Ginger

 

Recently I went to my Hapkido instructor’s home for tea and meditation and saw him mashing up ginger in a cup very finely, I asked him what he was doing and he simply remarked, “It’s for the tea!”  Slowly he mashed and added more ginger to the boiling water.  I was reminded to the times at my home when my mother would add finely ground ginger to our Chai tea when we weren’t feeling well.  Later I went to my friends house and told him about the ginger tea and said when was sailing on the ocean he suffered nausea and motion sickness.  To conquer his upset stomach he would boil the ginger in his water and drink it throughout the day (hot or cold) acheiving great success and able to enjoy sailing fully.  So this ancient knowledge of ginger has survived many years and today is still being used to remedy situations or simply improve quality of life. 

I have taken a deeper look at this simple plant and would like to share my findings with you.  Ginger is actually not the root of the plant but the edible section of stem that is subterranean (aka. rhizome).  Most people are familiar with ginger as a spice of flavor enhancer in food but fail to recognize it can be utilized on its own. Ginger is on the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) as a “generally recognized as safe” but be cautioned it may interact with certain medications such as warfarin (blood thinner).  Most people are aware that ginger ale has been used to aid in upset stomachs.  As with any substance there are individuals who are allergic to ginger so please be aware of any allergies you may have.  I have found from people I have talked to it is always good to finely chop of crush the ginger to the best of your ability.

Ginger has POTENTIAL benefits for:

-releasing bile from the gallbladder

-decrease joint pain especially for arthritis sufferers

-thinning blood and reducing cholesterol (improving blood flow)

-reduce menstrual cramping

-analgesic (painkiller), also helps reduce inflammation

-sedative (calming the central nervous system resulting in calmness, relaxation, reduction of anxiety and slowed breathing)

-antiseptic (antibacterial – help cleanse the body of unwanted pathogens)

-boost immune system (especially if you have a cold coming on or full blown)

Ginger has PROVEN benefits for:

-Nausea (sea sickness, morning sickness, chemotherapy, hangovers)

-Key ingredients in gingers are capable of increasing motility of the gastrointestinal tract (very important in ensuring food keeps moving and reducing build up in the colon)

 

I have started to drink ginger tea regularly, especially if I am feeling any of the mentioned symptoms before resorting to more harsh treatments.  To make ginger tea I like to peel the ginger then finely grate it.  Sometimes I use a tea infuser so I don’t have chunks of ginger in my tea but often I leave the small chunks in and down them (this is more for the adventurous types as ginger can be quite “hot”).  I allow the tea to simmer for at least 20 minutes to ensure maximum infusion is taking place.  If the taste of ginger is too strong for you try adding honey or the juice of a lemon wedge.  At the very least it is a great way to flavor your water and ensure you are consuming enough of that daily!

~ by davinderbirk on January 24, 2008.