To
fully appreciate the merits of ginger, one must look beneath
the surface — literally. Root ginger is the underground
stem, or rhizome, of the ginger plant. Underneath its knobby,
burlap-colored skin lies pungent golden, white or red flesh.
Ginger's sweet, tangy punch — enjoyed in cuisines
the world over — conceals its medicinal nature. This
versatile, international ingredient is in fact one of the
world's oldest and most universal healing herbs.
Ginger's use as a remedy for digestive
distress, colds and viruses dates back at least 5,000 years
to ancient Chinese practitioners. For centuries, the Ayurvedic
tradition in India and Tibet has made use of ginger to treat
inflammatory joint diseases including arthritis and rheumatism.
Many of these time-tested therapeutic values have been borne
out by modern Western science.
The
Chinese first prescribed ginger for digestive maladies as
early as 3,000 B.C. Today, controlled studies indicate that
ginger may be as effective as or superior to pharmaceuticals
in reducing nausea and vomiting due to motion sickness,
surgery, pregnancy or illness. Compared to over-the-counter
motion sickness drugs, ginger may provide greater benefit
for the multiple symptoms of dizziness, cold sweating and
upset stomach. While many antivomiting drugs can cause birth
defects during pregnancy, ginger is safe and side effect
free. Other digestive benefits include protection against
ulcers and pro-biotic support of natural gut flora.
In addition
to calming the intestinal tract, the zesty spice may also
defend against the growth of colorectal and other cancer
cells. The active compounds gingerols offer free radical
protection through antioxidant activity. They also may help
guard against cell damage in the case of exposure to cancer-causing
chemicals or to the sun. In mice, ginger oil has been shown
to prevent skin cancer. A study at the University of Michigan
showed that gingerols can kill ovarian cancer cells without
creating resistance as conventional chemotherapeutic agents
often do.
| Health Benefits:
- protects against stomach ulcers
- possibly cancer preventing
- promotes digestive health
- relieves pain and swelling, resulting in improved
mobility
- safe for nausea relief during pregnancy
- inhibits the aggregation of platelets
|
|
Inflammation
is thought to be a precursor to the development of cancer,
and ginger's effectiveness as an anti-inflammatory
agent is well-documented. Trials in Denmark showed that
regular ginger consumption brought relief in pain and swelling
to osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis sufferers and
improved mobility. Since ginger inhibits the formation of
inflammatory compounds, it can quell other inflammatory
conditions such as asthma and migraines and is safer than
pharmaceuticals. Ginger holds promise for arteriosclerosis
or coronary artery disease patients as well. A Cornell University
study found that ginger inhibits the aggregation of platelets,
which can lead to blood clots.
The
warming sensation of consuming fresh ginger is a boon for
staving off colds, flu, and even skin infections. Brewed
as a tea, ginger induces healthy sweating, which reduces
fevers, detoxifies the body and transports an important
germ-fighting agent — dermicidin — to the skin's
surface. Dermicidin acts as a barrier against microorganisms
including E. coli, staph aureus, fungi and Candida albicans.
Ginger itself has antimicrobial properties. It has been
proven to kill salmonella and a common parasite called Anisakis,
making ginger a useful food preservative.
Ginger's
array of curative possibilities is proof positive that we
should honor the wisdom of the ancients. The Chinese philosopher
Confucius, who praised the health benefits of ginger in
his writings and was never without it when he ate, once
said, "Everything has its beauty but not everyone
sees it." Given ginger's buried treasures, this
couldn't be more true.
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