Underground Medicinal Treasure

Just that, a medicinal treasure. We would have to go back 3000 years to find the first occurrence of ginger in history.

The first cultivations of this plant, according to historians, date back to the 5th century BC, in Southeast Asia, being taken in this period to the Central Asian market by the Persian king Darius.

Confucius relates in his writings how the Phoenicians took ginger to the Mediterranean Sea. It later spread over the years, it was Marco Polo who exported it on one of his long voyages to the Americas.

Even today the Caribbeans are grateful to the adventurous trader Marco Polo, because although the biggest ginger producers are in Asia (mainly India and China), the best crops of the plant are found in the Caribbean, particularly Jamaica.

The ginger plant, a medicinal treasure

The ginger we consume is the underground root of a perennial plant of the zingiberáceas family, with long, narrow leaves and small violet or yellow flowers. It can reach up to a meter or more in height when grown on mountain slopes.

Its gnarled stem from which roots sprout is what we use as a condiment, food or natural remedy. However, to be able to use it, you must wait at least six months since its planting.

Once extracted from the earth, the root must be washed well, leaving it to dry for a few days. Thus, it will resist stored at room temperature for several months.

In addition, with regard to its nutritional composition, a very rich medicinal treasure has a wide variety of acids, such as: linoleic, ascorbic and glutamine. It also has fiber, amino acids, essential oils and various minerals such as aluminum, phosphorus, cobalt, zinc and manganese.

Culinary use of ginger

Ginger is commonly sold in its natural form as a rhizome (root stem) or dry powder, and is also found as tea, capsules, tincture and essential oil.

Its gastronomic properties are very varied. The root of the plant can be consumed as an ingredient to make sweets, condiment in prepared foods and infused with pieces of its rhizome.

Also including small pieces in fruit and vegetable juices or smoothies is a good option to take advantage of all its properties.

This aromatic medicinal treasure goes well with flaxseed, cedar, rose, rosewood, arnica, elm, cayenne, aloe vera, passion fruit, rosemary, oats, neroli, garlic and lemon, both as a flavoring and for teas.

In Western cuisine, powdered root is widely used for its famous property of enhancing flavors, mainly to give a spicy taste and exotic aroma to dishes.

On the other hand, chefs in the Asian culinary arts use the fresh plant to achieve the opposite effect, which is to disguise strong flavors, such as that of some seafood or meat.

gingerbread cookies

Ginger is easily found as an ingredient in cakes, cookies, fruit desserts, ice cream, etc. Due to their thermogenic effect, gingerbread cookies are famous in winter in many countries around the globe.

There are many recipes on the web to enjoy these delicious cookies. For this reason, we selected the following for its simplicity:

Ingredients:

• 300 grams of melted butter
• 150 grams of brown sugar
• 150 grams of honey
• 2 eggs
• ½ tablespoon of ginger
• ½ tablespoon of cardamom
• ½ tablespoon of cinnamon powder
• 600 grams of flour

Method of preparation

• First, beat the butter, sugar, honey, eggs, ginger, cinnamon and cardamom in a blender until a semi-liquid paste is obtained.
• Then add the flour and beat again. Then stretch the dough to obtain a thickness of half a centimeter.
• Cut with a cookie mold and bake at 180 degrees for 10 minutes.
• Finally, once baked, you can decorate them with icing sugar, grated coconut or whatever your creativity suggests.

Medicinal use of ginger

Galen, one of the fathers of Medicine, already used this medicinal treasure in his natural remedies. Also in the East, ginger has been valued for centuries for its therapeutic qualities.

It has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda and Tibetan since Antiquity for infections such as:

• Abdominal swelling;
• Cough;
• Vomiting;
• Diarrhea;
• Rheumatism;
• Joint inflammation;
• Arthritis, etc.

In Europe, it was marketed as an aromatic tonic, liver and digestive protector.

More important information

This underground medicinal treasure has at least 12 antiviral components.  In scientific studies, these elements have been isolated to fight the rhinorvirus (common cold virus).

This medicinal treasure fights the proliferation of viruses and bacteria lodged in the body, reducing symptoms of fever, pain and cough, in addition to inducing relaxation.

There are many uses that can be given to this natural antibiotic. Keep in mind that antibiotics were the great discovery of Modern Medicine (1942).

Thousands of incurable diseases have become curable thanks to them, but even today new contraindications, allergies, intolerances and reduced defense due to their frequent use are being discovered.

An antibiotic is a chemical compound that eliminates or stops the growth of microorganisms or bacteria that afflict the body. Its frequent use causes adaptation by the body, resulting in a gradual increase in the dose, becoming a risk to our health.

Therefore, it is much healthier to ingest natural antibiotics daily, as they do not produce allergies or any other contraindication, nor a feeling of malaise.

There are many foods that, due to their internal composition and properties, optimize the body’s defenses and prevent illnesses.

Some of these natural antibiotics are in our daily diet, like lemon, garlic, onion, honey, turmeric and of course ginger. The key is to increase consumption in case of illness.

It’s as simple as cutting a small piece of ginger and soaking it for a minute in hot water. Taking a sip of this drink every thirty seconds can be quite bitter.

But if you are already used to this type of flavor, you can directly consume the proportion of a teaspoon of the fresh plant without the need to prepare an infusion. The beneficial effects of this custom will be noticed very quickly.

Ginger tea: a healthy treat

We present a simple recipe on how to consume ginger in teas to strengthen our immune system:

• First, boil three glasses of water in a teapot
• Then cut and wash a piece of ginger root weighing approximately 90 grams.
• Remove the skin and cut into small pieces
• Add it to boiled water and let it stand for 10 minutes
• Strain the tea and sweeten it with honey, stevia or another natural sweetener
• Finally, add the lemon juice and taste its delicious and exotic flavor

Ginger Digestive Juice

Another consumption option to help prevent illness is to drink ginger juice with apple and mint daily. The ingredients are as follows:

• 4 peeled and seedless green apples
• 1 bunch of celery
• 8 fresh mint leaves

• 90 grams of fresh ginger
• Sweeten with stevia, honey or brown sugar

Preparation

• First, cut the celery, apples and place in a blender together with the mint leaves.
• Then add a glass of water and sweetener to taste.
• Finally, mix everything and place in the fridge. It is super refreshing and ideal to consume on hot days.

Therapeutic Properties

Our medicinal treasure has a long history as a therapeutic medicine. Among other ailments, it relieves, for example, nausea, stomach pain, dizziness, stimulates the immune system against viruses and bacteria, acts as an anti-inflammatory, analgesic and many other functions that we will detail below!

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory for external use

It is applied in the form of a compress to relieve joint pain, such as low back pain, sciatica, rheumatism, and cold problems. If the injured area is hot, it is better to ingest the plant.

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory for internal use

This medicinal treasure is taken in the form of capsules, pills or tea to relieve pain caused by arthritis, rheumatism and inflammation. It also relieves menstrual cramps, mobility difficulties and general pain. Just add half a teaspoon of ginger powder to your food.

Hypolipidemic: reduces blood fats

This is very beneficial for people with high cholesterol or triglyceride levels. Effectively combats arteriosclerosis.

Activates circulation

By dilating blood vessels, ginger stimulates circulation. This effect is instantly noticeable when consuming it, as it warms the feet, hands and face. It has an anticoagulant effect, as it inhibits the concentration of platelets in the blood, making it very advisable for people prone to circulatory problems.

Headaches, headaches and migraines

It is a very effective remedy for these ailments. Its vasodilating, toning and antiviral effect collaborates with the body to alleviate these unpleasant symptoms.

Nausea and vomiting

It is traditionally known for its curative effect against nausea in pregnant women. However, it is currently also being used to combat these uncomfortable symptoms in people undergoing aggressive cancer treatment. An infusion of ginger with honey brings great relief from the ailments caused.

digestive problems

The mesh root infusion helps to improve digestive difficulties such as gas, abdominal bloating, heaviness, dyspepsia, irritable bowel, etc.

food processing

Ginger is a stimulant of the pancreas, increasing the production of enzymes that promote digestion. This prevents the appearance of a series of intestinal problems typical of indigestion, such as ulcers, diarrhea, vomiting and nausea.

Colds and ENT infections

Drinking tea from this medicinal treasure with honey and lemon acts directly against viruses and bacteria that produce infections. It also improves coughing, helps reduce mucus and stimulates expectoration.

Furthermore, its use is also attributed to prevent travel sickness, postoperative nausea and vomiting, morning sickness, rheumatoid arthritis, muscle and joint pain in athletes. Thus, its regular consumption is effective in preventing prostate and uterine cancer, and also for losing weight.

Daily dose and its contraindications

The basic dosage for treatment would be the consumption of 2 to 4 grams of dry powder of the ginger rhizome 3 times a day. In the case of mother tincture, 40 to 60 drops are recommended, 3 times a day. Furthermore, another option is to consume it fresh or in dry powder in prepared foods, as explained above.

Although it is always recommended to consult an allopathic or naturopathic physician before starting any therapeutic treatment, it is advisable not to consume it in case the person has an active peptic ulcer, gallstones or is being treated with anticoagulants.

Thus, continuous treatment during pregnancy or the lactation period is not recommended, nor in children under 6 years of age without medical advice and follow-up.

Furthermore, no other contraindications are known, except if the person is very sensitive to the strong flavor of the root.

Ginger and Science

New research ensures that this medicinal treasure can help you lose weight by reducing inflammation and impacting glucose sensitivity, factors that influence weight loss.

In addition, its influence on the levels of serotonin that affect appetite makes, when consuming it, we feel full sooner, and consequently we eat less quantity.

We also know that ginger has digestive properties as it stimulates gastric juices, strengthens intestinal muscle activity and stomach contractions.

Thus, it facilitates food mobility, resulting in better nutrient absorption and better waste evacuation. It also prevents increased weight gain.

Compounds

Its components, gingerol and shogaol, stimulate the metabolism by increasing energy expenditure and fat oxidation, raising body temperature and burning more calories, which 

Scientific studies conducted at the University of Sydney, Australia, have pointed to the valuable effects of ginger in preventing and fighting diabetes.

Both in vitro, in vivo and clinical trials, for example, confirmed the anti-diabetic effect of ginger, due to its extract, which is capable of increasing glucose uptake by muscle cells, regardless of the amount of insulin in the blood.

According to another major scientific study by the University of Mariland Medical Center, along with Dr. Gail B. Mahady, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy at the University of Illinois, certain substances contained in ginger inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells and drive them forward. to death, by eliminating its degenerative cycle, decreasing its reproduction capacity and exterminating the altered mitochondrial cell.

Science has also discovered that this medicinal treasure has active substances capable of treating cases of leukemia. Thus, this miraculous root is now considered a member of the family of super foods that fight cancer.

Images courtesy of Barlovento, Liliana y Monitor