Ginger is the most widely used and available herbal remedy on the planet, with billions of people using it every day as both food and medicine. Ginger is used either fresh or dried in nearly two thirds of all traditional Chinese and Japanese herbal formulas. Fresh ginger is used to relieve dryness and heat, while dried ginger is used to relieve dampness and chill. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, ginger is said to "rescue devastated yang", a condition in which invading cold or infection has reached the interior of the body.

What is Ginger?

Ginger is a deciduous perennial with thick, branching rhizomes and sturdy, upright stems with pointed lance-like leaves. Yellow-green flowers, with a deep purple lip with a yellow marking are produced, followed by the fruits, which resemble fleshy capsules.

Parts used
The fresh and dried rhizomes are used and an essential oil is also extracted.

How does Ginger work?

Ginger is a sweet, pungent and aromatic herb that has expectorant properties. The herb increases perspiration, improves digestion and liver function, controls nausea, vomiting and coughing. It stimulates circulation, relaxes spasms and relieves pain.

The taste of this herb is caused by the numerous gingerols, such as gingerol, found in the plant and the volatile essential oil also contains monoterpenoids (camphene, b-phellandrene, neral and geranial), diterpene lactones, such as galanolactone, as well as sesquiterpenes (a-zingiberene and ar-curcumene).

Therapeutic and Internal uses

• Ginger is used internally for motion sickness, nausea, morning sickness, indigestion, colic, abdominal chills, colds, coughs, influenza and peripheral circulatory problems.
• It is a very "warming" herb, and is used in "cold" conditions like frigidity and impotence.
• Some hypoglycaemic, cholesterol lowering, immune stimulant and anti-inflammatory properties have been noted.
• It has a very beneficial effect on ulcers, and also increases peristalsis and the secretion of bile and gastric juices.
• In Chinese medicine, it is used for nausea, vomiting, fever, cold, cough, nasal discharge, blood in the urine, abdominal unease and feeling of fullness as well as chronic bronchitis.
• Green ginger (fresh young rhizomes) is juiced, eaten raw, preserved and candied.

External use

• Used externally for spasmodic pain, rheumatism, lumbago, menstrual cramps and sprains.

Aromatherapy and essential oil use

• To warm the body and the mind, ginger essential oil is most effective. It sharpens the senses and memory.
• It will also "ground" a person, while stimulating the mind, and is very effective in removing excess moisture in the body - such as catarrh and phlegm.
• Furthermore it boosts the digestive system and is valuable in fighting nausea and motion sickness - be that car or sea. The circulation boosting properties helps the entire body and its analgesic affect aids with rheumatic and arthritic pain.
• On the skin it reduces bruises, sores and carbuncles.
• It has analgesic, antiseptic, anti-spasmodic, bactericidal, carminative, emmenagogue, expectorant, febrifuge, laxative, rubefacient, stimulant, stomachic and tonic properties.

Safety precautions and warnings
The herb should not to be taken or used by people with inflammatory skin complaints, ulcers of the digestive tract, or high fever. The essential oil should be avoided during pregnancy and should be used with caution, as it may irritate sensitive skins.