Marina Baroni, Dipl. Ayu.

Posts Tagged ‘ginger’

Ginger, Zingiber officinale

In Ayurveda ginger is referred to as vishwabheshaja, “universal medicine”, the remedy for almost all diseases, especially for Vata and Kapha disorders.

Dry and fresh ginger have slightly different properties. Dry ginger is drier and hotter.  It needs to be used with caution by individuals with high Pitta who suffer from heartburn, gastritis and ulcers.

Both fresh and dry ginger are great home remedies for a cough or cold. Ginger has antispasmodic and expectorant properties, helping with asthmatic conditions and respiratory disorders, clearing phlegm from the lungs.

Ginger stimulates the digestive fire and the secretion of digestive enzymes. It helps in case of indigestion, nausea (including morning and travel sickness), loss of appetite, vomiting, gas and abdominal pain.

Ginger is also used to relieve menstrual cramps, arthritis and improve circulation.

Preparation and Dosage:

Fresh Ginger Tea: 1 inch fresh peeled, grated or sliced ginger, steep in one cup of hot water for 10 minutes

Dry Ginger Tea: ½ teaspoon of ginger powder, steep in one cup of hot water for 10 minutes.

Externally dry ginger powder can be used as a paste or mixed with massage oil to reduce chills, swelling, hypothermia and rheumatoid arthritis.

Contraindications: Do not use in high Pitta conditions such as heartburn, gastritis, ulcers, inflammatory skin conditions. Do not take ginger with blood thinning medications. Avoid large doses during pregnancy.