GINGER (sheng jiang)
Zingiber officinale, the official name of ginger was coined by the famous eighteenth-century Swedish botanist and general naturalist, Carl Linnaeus. While Latinizing the name, Carl Linnaeus also derived the name Zingiber for the generic term, using the Indian Sanskrit name for ginger - singabera, or shaped like a horn. About 1,400 species of plants are placed in the family Zingiberaceae and ginger is just another of these plants. It shares equal honors with other famous family members, the spices turmeric and the spice cardamom. Ginger is a perennial plant. It has a slender stem and grows to about 24 to 39 inches in height. Compared to the second and following stems, the first stems are lengthier and also bear beautiful and fragrant flowers. The ginger flowers are greenish yellow and streaked with purple down the sides. The underground stem of the ginger is the most familiar part of the plant and it is extensively used for commercial as well as domestic purposes. Often mistakenly called the root of the ginger, the irregular shape and size of the underground section of the stem is the most important part of this herb. Whole new ginger plants can self generate from budded sections. Cultivation of ginger has been made possible by these buds in the rhizome and the plant has been cultivated in this way for thousands of years. The habitat most suited to the cultivation of ginger is one with a hot and moist climate with some shade; ginger also prefers soil that is well tilled and rich in loam. The rhizome is white to yellow in color and bears thick lobes - it is also very aromatic, a property used in culinary and herbal processes. Today, ginger is the most widely cultivated spice in the world. A lot of countries and regions cultivate this spice and different opinions exists as to who grows the best ginger. Any favoritism of a particular variety of ginger is purely a matter of personal taste, as the ginger appears in countless varieties, shapes and sizes, India alone is said to have an estimated fifty varieties of this versatile herb. Depending on the conditions of the soil and the manner of its cultivations, each and every variety of the ginger possesses its own distinctive flavor and aroma. Africa is reputedly the home of the most pungent ginger, while the milder varieties are grown mainly in China. The general agreements is that culinary applications will likely use milder ginger varieties, while the stronger and more pungent varieties are best to prepare ginger beverages and for use in therapeutic herbal remedies. Oral anti-coagulants are normally prescribed to individuals who suffer from frequent blood clots to help keep their blood free from clots. The compound known as warfarin sodium commonly called coumadin, is one of the most frequently used medications in this regard. This compound is also a potent rat poison and taking it in high doses can cause serious internal hemorrhages in the body, especially if it is used over an extended period of time by the person. The ideal substitute for these synthetic blood thinners is ginger root, which can replace the role of this compound in the body. At least some individuals suffering from such problems who took an average of two herbal ginger capsules two times a day in between meals appears to have benefited. One of the main benefits of the herbal ginger remedy is its ability to stimulate the circulatory system. The herb also helps in bringing an increased flow of blood to the surface of the skin; this singular property makes the ginger a very important herbal remedy for the treatment of conditions such as chilblains and to treat impaired circulation along the hands and feet of patients. The herb also effectively helps in controlling elevated or high blood pressure as it directly affects the circulation of blood. Perspiration in the body is increased by remedies made from the ginger and at the same time, the herb helps in bringing about a reduction in elevated body temperature during fevers. Herbal remedies made from the ginger have a warming and soothing effect and help alleviate persistent coughs, all kinds of colds and flu, and other related problems of the respiratory system. In China the fresh ginger and the dried ginger are used as two distinct and different herbal remedies. The Chinese system of medicine suggest the use of fresh ginger for the treatment of fevers, to treat headaches, and to alleviate the pain and discomfort of aching muscles in the body. At the same time, the dried ginger remedy is used for the treatment of internal colds, and for physical symptoms such as cold and clammy hands, a weakening of the pulse rate, and a pale or white complexion in patients. The effectiveness of a hot ginger compress on various topically treated disorders cannot be compared to other herbal compresses, ginger compresses are used to treat muscular aches and pains, they are used in the treatment of joint stiffness, in the topical alleviation of abdominal cramps, in the treatment of kidney stone attacks, to treat stiffness in the neck, to treat neuralgia in different parts of the body. The ginger compresses can also topically treat toothache, they can be applied on the external body to treat bladder inflammation, they can be used in the treatment of prostatitis and extreme tension in the body. At the same time, disorders such as nausea, accumulated intestinal gas, and colic can also be treated using herbal remedies made from the ginger. Cases of motion sickness in women and especially, pregnancy related morning sickness can be treated using ginger remedies. The antiseptic qualities of the ginger endow it with great and extremely beneficial effects to deal with all manners of gastrointestinal infections; the remedy can effectively treat certain types of food poisoning as well. As with all herbal remedies and despite its effectiveness, bear in mind that a lot of time, significant effort, a lot of patience and a changed lifestyle on the part of the patient are requirements to make the treatment a complete success. The value of the ginger as an herbal medication lies in its pungent and warming properties - which are essential to treat a lot of conditions. The herbal remedies made from the ginger have a very stimulating effect on the functioning of the heart and the circulation of blood in the body, the ginger helps in creating a feeling of warmth and well-being. The herb restores vitality and physical fitness; ginger is particularly effective in those individuals, who tend to deal badly with the cold during winter. Perspiration in the body is promoted by drinking the hot ginger tea, this tea also helps in reducing elevated temperatures during a fever and it helps in clearing away catarrh in the body. The remedies made from the ginger have a stimulating effect and affect an expectorant action inside the lungs, this result in the clearing of phlegm and helps relieve catarrhal coughs and related chest infections in different patients. The digestion is also aided by herbal remedies made from the ginger as the herb has a wonderful warming effect over the digestive system. The intestines as well as the stomach is invigorated by herbal remedies made from the ginger, the ginger herbal remedies also help in the stimulation of a weak appetite and at the same time, they enhance the process of digestion - the ginger encourages secretion of different digestive enzymes inside the stomach. The stagnation of food particles in the intestinal tract and the consequent accumulation of metabolic toxins can be cleared away using herbal remedies made from the ginger. The action of the ginger based remedies thus tend to have a very far-reaching effect in the body of patients, and this result in a beneficial increase in the general health and vitality of the person - besides obviously enhancing the total immunity of the body. The ability of the ginger to alleviate nausea and vomiting is famous, and whatever the cause, such sensations are easily dispensed with when the ginger remedies are used by the affected individuals. The herbal remedies made from the ginger also help in settling the stomach; it aids in soothing the symptoms associated with indigestion and helps in calming wind and flatulence. The relaxing and pain-relieving effects of the ginger are particularly relevant to disorders in the gut, where the remedy aids in relieving colic and spasms, it helps soothe abdominal pain, it helps the person in dealing with abdominal distension and flatulent indigestion. Ginger also helps in relieving griping induced by the presence of diarrhea due to infection. Menstruation is promoted by ginger, and the remedy is also useful in dealing with various other disorders affecting the uterus, the ginger remedy is also very effective in alleviating delayed or scanty periods as well as blood clots associated with the menstrual cycle. In women, remedies made from the ginger can be used to help relax the muscular spasms and in relieving the pain present during ovulation and during menstrual periods. Remedies made from the ginger are recommended as an herbal tonic to invigorate the reproductive system as a whole by many herbalists. The clotting and thinning of blood is also inhibited by remedies made from the ginger. The ginger remedies also help in lowering the elevated blood pressure and can help individuals with high cholesterol problems. Ginger remedies have a tendency to heat up the body and due to this effect, herbalist suggest that individuals who do not tolerate heat well, such as people with gastritis or peptic ulcers avoid the remedies made from ginger.
|
