by Stephanie Harris

Created on: March 21, 2010   Last Updated: May 01, 2011

The Many medicinal uses of Ginger.

Ginger has such a lovely spicy and warming flavour, is it any wonder that it has been so popular for an exceedingly long time. In fact, records of its usage from as far back as 500BC have been found so the human race has been using it for an extraordinarily long time. If it did nothing good for your health, then surely someone would have realised by now.

Ginger was first used by the Indian nation, both as a culinary herb and in Ayurvedic medicine. From there it travelled widely throughout Asia, to be used both as a culinary herb and to be used for medicinal purposes. It is now known throughout the world because of its marvellous taste and as an uncommonly strong healing herb with a number of different uses.

In Indian medicine, it is known to be helpful for the digestion, as an anti-sickness herb useful for treating motion sickness also as an herb to be used for the treatment of colds and coughs. In Chinese medicine, it is used as a herb to stimulate the Yang energy of the body. Also, it will speed up the metabolism and circulation of the blood in the body.

In Chinese medicine, it is used very successfully to cure a cold, cough or flu, because ginger is a hot herb. Simply make an infusion with either the sliced or grated fresh root or the dried herb. Simmer the ginger in a pan of water, one cup of water per person to either one tablespoon of freshly grated ginger or one teaspoonful of dried ginger. Simmer for approximately ten minutes, no longer. Adding honey will both soothe your cough and sore throat and add to the flavour of the infusion. Add a little lemon to the drink, for the added Vitamin C.

Ginger is also used highly successfully to help pregnant women deal with morning sickness. It can be used as a cup of warming tea first thing in the morning, or simply nibbling on some ginger biscuits first thing in the morning can be tremendously helpful. Also, as ginger is beneficial for motion sickness, it is possible to sit in the back of a car, nibbling on some ginger biscuits, with the windows slightly open so that fresh air can circulate around the car.

As an aid to people suffering from arthritis, it has been clinically proven, if they can take it in capsule form, three times a day, they will suffer less pain in their joints. Arthritis sufferers are also able to use ginger essential oil, three drops of the essential oil of ginger to 10ml of sweet-almond oil, no more essential oil should be used in this mixture as due to the warming effect of ginger essential oil it can burn the skin. Ginger oil has a warming effect on painful, arthritic joints if rubbed into the joint. The same combination of oils can be rubbed into the chest and back if suffering from the chills and aches and pains caused by a severe cold or influenza. Even adding three drops of ginger essential oil to a hot bath and soaking in the bath with a cold or flu, will create an easing of the troublesome symptoms. This bath will also help the arthritis sufferer.

Do talk to your doctor if you are on any blood thinning medication as ginger does have a slight tendency to thin the blood. Also, as with all medicines, take it easy at first, ginger can cause an adverse reaction, though to a lesser extent than man made medicines.

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