Crystal Nelson
Ginger is not only an exotic spice – the root relieves many other complaints in addition to nausea, menstrual cramps, and respiratory infections.
Ginger: application and medicinal properties
Ginger is a tropical spice plant whose roots have been used medicinally for thousands of years. As a herbal medicine, fresh or dried ginger root is used as a tea or infusion. The substances contained in the rootstock work:
- antibacterial,
- anti-inflammatory,
- analgesic,
- expectorant,
- hypotensive,
- heart and stomach strengthening
- digestive.
How is ginger used?
You can use the root in the grated form in food (soup, Asian dishes), as a syrup, capsule, tablet, oil, or in slice form in water. Ginger tea is also popular for nausea. It is best to cut off the rough skin before cooking.
Ginger can now be bought in almost every supermarket. Ginger products are available in pharmacies and online.
Tip: You don’t have to buy the root, you can grow ginger yourself.
What does ginger help with?
Over 160 active ingredients in ginger make the root a natural remedy for ailments such as:
- loss of appetite
- bronchitis
- a cold
- Sore throat
- Cough
- migraine
- menstrual cramps
- rheumatism
- travel sickness
- seasickness
- morning sickness
- bloating
- overweight
Among other things, ginger contains iron, vitamins, essential oils, vitamins, calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, and phosphorus. The contained gingerols are responsible for the sharp taste of ginger. They relieve pain and have an anti-inflammatory effect – similar to painkillers, but without side effects.
How much ginger is allowed per day?
You can safely consume up to 50 grams of fresh ginger or five grams of ginger powder. Eating too much ginger can cause gas, heartburn, and diarrhea.
Anyone taking blood-thinning medication should talk to their doctor before taking ginger to find out how much of the root is healthy – because ginger has a blood-thinning effect.
Botany of the ginger plant
Ginger is a perennial about a meter tall with a rootstock that branches out underground. Above ground, the plant has narrow, light green, elongated leaves reminiscent of reeds or bamboo. A 20 cm long false stalk grows from the rootstock, at the end of which a cone-like inflorescence is formed. Ginger flowers rarely, and after flowering develop capsule fruits containing the seed. However, ginger is propagated vegetatively by dividing the root tuber.
Distribution
Ginger is a tropical plant that has been known as a spice and medicinal in China for centuries. Ginger is grown in India, Indonesia, Japan, South America, and Australia, among other places.
Things to know about ginger
- Ginger has been used in traditional Indian and Chinese medicine since ancient times.
- Ginger is a centuries-old cultivated plant whose origin is not documented.
- The generic name Zingiber came from the Arabic zindschabil (root). The old German name was gigiber.
- Many sailors swear by the effects of ginger against seasickness. This has also been proven in several studies. Ginger even worked better than a well-known drug against nausea.
