Ginger

Ginger is a creeping perennial on a thick tuberous rhizome. In the first year, a green, erect, reed-like stem about 60 cm high grows from this rhizome. The plant has narrow, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate leaves 15 to 30 cm long, which die off each year. The flower scape grows directly from the root and terminates in a long, curved spike. A white or yellow flower grows from each spike.

Volatile Oil:

Components can vary greatly, depending on the country of origin. The main components of the volatile oil are:

( -)-zingiberene and arcurcumene

beta-bisabolene and arcurcumene

neral and geranial

D-camphor

beta-phellandrene

geranial

neral and linalool

(E)-alpha-farnesene, important as aroma carrier zingiberol (mixture of cis- and trans-beta-eudesmol)

Arylalkane – Pungent Substances

Gingerols: 

chief components [6]-gingerol, [8]-gingerol, [10]- gingerol

Shogaols: 

chief components [6]-shogaol, [8]- shogaol, [10]- shogaol

Gingerdiols

Diarylheptanoids: including, among others, gingerenone A and B

Action: Aromatic, carminative, stimulant to the gastro- intestinal tract, diaphoretic, expectorant, antiemetic, and stomachic, also sialagogue and digestive; Externally, a local stimulant and rubefacient.

Ginger is used for:

Atherosclerosis, heart disease
Chemotherapy support
Migraine headaches
Morning sickness
Motion sickness
Nausea and vomiting following surgery
Rheumatoid arthritis
Belching
Laryngitis
Vomiting
Constipation
Incontinence
Flatulence
Colic
Spasms
Fever
Eye diseases
Asthma
Colds
Cough

Digestive System Actions:
Ginger is a classic tonic for the digestive tract. Classified as an aromatic bitter, it stimulates digestion. It also keeps the intestinal muscles toned. This action eases the transport of substances through the digestive tract, lessening irritation to the intestinal walls. Ginger may protect the stomach from the damaging effect of alcohol and non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen) and may help prevent ulcers.

Allergies and asthma:
Dried ginger can help in the management of allergies and asthma by offsetting the effect of the platelet-activating factor (PAP). PAP initiates inflammatory processes in allergy and asthma. It was found to become more active after changes in blood chemistry that occur in a high-fat diet.

Atherosclerosis and high cholesterol:

Arthritis, bursitis, fibrocystic breasts, lymphedema, and pain. 
Ginger inhibits the production of immune-system components called cytokines. These chemicals are believed to create a long-term tendency toward inflammation. Ginger also stimulates blood circulation. These effects of ginger are taken advantage of in treating a number of disorders marked by swelling and pain, such as arthritis. Studies have also shown that ginger can relieve pain without the side effects typically found when using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and steroids.

Anti-nausea/Anti-vomiting Actions:
Research is inconclusive as to how ginger acts to alleviate nausea. Ginger may act directly on the gastrointestinal system or it may affect the part of the central nervous system that causes nausea. It may be that ginger exerts a dual effect in reducing nausea and vomiting.

Colds, influenza, and strep throat: 
Shagaol

Parasitic infection. 
Ginger contains a chemical called zingibain that dissolves parasites and their eggs. In laboratory trials, ginger extracts have been shown to kill the anisakid worm (a parasite occasionally found in raw fish) within sixteen hours. Ginger tea is useful as a supplement in treating schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease.

Seizure disorders. 
Ginger protects the body from the hepatotoxic effects of valproic acid (Depakene), a common treatment for seizure disorders. Ginger, when used on a daily basis,  was found to improve the elevated levels of the liver enzymes alanine amino- transferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). 

Action and Uses in Ayurveda and Siddha

Ginger is an important herb used in Ayurveda. Ayurveda takes advantage of the following medicinal properties for ginger:

Analgesic, anti-emetic, aromatic, aphrodisiac, carminative, diaphorelic, digestive, expectorant, nervine, sialagogue, stimulant.

Ayurvedic practitioners consider ginger to be a truly a wonder drug, having so many healing properties. It was called the universal medicine. Taken with rock salt it reduces vayu; with rock candy it reduces Pitta; with honey it reduces Kapha. Thus it can be used to influence all tridoshas.

Ginger is used in the following ayurvedic remedies: katu rasam, ushna veeryam, vata-kapha-haram, katu- vipaka, lagu, snigdam, pachanam, ruchyam, vrishyam, swaryam, vibhanda haram, in grahani agnimanthyam. amavatham, chardhi, swasam, soolam, arsas, anaham, hrith-rogam, udhara rogam. It is used externally in kapha, swellings, headache.

Action and Uses in Unani

The following actions of ginger is taken advantage of in Unani Medicine:

aphrodisiac, Carminative, digestive, removes obstruction in the vessels, removes viscid matter, and strengthens memory. In addition, ginger is used in nervous diseases, and for incontinence of urine.

How To Use Ginger:

For treating indigestion, flatulence, colic, vomiting, spasms, stomach and bowel pains with fever, colds, cough, and asthma:

Use ginger-jam. 

How To make the Jam
Mix the juice from fresh ginger with water and cane sugar.
Boil it to a syrup like consistency.
Add saffron, powders of cardamom, nutmeg, and clove.
Store properly and use when needed.

For indigestion with want of appetite:

Mix together equal parts of ginger juice, lemon juice and rock salt. Mix well and take it before meals. 

Alternately, combine equal parts of ginger and rock-salt. Mix well. Take it just before meals. This cleanses the tongue and throat, increases the appetite and produces a pleasant sensation. 

For sciatica and other forms of rheumatism:

A compound oil named Saindha vadya Taila is traditionally used in Ayurveda for this condition

For bile and delirium due to biliousness:

Mix 2 parts of ginger juice with 7 parts of cow’s milk. Boil to half volume. Add rock-candy powder. Take this before going to bed.

Alternately, combine two parts each of ginger juice, mango-juice, fine sugar and cow’s ghee. Mix well. Melt it down to half the quantity. Take in the morning and evening daily. 

For sore throats, hoarseness, and laryngitis:

Chew a piece of fresh ginger. This produces a copious flow of saliva.

For diarrhea:

Rub ginger juice on navel. 

For diabetes:

Take ginger juice with rock candy twice daily.

For dyspepsia, loss of appetite and piles

Use Samasarkara Churna. Another remedy, Saubhagya Sunti is used as a carminative tonic in dyspepsia and; in disorders of the alimentary canal in females after confinement. 

For nausea, and vomiting

Take a combination of ginger juice and onion juice.

For nervous headache

Mix ginger juice with milk. Let dry. Use as snuff.

For indigestion and low appetite: 

Mix ginger with ghee or hot water.

For painful bowels or stomach: 

Make an infusion of dry ginger. Mix it with 1-2 tbs. castor oil. 

You can also take a mix of asafoetida and ginger powder.

For chronic rheumatism

Make an infusion of dry ginger (Sonth) (combining 1part dry ginger with 24 parts water ). Take this warm just before going to bed. Cover the body with blankets to induce perspiration.

For Dropsy and Cirrhosis of the Liver:

Ayurvedic doctors from India believes that drinking the juice extracted from fresh ginger in gradually increasing doses acts as a strong diuretic that is useful in cases of general dropsy. Traditional literature suggests that:

“This method was tried ‘in three cases of ascites with dropsy arising from cirrhosis of liver of recent origin and there was, when the juice was so administered, complete subsidence of ascites and disappearance of the dropsy.’ The fresh juice of the drug acted as a strong diuretic. The patients passed gradually increasing quantities of urine daily.”

This remedy, however, was not effective in treating dropsy of chronic Bright’s disease and chronic heart disease. In fact, these conditions got worse when this remedy was administered. Also, “longstanding cases of cirrhosis with ascites did not derive the slightest benefit from its administration.” The Ayurvedic literature goes on to state that “fresh ginger juice, when properly administered, will be found beneficial in cases of early cirrhosis of the liver with ascites and dropsy of the lower limbs.”

For Dropsy

See Ginger Remedy for Dropsy

For rheumatism

See Sunta Ghrita. It is an Ayurvedic herbal remedy for rheumatism that incorporates ginger.

For headache

Make a ginger paste by mixing dry ginger powder with a little water or aloe gel . Apply and rub this paste to the forehead before going to sleep

For neuralgic head ache

See Ginger Headache Remedy

For tooth or face aches:

Make a paste of ginger powder and aloe gel or water. Apply the paste to the face.

For fainting

See Ginger Remedy for Fainting

For Cholera

In the collapse stage of cholera, powdered ginger is rubbed to the extremities, to check the cold perspiration, improve the local circulation, and to relieve the agonizing cramps.

For vaginismus

Mix powdered dry ginger well with castor oil or with the paste of castor-root. Apply this to the painful parts.

Miscellaneous Home Remedies Utilizing ginger

Ginger Rhubarb Digestive Remedy
This is an Ayurvedic child’s digestive. 

Ginger Rhubarb Tonic
This is an Ayurvedic tonic useful for digestion.

Ginger Ajowan Indigestion Remedy
An Ayurvedic home remedy for indigestion.

Ginger Stomach-ache Remedy
Ayurvedic home remedy for stomach-ache.

For treatment of nausea, people try single doses of approximately 250 mg every two to three hours, for a total of 1 gram per day.

For prevention of motion sickness, many people start taking ginger tablets, capsules, or liquid herbal extract two days before the planned trip.

Perhaps the most versatile of all herbs, fresh ginger can be topically applied as a warm fomentation to relieve spasms pain and cramps. Simply cut several slices of the fresh root and place them in a pan of boiling water. Saturate a flannel cloth with the tea and apply it topically as warm as the body will bear. This is an ideal treatment for stiff neck and shoulders. The herb is cooked with meat to aid its assimilation and detoxify it. Fresh ginger tea is the most ideal herb to use for the first signs of mucus, cold, cough, and so on. To make it taste better, add honey. Drinking ginger tea with meals will greatly aid digestion and assimilation and is useful for those with weak, cold digestion.

Ginger should not be used by those with heat signs in the lungs or stomach.

Side effects of ginger are rare when used as recommended. However, some people may be sensitive to the taste or may experience heartburn. Persons with a history of gallstones should consult a nutritionally oriented doctor before using ginger.

Ginger can prolong the sleeping time induced by barbiturates. Use ginger with extreme caution if you are taking any kind of medication to induce sleep.

Ginger is contraindicated in morning sickness. Because of its cholagogic effect, ginger should not be taken in the presence of gallstone conditions except under the supervision of a doctor. The daily consumption of ginger root may interfere with the absorption of dietary iron and fat-soluble vitamins. Avoid taking ginger for two weeks prior to undergoing elective surgery.

Short-term use of ginger for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy appears to pose no safety problems; however, long-term use during pregnancy is not recommended.

Ginger can increase the potency of prescription medications used to prevent blood clots, such as aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), ticlopidine (Ticlid), or warfarin (Coumadin). Combining ginger with these medications could result in unexpected bleeding. Discuss with your physician before taking ginger to control nausea after surgery. If bleeding is a major risk, ginger should be avoided.