Image via WikipediaGinger is the rhizome of the plant Zingiber officinale, consumed whole as a delicacy, medicine, or spice. It lends its name to its genus and family (Zingiberaceae). Other notable members of this plant family are turmeric, cardamom, and galangal.
The characteristic odor and flavor of ginger is caused by a mixture of zingerone, shogaols and gingerols, volatile oils that compose one to three percent of the weight of fresh ginger. I remember making ginger tea every night for my grandmother and I have to be honset I did not like the taste but then i had it a couple of more times and fell in love with gigner tea,and yes i gave in and i love ginger.
In China, for example, ginger has been used to aid digestion and treat stomach upset, diarrhea, and nausea for more than 2,000 years. Ginger has also been used to help treat arthritis, colic, diarrhea, and heart conditions. In addition to these medicinal uses, ginger continues to be valued around the world as an important cooking spice and is believed to help treat the common cold, flu-like symptoms, headaches, and even painful menstrual periods.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the combination of ginger tea and brown sugar not only relives cramps but also helps the body to clear waste with menstrual bleeding. This recipe gives you a more comfortable period and a healthier body in general. Have this ginger tea with brown sugar for at least twice (250 c.c. each time) everyday or anytime you feel cramps during period, or just anytime you feel like a cup of hot tea. It is natural without any side effects (the only concern may be calories), so you can have as much as you want.
Ginger has long been known to help relieve nausea, and research at the University of Sydney has found it may also reduce pain and inflammation.
Initial studies have shown that the active ingredients in ginger — compounds called gingerols — have a similar structure to capsaicin, the active ingredient of chilli peppers and capsicum, a known pain reliever.
"We would like to find out exactly what sort of pain would best be treated or relieved by the various ginger extracts," explained study leader Professor Basil Roufogalis, executive director of the Herbal Medicine Research and Education Centre. News in Science
A study in the journal Lancet involved 36 people highly susceptible to motion sickness. The researchers had the subjects take either two capsules of powdered ginger, an antinausea medication or a placebo, and then, 20 minutes later, spin on a motorized chair for up to six minutes. Taking ginger delayed the onset of sickness about twice as long as taking the medication. The study also found that half the subjects who took ginger lasted the full six minutes, compared with none of those given the placebo or the medication. The New York Times
1. Morning Sickness
2. Motion Sickness Remedy
3. Reduces Pain and Inflammation
4. Cold and Flu Prevention and Treatment
5. Heartburn Relief
6. Menstrual Cramp Relief
7. Migraine Relief
8. Respiratory infections - it is well known for its warming action on the upper respiratory tract, so it has been used to treat colds and flu.
9. It is a great mouth freshener and ginger tea has vastly refreshing properties.
Resources
Wikipedia
Health and Yoga
Resource University of Maryland Medical Center
Related articles
No comments:
Post a Comment