Scientific: Zingiber officinale [WikiPedia]
Appearance: Ginger is a plant with leafy stems and yellowish green flowers. The ginger spice comes from the roots of the plant.
Parts Used: Dried chopped rhizome for tea, powdered for tea or spice, powdered and encapsulated, or tinctured. Fresh rhizome as a condiment, fresh tea, poultice, juice, tincture, or essential oil and oleoresin
Common Uses: The major active ingredients in ginger are terpenes (quite similar to the chemical action of turpentine) and an oleo-resin called ginger oil. These two, and other active ingredients in ginger, provide antiseptic, lymph-cleansing, circulation-stimulating, and mild constipation relief qualities along with a potent perspiration-inducing action that is quite effective in cleansing the system of toxins. Ginger has been well researched and many of its traditional uses confirmed. It is a warming remedy, ideal for boosting the circulation, lowering high blood pressure and keeping the blood thin in higher doses. Ginger is anti-viral and makes a warming cold and flu remedy. Ginger is a powerful anti-inflammatory herb and there has been much recent interest in its use for joint problems. It has also been indicated for arthritis, fevers, headaches, toothaches, coughs, bronchitis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, to ease tendonitis, lower cholesterol and blood-pressure and aid in preventing internal blood clots.
The most well-known medical use of ginger is as an anti-emetic (prevention of nausea and vomiting). In Chinese medicine, ginger is consumed as a stomachic, to help support digestion and normalize gastric function. Several placebo-controlled randomized studies have shown ginger to be safe and effective in the relief of nausea associated with pregnancy. Alcohol extracts were shown effective in preventing vomiting in dogs receiving cisplatin chemotherapy.
Topic Specific References:
- Ginger [VCA Alternative Therapies]
- The Amazing and Mightly Ginger, Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition, Chapter 7 [PubMED Books]
- Ginger and Its Constituents: Role in Prevention and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Cancer [Hindawi]
- Active ingredients of ginger as potential candidates in the prevention and treatment of diseases via modulation of biological activities [PubMED]
Used In:
PLEASE NOTE that herbal and other natural products can harm your animals – not all plants are safe and gentle! Do not attempt using any of the ingredients listed, or any other plant matter, without the guidance of a qualified herbalist.
