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Ginger |
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Zingiber officinale Ginger root is widely used around the world as a spice or food additive. Ginger is fried and eaten plain, and used in curry pastes and other sauces in India; it is grilled and used to flavour fish and meats or for making ginger tea in Indonesia; it is boiled or fried in Chinese cookery; used to baste chicken or eaten as pickled ginger (beni shouga) and served with sushi in Japan; and used in Jamaica to make Jamaican jerk paste. A ginger extract with sugar and carbonated water makes the popular drink we call ginger ale. Ginger was used in the Middle Ages in Europe to flavour beer.
Ginger appeared in the writings of Confucius in the 5th century B.C., and it has been used medicinally in the West for at least 2000 years. It was introduced by the Spaniards to the Americas and is now cultivated extensively in the West Indies. The Portuguese introduced it to West Africa. It was traditionally used to warm the stomach and dispel chills. In the 18th century it was added to remedies to modify their action and to reduce their irritant effects upon the stomach. Ginger is still used in this way in China to reduce the toxicity of some herbs. It is rich in vitamin C, and Chinese mariners ate it fresh to ward off scurvy. Traditional Chinese and Eastern medicine has recommended ginger for over 2,500 years. It is used for relief from rheumatism, sprains, muscular aches & pains, catarrh, congestion, coughs, sinusitis, sore throats, diarrhea, abdominal bloating, colic, cramps, indigestion, loss of appetite, motion sickness, fever, flu, chills, and infectious disease. Ginger is commonly used in the Ayurvedic and Tibb systems of medicine for the treatment of inflammatory joint diseases, such as arthritis.
Ginger is a classic tonic for the digestive tract. Classified as an aromatic bitter, it stimulates digestion. It also keeps the intestinal muscles toned. This action eases the transport of substances through the digestive tract, lessening irritation to the intestinal walls. Ginger may protect the stomach from the damaging effect of alcohol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen) and may help prevent ulcers. Ginger also supports a healthy cardiovascular system. Like garlic, ginger makes blood platelets less sticky and less likely to aggregate. The Lancet, a highly respected British medical journal, reported excellent results in scientific tests using ginger to treat nausea: "The powdered rhizome of Zingiber officinale has been found to be more effective than dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) in reducing motion sickness in individuals highly susceptible to this malady (Mowrey and Clayson, The Lancet, 1982)." Other reports from medical research indicate that ginger is effective in reducing the effects of morning sickness in pregnant women. It's actions are peripheral circulatory stimulant, carminative, antiflatulent, antitussive, antiemetic, astringent, rubefacient, diaphoretic, anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic, adjuvant, sialagogue, expectorant, bactericide, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, antitoxic, diuretic, antifungal, insecticide, tonic, immune stimulant and antiseptic. The energizing, warming oil is obtained by steam distillation and is pale yellow to amber or greenish-yellow. It has a spicy, refreshing, lemon-like aroma and a pungent taste. It has a top note and blends well with orange, cinnamon, coriander, clove, elemi, eucalyptus, juniper, olibanum, geranium, lemon, lime, myrtle, rosemary and spearmint. Ginger oil is widely used in perfumery to impart a sharp green, spicy note to fragrances, particularly men's colognes. It is said that ginger provides warmth to an emotionally cool individual. Care: Some people may be sensitive to the taste of ginger or may experience heartburn. Persons with a history of gallstones should consult a nutritionally oriented doctor before use. High doses should be avoided if the stomach is already hot and over-stimulated, as in peptic ulceration. It should be used with care in early pregnancy, although it can be safely taken in small doses (1g dried root) for morning sickness. Long-term use during pregnancy is not recommended. Inform a doctor if ginger is used before surgery. DISCLAIMER: This page is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for accurate diagnosis and treatment by a qualified health care professional. The author is neither a chemist nor an herbalist and has had no medical training whatsoever. The content herein is the product of research, not practical experience. |
Today, ginger is cultivated all over tropic and sub-tropic Asia (50% of the
world's harvest is produced in India), in Brazil, Jamaica (the
best quality) and Nigeria, whose ginger is rather pungent,
but lacks the fine aroma of other provenances. 