Ginger

Ginger is probably one of the world's favourite medicines and cooking ingredients. Ginger root has been used in Ayurveda for centuries and its fresh pungent flavour makes it an essential spice for Indian and Asian cuisine.Ginger is a creeping perennial on a thick tuberous rhizome. In the first year, a green, erect, reed-like stem about 60 cm high grows from this rhizome. The plant has narrow, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate leaves 15 to 30 cm long, which die off each year. The flower scape grows directly from the root and terminates in a long, curved spike. A white or yellow flower grows from each spike.

Action: Aromatic, carminative, stimulant to the gastro- intestinal tract, diaphoretic, expectorant, antiemetic, and stomachic, also sialagogue and digestive; Externally, a local stimulant and rubefacient.



Use of Ginger:

• Painful joints : Mix 3 drops essential oil of ginger root and 1 teaspoon of almond oil. Rub on inflamed or painful joints and cover with a dry cloth to hold in the heat.
• Indigestion and low appetite: (1) Mix ginger with ghee or hot water. (2) Mix together equal parts of ginger juice, lemon juice and rock salt. Mix well and take it before meals.
• Headache: Make a ginger paste by mixing dry ginger powder with a little water or aloe gel . Apply and rub this paste to the forehead before going to sleep
  
• Bronchitis: Take a mixture of half a teaspoon each of powdered ginger, pepper and cloves three times daily with honey or as an infusion or tea.
  
• Asthma : A teaspoon of fresh ginger juice mixed in a cup of fenugreek tea made with 1 tablespoon of fenugreek seeds and honey to taste acts as an excellent expectorant in cases of asthma.
  
• Diarrhea: Rub ginger juice on navel
  
• Sore throats, hoarseness, and laryngitis: Chew a piece of fresh ginger. This produces a copious flow of saliva
  
• Diabetes: Take ginger juice with rock candy twice daily.
• Sore throats, hoarseness, and laryngitis: Chew a piece of fresh ginger. This produces a copious flow of saliva.
• Nausea, and vomiting: Take a combination of ginger juice and onion juice
  
• Painful bowels or stomach: Make an infusion of dry ginger. Mix it with 1-2 tbs. castor oil.
• Tooth or face aches: Make a paste of ginger powder and aloe gel or water. Apply the paste to the face.