In Eastern societies, ginger has always been known for its healing powers. Its use has been recorded in early Ayurvedic Treatises and Chinese texts. Ancient Chinese, Indian, and Middle Eastern traditions and texts sing the praises of the root whose name is thought to come from the Sanskrit word singabera, meaning “horn shaped.”
Ginger has many herbal health benefits, many of which have been scientifically proven. Except for being of nutritional value ginger also has anti-emetic (anti-nausea), anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal and anti-platelet properties which have attracted considerable interest amongst researchers globally. It also aids digestion.
Specific Medicinal Uses
- Ginger can be chewed after meals for relief of conditions like indigestion, gastritis, flatulence, gastrointestinal infection and parasites. This protective action of ginger is attributable to the excessive secretion of saliva.
- Ginger aids in relief of heaviness and bloating after consumption of non-vegetarian and fried fatty foods. Take half a teaspoonful of fresh ginger juice, one teaspoonful each of fresh lime juice and fresh mint juice mixed in a teaspoonful of honey – best thrice daily.
- If you have painful periods, take a small piece of fresh ginger, pound it, and boil in a cup of water for a few minutes, then sweeten with sugar - best thrice daily.
- Ginger acts as a good medicine for throat problems. Chewing a piece of fresh ginger along with a clove and a crystal of common rock salt acts as an excellent remedy for laryngitis, paralysed muscles of the tongue, colds, rhinitis, enlarged uvula, tonsillitis, etc.
- If expectoration of phlegm is needed in conditions such as bronchitis, asthma, whooping cough, tuberculosis etc., try a teaspoonful of fresh ginger juice mixed with a cupful of fenugreek decoction and honey.
- For relief of edema or infrequent urination, take a teaspoonful of ginger juice with a glass of tender coconut water or otherwise normal water or low-fat milk.
- For relief of tooth sensitivity and toothache, burn some ginger and mix with common salt. This can be used as a toothpaste.
- If you suffer from diarrhoea, try fresh ginger fried in ghee (clarified butter) taken with buttermilk (or low-fat milk) twice or thrice daily.
- Half a teaspoonful of ginger juice can be taken with a soft boiled egg and honey once a day for a month. This tones up the sex centres and is very useful in helping to cure impotency and premature ejaculation.
- For rheumatic pains, neuralgia, sciatica, myalgvia etc., apply coconut oil in which a piece a fresh ginger has been fried as a liniment. Olive oil can be substituted if no coconut oil is available.
Additional Uses of Ginger
Ginger can also be used to stimulate digestion and to enhance the absorption of other treatments. In fever and the common cold, it can be used as a diaphoretic and anti-pyretic.
It is used too as a diffusive stimulant to reinforce the action of other digestive, diaphoretic and expectorant herbs.
Most famously, ginger is used to treat and prevent nausea and vomiting in cases of infection, motion sickness, nausea during pregnancy and post-operative and drug-induced nausea. It has also been effective in the treatment of vertigo. It is advised to give ginger as early as possible during nausea as the vomiting back of ginger can cause an aversion to its taste.
To treat digestive problems, particularly colic, flatulent dyspepsia, peptic ulcers and gastro-intestinal infections, ginger is beneficial. Ginger’s blood thinning properties are useful as an anti-platelet agent for decreasing cardiovascular risk, prophylactic of thrombosis and the treatment of thrombocytosis.
Other uses of ginger include as an anti-inflammatory treatment in conditions, such as osteo and rheumatoid arthritis; in prophylaxis and treatment of migraine headaches, especially in conjunction with other herbal remedies and in topical applications for acute inflammatory conditions, like a ginger compress for acute mastitis.
Risks Associated with Ginger
Ginger should not be used in conditions such as stubborn skin diseases, anaemia, dysuria, hemorrhage or burning sensations in the body. It should also not be used too much in hot weather.
Ginger should also be used cautiously in patients receiving potent anti-coagulant and anti-platelet drugs or in circumstances where prolonged bleeding may be disadvantageous or dangerous.
The use of ginger should always be matched to the patient’s condition and constitution.
References
Vasant Lad, The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies, 1999, ISBN-10: 0609802860 /
ISBN-13: 978-0609802861.
A. K. Nadkarni, Materia Medica of Ayurveda (2 vol), 1996, ISBN-10: 8171541429 /
ISBN-13: 978-8171541423
Swami Sada Shiva Tirtha, The Ayurveda Encyclopedia: Natural Secrets to Healing, Prevention & Longevity, 1998, ISBN-10: 0965804224 / ISBN-13: 978-0965804226
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