Ginger Zingiber officinale is a large tuberous perennial plant native to southern Asia, now cultivated extensively in almost all tropical and subtropical countries, especially China, India, Nigeria, Australia, Jamaica, and Haiti (Bruneton, 1995; Budavari, 1996; Grieve, 1979; Leung and Foster, 1996; Reineccius, 1994). China and India are the world’s leading producers of ginger. The material of commerce is supplied in “completely scraped” (peeled), “partially scraped,” or “unpeeled” rhizomes. Peeled rhizomes (“white” ginger) are produced in Jamaica, while unpeeled rhizomes (“black” ginger) are mainly from China and Sierra Leone. Partially scraped rhizomes come from India, Bengal, Nigeria, Australia, and Japan (BHP, 1996; Felter and Lloyd, 1983; Reineccius, 1994; Wichtl and Bisset, 1994). Ginger became naturalized in the Caribbean and Central America early in the sixteenth century when Spaniards brought it from the East Indies and began to cultivate it on a large scale for export to Europe (Grieve, 1979).
Ginger has been used as a medicine since ancient times, recorded in early Sanskrit and Chinese texts and ancient Greek, Roman, and Arabic medical literature (Bone, 1997). In Asian medical practices, dried ginger has been used as a drug to treat stomachache, diarrhea, and nausea for thousands of years. It is traditionally prepared in aqueous decoctions and infusions (Bruneton, 1995; But et al., 1997; Kapoor, 1990; Leung and Foster, 1996). In Africa, dried ginger is used much as it is in Asia (GHP, 1992; Iwu, 1990). Today, ginger is official in the national pharmacopeias of Austria, China, Egypt, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, and Switzerland (BP, 1988; Bradley, 1992; DAB, 1997; JP XII, 1993; Newall et al., 1996; ÖAB, 1981; Ph.Helv.VII, 1987; Tu, 1992). The Chinese pharmacopeia lists ginger for epigastric pain with cold feeling, vomiting and diarrhea accompanied by cold extremities and faint pulse, dyspnea, and cough with copious frothy expectoration (Tu, 1992). The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia specifically recommends ginger for flatulent intestinal colic (Karnick, 1994).
Medicinal Properties:
· Anti-inflammatory
· Antibacterial
· Antiseptic
· Aphrodisiac
Personal Uses: (external use only!)
· Improve memory
· Helps with nervous exhaustion
· Great for swelling, muscular aches & sprains
· Soothes sore throat
Uses in the home:
· Use a piece of ginger root (the actually root of the plant) in a cup of hot water with honey help soothe your sore throat.
· To add a hint of spice to your bath, add a few drops of ginger essential oil to your bath.
