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Medical Museum Home Exhibitions Home Nature's Pharmacy Home Introduction Additional herb sites Ginkgo and Yew Marijuana, Tobacco, Yaupon and Elderberry Mullein, Sage, Horehound, Echinacea, Ginseng and Ginger Garlic, St. John's Wort, Comfrey, Deadly Nightshade and Aloe Salix, Feverfew, Cinchona, Periwinkle, Poppy and Foxglove Sugar, Herbarium Specimens, Janette Ryan-Busch, Conservation
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Nature's Pharmacy: Ancient Knowledge, Modern Medicine
Ginger
Zingiber officinale
Name Habitat and Appearance
The family name of the ginger plant is Zingiberaceae. A Swedish botanist named Linnaeus first gave ginger its scientific name, Zingiber officinale. The word Zingiber comes from the Sanskrit for "singabera," which means "shaped like a horn." Ginger is one of 1,400 species of the Zingiberaceae family; there are more than 50 varieties of ginger in India alone. Each variety has its own unique taste and aroma, depending upon its soil and cultivation. Pungent varieties can be found in Africa; milder types are grown in China.
Ginger is cultivated in the tropics of Jamaica, Africa, China and India; however, ginger also grows in the varied climates of the United States. Rhizomes, the part of the plant that is used, grow underground and have a distinctive flavor-a slightly hot, citrus-like taste.
The herb has four major properties: pungency or taste, fragrance, nutrition and synergy. Ginger contains an oily-resinous substance called gingerol. This is the source of much of ginger's medicinal value. Ginger's fragrance can vary depending on the variety of plant. Essential oil, which makes up 1.0 to 2.5 percent of the rhizome, causes the characteristic warm, citrusy, spicy scent of ginger. Noted for its nutritional value, ginger contains lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, many minerals and vitamins, and trace nutrients. Potassium, phosphorous, vitamin C and riboflavin are all present in ginger. It is also an antioxidant. Gingerol, zingibain, capsaicin, cucurmin and limonene are among the agents found in ginger and have a wide range of physiological effects. The synergists in ginger enhance the medicinal effects of other herbs.
Gathering and Preparation
There are several ways to prepare ginger for medicinal use; for example, traditional Chinese Medicine uses ginger in the form of an oil, an extract, or dried and ground to a powder. After being dried and powdered, the ginger can be used to make tea, or as a seasoning on food. Ginger tea is easily made by boiling about a quarter of a teaspoon of powdered or a teaspoon of fresh-chopped ginger in water. Lemon and honey are usually added for flavor.
Fresh gingerroot is often used to treat first- and second-degree burns in China. The root is wrapped in five or six layers of rice paper and covered with hot coals. After the paper turns black and is removed, a juice is expressed from the root and applied to the burn.
History
Theories abound on the origin of ginger. The most common suggests that ginger originated in Southeast Asia. The value of ginger is described in early literature from Asia, Europe and the Middle East and ownership of trade routes were highly coveted. The Koran refers to ginger as a "spiritual and heavenly beverage." The logs and journals of Marco Polo and Vasco da Gama contain entries on the cultivation of ginger.
Ginger was one of the first Asian spices carried to the Western world by camel caravans. The herb arrived in England during the Middle Ages by way of explorers and trade. One pound was considered equal in value to that of one sheep, making it affordable only to upperclass English society. Spanish explorers brought ginger to the New World.
Historical Uses
- To reduce fever
- To relieve ulcers
- As an anti-nauseate
- As a carrier herb, enhancing absorption of other herbs
- To treat colon and stomach spasms
- To relieve constipation
- To ease gas or flatulence
- To nourish the skin
- To regulate menstrual cycle (in China)
- To ease menstrual cramps (in West)
- To treat first- and second-degree burns (applied externally)
What It Is Used For
- Ginger is used in Asian medicine to treat stomach aches, nausea, and diarrhea.
- Many digestive, antinausea, and cold and flu dietary supplements sold in the United States contain ginger extract as an ingredient.
- Ginger is used to alleviate postsurgery nausea as well as nausea caused by motion, chemotherapy, and pregnancy.
- Ginger has been used for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and joint and muscle pain.
How It Is Used
- The underground stems of the ginger plant are used in cooking, baking, and for health purposes. Common forms of ginger include fresh or dried root, tablets, capsules, liquid extracts (tinctures), and teas.
What the Science Says
- Studies suggest that the short-term use of ginger can safely relieve pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting.
- Studies are mixed on whether ginger is effective for nausea caused by motion, chemotherapy, or surgery.
- It is unclear whether ginger is effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or joint and muscle pain.
- NCCAM-funded investigators are studying:
- Whether ginger interacts with drugs, such as those used to suppress the immune system.
- Ginger's effect on reducing nausea in patients on chemotherapy.
- The general safety and effectiveness of ginger's use for health purposes, as well as its active components and effects on inflammation
Side Effects and Cautions
- Few side effects are linked to ginger when it is taken in small doses.
- Side effects most often reported are gas, bloating, heartburn, and nausea. These effects are most often associated with powdered ginger.
- Tell your health care providers about any herb or dietary supplement you are using, including ginger. This helps to ensure safe and coordinated care.
Click here for more great sites on ginger.
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