Spices that Are Good for Your Health: Ginger

Ginger is a root that was has come from South-East Asia and this well-known spice is used a lot in chinese cooking; since its introduction in the West over 2000 years ago, ginger is now being harvested for both its culinary and medicinal properties. Ginger has many health benefits. Here are some of the ailments the popular spice can help with.

Ginger health benefit no. 1: angina.
One of the best known health benefits of ginger is that it lowers cholesterol and prevents platelets from sticking together. In cases of angina where pain happens when insufficient amounts of oxygen flow to the heart, ginger can help the circulation of oxygen to the heart and therefore help cure angina.

Gingerhealth benefit no. 2: arthritis.
Ginger is an anti-inflammatory and a pain reliever that can slow the production of prostaglandins that cause arthritis. It has been traditionally used for treatment of arthritis in India as this spice can treat the symptoms of arthritis as well as its causes.

Ginger health benefit no. 3: Sport injuries, bursitis and tendonitis.
As for the previous ailment, ginger's anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties help reduce pain and inflammation of muscles, bursae and tendons in sport injuries, bursitis and tendonitis. Ginger is therefore a useful spice to have in any pantry.

Ginger health benefit no. 4: cervical dysplasia.
In some cases, untreated cervical dysplasia can lead to cervical cancer. Ginger may not cure cancer but it helps in the treatment of mild cervical dysplasia. Ginger can be used as a preventive measure for women who are at risk of getting cervical cancer.

Ginger health benefit no. 5: colds and flu.
When you are feeling chilly, ginger is a comforting spice to consume as it warms up the body. It is not recommended when you have a fever as it will raise your body temperature but without fever, it helps cough up mucus and therefore is a powerful decongestant.

Ginger health benefit no. 6: ear and sinus infections.
Ginger's anti-inflammatory properties can help people in the treatment of ear and sinus infections. We have seen previously that ginger is also a decongestant so it is a good home remedy that helps reduce sinus infections too. This spice can also help relieve headaches associated with sinus infections.

Ginger health benefit no. 7: flatulence and indigestion.
Ginger helps increase the production of bile and also tones the bowel, which makes it a good cure against indigestion and flatulence. The spice also helps relieve nausea in indigestion.

Ginger health benefit no. 8: nausea, motion sickness and morning sickness.
Pregnant women suffering from morning sickness are often advised to eat ginger biscuits. While it's unsafe to consume high doses of ginger, when taken in moderation, for example in tea, ginger calms stomach spasms and therefore is effective against nausea, motion sickness and morning sickness as well as indigestion as seen before.

Gingerhealth benefit no.9: headaches and migraine.
Ginger is an anti-inflammatory and contains the component 6-shogaol, which is a natural pain-killer. Both these properties make ginger an effective treatment against migraine and headaches. This spice also helps with nausea that is sometimes experienced with headaches or migraine.

Ginger health benefit no. 10: heart disease and strokes.
Ginger helps lower cholesterol and prevents platelets from sticking together. Ginger also increases the production of bile, which is a way to get rid of the body's excess cholesterol. Heart disease and strokes are linked to high cholesterol so these two properties make the ginger spice a good heart disease prevention remedy.

Ginger can be found in the form of fresh root that you can slice or grate in order to obtain the required quantities and can be used in food or to make delicious and warming tea. Ginger is a spice that can also sold as ready-made teas, capsules, tinctures, tablets, liquid extracts and crystallised slices. People suffering from gallstones should not take ginger and its main side-effect if taken in large quantities is stomach upset. As for every herb or spice that you may want to use for medicinal purposes, always check with your family doctor or herbalist before taking high doses of ginger.

Souce used: "The Herbal Drugstore" by Linda B. White and Steven Foster