health & science A B O T AN I C A L M O N O G R A P H
THE SECRET POWER OF GINGER
By Northwest Leaf special contributor sCOTT d. roSE
Description Shoots grow above ground up to 1 meter tall out of a below-ground rhizome or swollen stem. It’s knobbed and fleshy with ring-like scars. Flowers spike from rhizome, up to 30 cm, and are purple with a cream-blotched base. Red fruits, black seeds.
Parts used:
The rhizome. It’s used fresh, dried, powdered, juiced, concentrate, by tincture and topically, internal and external use.
Active constituents:
Contains several constituents and active ingredients. Active gingerols are the major pungent compounds -- ginger oil contains a high proportion of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons. Fresh ginger has small amounts while larger amounts can be found in dried or extracted product.
(Zingiber off icinale) is found in China, India, tropical regions, and recently in Africa & Jamaica. Photo by flickr/heymrleej
Drug interactions:
No drug interactions are known. Some concern exists with blood clotting, so those on anticoagulant therapy should be cautious with use.
Side effects & toxicity:
Listed on U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s list of GRAS, generally recognized as safe list.
Dosage:
Typical daily dosage is 1 to 4 grams daily. For pregnancy-induced nausea, boiling the fresh herb in water seems to work best. Dilute with water to taste.
Medicinal uses:
Motion-sickness prone people may find ginger can help with nausea, or delaying the onset of nausea and shortening the period of recovery. Studies have shown ginger to be as effective as traditional anti-nausea medications. Morning sickness from pregnancy typically occurs in the first trimester. In one research study, 20 percent of the placebo group improved versus 77 percent of women treated with 1 tablespoon of a ginger syrup who reported marked improvement. Chemotherapy-induced nausea is also helped by ginger. Ginger is also used for other stomach issues ranging from upset stomach to diarrhea.
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Contraindications:
The use of ginger during pregnancy for morning sickness has raised some controversy.
Historical uses:
Medicinal use dating back 2,500 years in China and India for conditions such as headaches, nausea, rheumatism and colds. In foods and beverages, ginger is used as a flavoring agent. In manufacturing, ginger is used as a fragrance in various soaps and cosmetics.
Other uses include pain relief from arthritis or muscle soreness both internal and external, menstrual pain, upper respiratory tract infections, cough, and bronchitis. Ginger is used for chest pain and low back pain. Ginger is known for its immune-boosting properties. Chinese medicine considers ginger a hot and spicy herb, good for ridding the body of the cold damp induced by certain climates and dietary practices. Cold damp invasion causes disease such as the common cold, digestive problems, muscle spasms and soreness, menstrual cramps and arthritis.
Recipe for ginger tea: www.tinyurl.com/makegingertea