Ginger Health: Goodness of Ginger Herb

Revered in the Orient for its powerful healing qualities and its culinary uses, Ginger has been in use since ages. A perennial herb, ginger is a greenish yellow rhizome. The botanical name of the spice is Zingiber Officinale. Ginger is been used extensively in the Orient; its benefits covering a spectrum so wide, that it includes the medicinal, culinary as well as aromatherapy fields. A pungent and flavorful spice, ginger is one of the most widely used spices in the East.

Ginger is known to be beneficial to the body in a number of ways. Ginger can be used in its raw as well as dried form. Raw ginger is thermogenic, anti-flatulent, appetiser, digestive and a powerful laxative.

Herb

Dried ginger is thermogenic, appetizer, laxative, expectorant, stimulant and effective to cure stomach disorders. Dried and ground ginger is used to cure cold, cough, cholera, nausea ad vomiting, inflammations, diarrhea, colic, flatulence, anorexia, asthma and headaches.

Ginger Health: Goodness of Ginger Herb

Ginger has extensive uses in aromatherapy as well. Ginger yields an essential oil that is steam distilled from the unpeeled, dried and ground root. Ginger oil is used in combination with sandalwood, cedar wood and patchouli, which renders a woody-spicy scent to the mixture.

The uses of ginger as a digestive aid can be largely attributed to the presence of gingerols and shogaols, which help neutralise stomach acids, enhance the secretion of digestive juices and tone the muscles of the digestive tract.

The active ingredient in ginger is terpenes and an oleoresin, which is called ginger oil. These active agents are responsible for its antiseptic qualities, lymph-cleansing, circulation-stimulating and mild constipation relief. Research has shown that ginger lowers blood cholesterol by reducing cholesterol absorption in the blood and liver.

Other Ginger health benefits

o Ginger has been known to reduce inflammation of the joints and muscle tissue for people suffering from arthritis or rheumatism. o Ginger improves blood circulation, hence thought to improve the complexion too. It is also known to have reduced nervousness, ease tendonitis and relieve sore throats. o Ginger is an effective herbal remedy for all kinds of motion sickness and even morning sickness during pregnancy. A great way to get rid of the uneasy, queasy feeling in the stomach. o Scientists have found that ginger can block the effects of prostaglandin - a substance that causes inflammation of the blood vessels in the brain, which leads to migraine. o Many women believe that consuming ginger tea during periods helps minimize menstrual cramps. o Known for its warming action, ginger is an effective treatment in colds and flu. o An effective remedy for cramps caused by flatulence, ginger stimulates digestion. o Ginger is a mood enhancer, the Cineole present in ginger helps provide stress relief. o It is a great mouth freshener and ginger tea is known for its refreshing properties.

Ginger Health: Goodness of Ginger Herb

Kevin Pederson has been managing a number of natural home remedies websites which have information on home based natural cures and remedies for some of the most common illnesses and health problems .

Ginger Root - An Herb With Medicinal Properties Used As An Alternative To Traditional Medicine

Ginger root is an herb that has been used in a variety of ways as a healing agent for over 2000 years. It is thought to have medicinal properties that can be helpful to those suffering from a myriad of ailments, including arthritis, nausea, motion sickness, headaches, and perhaps even types of heart disease. In the United States the use of herbs as medicine is still considered as alternative, but in places such as China, the Caribbean, India, parts of Africa and Europe ginger is widely accepted as a healing herb.

The history of ginger is quite fascinating. The Sanskrit name for ginger is srngaveram, which translates to "horn root". This is believed to be because of the appearance of the ginger root, which does bear a resemblance to an animal's horn. At some point in history ginger disappeared, but it is thought that Marco Polo brought it back with him after his extensive travels and it then became a delicacy in Europe. Most of the supply of ginger comes from Jamaica, India, Africa, and China. Ginger grows in the wild in Jamaica and other islands of the Caribbean because the tropical climate offers the best growing conditions. Ginger in the wild produces flowers when the herb is at its most ripe stage. Queen Elizabeth I loved the taste of ginger and encouraged her cooks to experiment with it. The gingerbread man is said to have been the direct outcome of this experimentation.

Herb

Ginger has been used most commonly to treat gastrointestinal maladies such as nausea, abdominal bloating, diarrhea, uncontrollable vomiting, heartburn, intestinal gas resulting in excess flatulence, and colitis. Many believe that ginger can help with these ailments because it contains properties thought to strengthen the muscle tone in the intestinal tract.

Herbalists use ginger extract to decrease inflammation, which is a leading cause of many ailments including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, bronchitis, dermatitis, and ulcerative colitis. Studies are not at all conclusive, but many people prefer to use a natural remedy instead of taking ibuprofen or other traditional medication.

Use of ginger to treat motion sickness appears to be at least somewhat effective but more studies need to be conducted and analyzed. As far as heart disease is concerned, it is unclear whether or not ginger can be used successfully to lower cholesterol. It is simply to early to make an intelligent comment on this type of medicinal use of the herb.

Ginger appears as a knotted root with an underground stem known as a rhizome. It consists of volatile oils (somewhere between 1 and 4%), as well as pungent compounds known as gingerol and shogaol. It is these compounds that are thought to be responsible for the healing properties of ginger for nausea and vomiting.

You can find ginger in the produce department as a fresh or dried root. Ginger is also available as a powdered extract, in capsule form, or as an oil. You can use ginger to prepare a tea or use it as a cooking spice to prepare breads, cookies, or as an ingredient in vegetable dishes.

It is always wise to do your own research and talk to your physician before supplanting ginger, or any other spice or herb, with prescribed medications. Many health food stores have herbalists on staff that can also answer any additional questions you may have. As with all things in your life, moderation is the best choice. But when choosing spices that may also be medicinal, try using ginger as a healthy, natural alternative.

Ginger Root - An Herb With Medicinal Properties Used As An Alternative To Traditional Medicine

Connie Ragen Green has used alternative medicine to supplement traditional medicine to help her deal with arthritis and cancer for over 15 years. Visit her at http://greenhouse.typepad.com/connie_ragen_green to find ways to improve your health and well being.

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Ginger Health: Goodness of Ginger Herb

Revered in the Orient for its powerful healing qualities and its culinary uses, Ginger has been in use since ages. A perennial herb, ginger is a greenish yellow rhizome. The botanical name of the spice is Zingiber Officinale. Ginger is been used extensively in the Orient; its benefits covering a spectrum so wide, that it includes the medicinal, culinary as well as aromatherapy fields. A pungent and flavorful spice, ginger is one of the most widely used spices in the East.

Ginger is known to be beneficial to the body in a number of ways. Ginger can be used in its raw as well as dried form. Raw ginger is thermogenic, anti-flatulent, appetiser, digestive and a powerful laxative.

Herb

Dried ginger is thermogenic, appetizer, laxative, expectorant, stimulant and effective to cure stomach disorders. Dried and ground ginger is used to cure cold, cough, cholera, nausea ad vomiting, inflammations, diarrhea, colic, flatulence, anorexia, asthma and headaches.

Ginger has extensive uses in aromatherapy as well. Ginger yields an essential oil that is steam distilled from the unpeeled, dried and ground root. Ginger oil is used in combination with sandalwood, cedar wood and patchouli, which renders a woody-spicy scent to the mixture.

The uses of ginger as a digestive aid can be largely attributed to the presence of gingerols and shogaols, which help neutralise stomach acids, enhance the secretion of digestive juices and tone the muscles of the digestive tract.

The active ingredient in ginger is terpenes and an oleoresin, which is called ginger oil. These active agents are responsible for its antiseptic qualities, lymph-cleansing, circulation-stimulating and mild constipation relief. Research has shown that ginger lowers blood cholesterol by reducing cholesterol absorption in the blood and liver.

Other Ginger health benefits

o Ginger has been known to reduce inflammation of the joints and muscle tissue for people suffering from arthritis or rheumatism. o Ginger improves blood circulation, hence thought to improve the complexion too. It is also known to have reduced nervousness, ease tendonitis and relieve sore throats. o Ginger is an effective herbal remedy for all kinds of motion sickness and even morning sickness during pregnancy. A great way to get rid of the uneasy, queasy feeling in the stomach. o Scientists have found that ginger can block the effects of prostaglandin - a substance that causes inflammation of the blood vessels in the brain, which leads to migraine. o Many women believe that consuming ginger tea during periods helps minimize menstrual cramps. o Known for its warming action, ginger is an effective treatment in colds and flu. o An effective remedy for cramps caused by flatulence, ginger stimulates digestion. o Ginger is a mood enhancer, the Cineole present in ginger helps provide stress relief. o It is a great mouth freshener and ginger tea is known for its refreshing properties.

Ginger Health: Goodness of Ginger Herb

Kevin Pederson has been managing a number of natural home remedies websites which have information on home based natural cures and remedies for some of the most common illnesses and health problems .

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So What is Up With Ginger - Is it a Spice Or an Herb?

Although most kitchen spice cabinets include a jar of ground ginger, it is usually considered a spice and one does not think of adding ginger herb to a recipe, one would add ginger spice. Ginger spice is added to Ginger Snaps, Ginger Bread, Ginger Ale, Gingered Chicken, and Gingered Pumpkin Cheesecake, face it, the spice "ginger" is called for in many recipes. So, is ginger a spice or an herb? Well, ginger is a spice. . . and. . . an herb.

By definition, herbs are the leafy parts of plants and shrubs used for flavoring foods, medicinal applications or the oil essence harvested for body care products. An example of an herb would be the leafy parts of ginger, parsley, rosemary, lavender and cilantro. Spices are harvested from the flowers, seeds, bark or roots of plants or trees. Examples would include; cinnamon (bark), coriander (seed of the cilantro plant), cloves, saffron and root of the ginger. Your eyes are not deceiving you - I do have ginger listed under examples of both spice and herb. Cilantro is a cross-over also, the leaves of the plant are by definition an herb and the seed of the plant is a spice, named coriander. Coriander really confused me when I first started cultivating herbs. I looked high and low for cilantro seeds at the nursery. When I finally asked the clerk for assistance, I was handed a seed packet with "coriander seeds" boldly written across the top of the package and a lovely picture of a healthy cilantro herb plant on the bottom. That incident prompted my first purchase of a book on herb gardening.

Herb

The line of terminology between classification of herb or spice has largely become interchangeable depending upon culinary usage according to the American Spice Trade Association). Plants, seeds and roots used for medicinal properties are commonly termed "herbal" Ground herbs used in cooking applications call for "spice". Confused yet? Maybe this example will help. Ground ginger (spice) is used in baking cookies. Ginger root (herb) is steeped in boiled water for tea used in a medicinal manner.

However it is classified, ginger is an extremely versatile herb for medicinal purposes. Ginger root may be used to chew on to alleviate nausea (motion sickness), it may be used steeped in teas to alleviate chest congestion, to alleviate gas pains and flatulence (mince the root and add to baked beans), treating asthma, bronchitis and the list goes on. However it is classified, ginger is an extremely versatile spice for culinary applications; dessert recipes, beers, soda flavorings and this list goes on too.

Herb or spice, ginger is one of my favorites!

So What is Up With Ginger - Is it a Spice Or an Herb?

Sandra is a gardening enthusiast, and enjoys helping others get the best out of their herb gardens. Her newest book, teaches gardeners everything they need to know about starting, maintaining and getting the most out of their growing herbs in pots [http://www.secretstogrowingherbs.com/herb-garden-plant]. For more great information on herb gardens, visit [http://www.secretstogrowingherbs.com]

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