Do you love your cup of ginger tea? If yes, then here is good news for you! The humble herb offers many health benefits. Read on to discover the numerous healing benefits of ginger.
Ginger is a perennial herb native to China and India. It is obtained from the plant Zingiber officinale. It is one of the most revered medicines in Ayurveda. Ginger is often referred to as a root, but it is actually an underground stem called rhizome. As a spice, the use of ginger dates back 4000 years. The medicinal properties of ginger were discovered around 2000 years ago.
The volatile oils present in ginger like zingerone, shoagoles and gingeroles gives it its characteristic odour and flavor. Ginger is pungent and juicy with a bitter taste. The color of the flesh varies from white, to yellow and even red, depending upon the cultivar. The healing properties of ginger can be attributed to the high amounts of nutrients present in it. Ginger is known to contain more than 12 types of antioxidants. The herb contains essential oil and nutrients like protein, phosphorus, calcium, vitamin C, folate and pantothenic acid. Some of the healing benefits of ginger include:
Ginger is considered the best herb for digestion. Consumption of ginger encourages the gall bladder to release bile, stimulating digestion. This encourages the assimilation of nutrients from the food we eat. In addition to this, ginger also provides relief from stomach cramps, diarrhea and bloating caused due to gastritis. We can take ginger in the form of tea or supplements to aid digestion.
Ginger is an excellent expectorant. It loosens and expels phlegm from the lungs, treating cough, bronchitis and other respiratory disorders. It also provides instant relief from other respiratory disorders like asthma and sinusitis. Drink warm ginger tea with honey to get rid of chest congestion. Gargling with boiled ginger water can help ease throat pain.
Several studies have demonstrated ginger’s ability to fight various types of cancer cells, including lung, ovarian, prostate, breast and colon cancer. Researchers at Michigan University have found that ginger powder can kill ovarian cancer cells. It can also treat prostate cancer by killing cancer inducing cells. Ginger contains gingerol, a compound that is shown to have anti-metastatic properties and can help treat breast cancer.
Ginger is effective for treating nausea and morning sickness, a common problem faced by many pregnant women. Take a teaspoon of ginger juice with honey to alleviate morning sickness. Ginger extract is also used to reduce the severity of nausea during chemotherapy. Pregnancy related nausea and vomiting can be safely treated with ginger. In fact, ginger has been found to be more effective than placebo in relieving morning sickness.
Ginger is very beneficial for treating chronic inflammation. It provides substantial relief from pain caused due to inflammation and even decreases swelling and morning stiffness. It successfully inhibits cyclooxygenase and five-lipoxygenase-enzymes that cause inflammation. In a study, it was seen that people who consumed ginger extract twice a day suffered less pain than those who received placebo. The anaesthetic components of ginger provide relief to tired joints. Thus, ginger is very beneficial for relieving pains caused due to rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis.
Ginger can be used both externally and internally to treat inflammation. To prepare ginger bath, boil 100ml of water with a few slices of ginger. Cover the vessel to prevent volatile oils from evaporating. Leave it aside for 10 minutes and then add this mixture to your regular bath water. Using this water everyday can help ease aches and pains associated with fibromyalgia.