anti-oxidant
- Anti-inflammatory
- Anti-spasmodic
- Eliminates dandruff
- As a detoxifying agent in a hot bath or foot bath
- Relieves sore joints when used as a topical lotion
Caution: If suffering from gallstones, or if pregnant or nursing, consult a health care professional before taking large amounts of ginger. The German Commission E monograph opposes use for morning sickness during pregnancy. Daily consumption of ginger root may interfere with the absorption of dietary iron and fat-soluble vitamins, as well as tetracycline derivatives, oral anticholinergics, phenothiazines, digoxin, isoniazid, pheytoin, warfarin, lincomycin, dititalis, nalidixic acid, sulfonamides, and phenothiozines or other psychoactive agents which are poorly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. Ginger may mask the ototoxicity caused by aminoglycoside antibiotics such as neomycin. It may inhibit urinary excretion of alkaline drugs, such as amphetamines or quinidine.