Kitchen Remedies - Ginger

Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) is a remarkable food additive and natural medicine right in your kitchen cupboard. Ginger is great in Asian dishes and stir fry's, also in baked goods, such as breads, cookies and candies. Ginger looks like a root, but really is an underground stem.

Ginger is useful for many ailments; it can be used as a tea, poultice, sweet drink, capsules and just plain flavoring in food. Even just using it as a flavoring it is therapeutic. If you have ginger regularly in your diet, you can reduce cholesterol, lower your blood pressure and help prevent internal blood clots that trigger heart attacks and strokes.

If you are one of those individuals that get motion sickness, studies show that ginger works better and lasts longer than over-the-counter remedies such as Dramamine. Using ginger either in a capsule or a drink 30 minutes before travel will prevent motion sickness.

Ginger also is great for digestion. Gingerbread came about by the practice of the Greeks in eating Ginger wrapped in bread after a meal to aid digestion. As time went on, they started baking the Ginger into the bread and thus became Gingerbread. Of course it eventually evolved into Gingerbread Houses and Gingerbread Men by adding sugar.

Heartburn sufferers use some Ginger 20 minutes before eating and you will avoid the problem. An enjoyable way to do this is by slowly chewing on some candied ginger, or you can drink some Ginger tea.

Ginger ale or as it was originally called Ginger Beer, is a good way to get your ginger, a 12 oz glass will work for motions sickness and it works wonders for nausea due to stomach flu. The problem is that you have to be sure it is made with real ginger not artificially flavorings. To be sure you are getting the "real" thing, you probably need to buy it in a health food store. I went on several websites of makers of ginger ales on the market and they say they have "real ginger" but the labels say natural flavorings, so it is hard to say how much ginger is in them.

For women, ginger will help relieve menstrual cramps and morning sickness. Most herbs are not recommended for pregnant women, but ginger is considered safe. Of course you should consult your doctor before using any herbs if you are pregnant.

Ginger used as a gargle with lemon and honey, will soothe a sore throat.

Using Ginger to flavor meat will help the intestines detoxify and digest it.

Migraine headache sufferers can use Ginger as a first line defense. Just eating Ginger regularly in your diet may cut the frequency of headaches and drinking Ginger tea or using a Ginger Poultice on your temples will help reduce the pain.

Ginger oil is also good for earaches.

Ginger, used as a fomentation externally, will help relieve the pain of sore muscles, stiff joints and inflammation due to arthritis.

All in all, Ginger is one of the most valuable items in your kitchen. As you can see regular use will help a number of ailments. For an occasional use, or if you do not like the flavor, you can use capsules which can be purchased at most pharmacies and health food stores.

For more information on Kitchen Remedies and Herbs visit me at http://ezherbalhealing.com

I am a retired baby boomer. After raising my family, I went back to school and studied medical herbalism with a vitalistic approach and I found a whole new way of looking at life. What I have learned, I would like to share with you. I also make herbal soaps, lotions, salves and other items for daily life. Visit me at http://ezherbalhealing.com