Living Simple Part 2

I try to keep a large stash of garlic and ginger in the house at all times. Especially ginger, it's one of my favorites for medicines and cooking. Ginger is an ancient plant, the thickened underground stem (the rhizome) of the plant is called the ginger root and it has been used extensively for medicinal purposes and culinary purposes throughout the ages. Ginger root has been used in Chinese medicine for over 2000 years and it was brought to England around the 1600s. When first introduced it was thought to have many powers including the ability to cure frigid women and to act as an aphrodisiac.
Ginger was reduced to a paste with water and applied topically or taken internally. Traditionally ginger was used in ointments to ease painful joints. Internally ginger was used to stimulate the heart and circulation. It was used in respiratory disorders such as colds or flu as an expectorant, and to bring down a fever. Ginger was of course particularly noted for its use in the treatment of the digestive system, being used to prevent or cure nausea, relief from flatulence and diarrhea and just an overall aid for digestion in general. It was also thought that the aging process could be slowed down by using ginger.

Of course, a few of the old remedies have been proven false but today's science has proven the effectiveness of ginger in many forms. According to a study in the Journal of Pain, college students performed 18 muscle exercises over 11 days. Some were given ginger others took a placebo. Those who got ginger had a 25% reduction in post-exercise pain. Researchers believe that Ginger may possess anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties Similar to that of Advil and Tylenol. In the study, both raw and heated ginger was found effective at 500 mg of dried ginger.

Much of ginger's healing qualities come from its volatile oils: gingerols and shogaols, and they are also responsible for its strong smell and taste. The oils cause more digestive enzymes to be produced which supports the digestive process and offsets the acids that cause nausea, cramps, and even diarrhea.

Ginger has been proven to be full of natural anti-inflammatories and helps keep levels of inflammation low which is good for the heart and circulation. Ginger has also been shown to relieve headaches, just chew a piece for half an hour to alleviate the pain.

Being a warming herb, ginger can help reduce a fever. Here is a great ginger tea recipe to help reduce a fever: Grate about 3 teaspoons of fresh ginger and steep in a cup of boiling water. Strain and add lemon and honey to taste. Ginger and lemon both induce sweating, which will help bring down a fever. Giner is also a natural decongestant and antihistamine making it the perfect remedy for colds and flus. Ginger contains antiviral, anti-toxic and antifungal properties which all can be used in the prevention and treatment of the common cold.

As far as Anti-aging, Ginger contains antioxidants that suppress the breakdown of elastin and also provides protection against free radical damage. Apply a mixture of equal parts grated ginger to aloe vera gel and apply to face, leave on for 20 – 30 minutes.

For women, Ginger has proven to be an exceptional herb for menstrual cramps, morning sickness, and a clinical trial has shown it can help treat heavy menstrual bleeding as well. Participants took 1 capsule, containing 250 mg of dried ginger three times daily for a total of 4 continuous days for 3 months. The level of menstrual blood loss dramatically decreased during the three intervention cycles in the ginger group and was significantly better than in the placebo group. The average decrease in the ginger group starting the very first month and was even better the second month.

Let me know if you have any suggestions for future topics in the comments section below. Thanks for reading.

Sources:
http://www.knowledgepublisher.com/article-434.html
https://www.naturalmedicinejournal.com/blog/ginger-heavy-menstrual-bleeding
http://bottomlineinc.com/health/herbs/ginger-cure-for-muscle-pain