| Fresh ginger is easy to find in the markets and is | | | | ingredients are known anti-inflammatory pain |
| definitely one of my favourite spices especially | | | | relievers. Ginger helps to increase the production |
| fresh. It is thought to have originated in China | | | | of digestive juices, helping to relieve indigestion, |
| spreading to India, Southeast Asia, West Africa, | | | | gas pains, diarrhoea and stomach cramping. |
| and the Caribbean and so on. The part of the | | | | Do not give ginger to children under the age of 2 |
| plant used is the swollen roots or to be precise | | | | years old it is far too strong for them. Put fresh |
| the rhizomes, which are swollen underground | | | | ginger in a paper bag and store in the vegetable |
| stems. The plant has pointed leaves and produces | | | | compartment of the refrigerator or peel and chop |
| yellow-green flowers with a deep-purple lip. The | | | | it up and put in the freezer. In the UK green |
| rhizomes are used either fresh or dried and used | | | | ginger is used to make wine, in France a liquor is |
| in the form of a powder. | | | | made from ginger. In India it is used to spice tea |
| Ginger is described as sweetish, definitely pungent, | | | | called chai, and numerous dishes from bean and |
| and spicy with a really wonderful aroma. | | | | lentil curries to fresh chutneys. We are all familiar |
| Medicinally ginger is described as a herb, it | | | | with pickled ginger slices in Japanese cuisine. Ginger |
| increases perspiration, improves digestion, liver | | | | powder is used to spice up coffee in many parts |
| function, controls nausea, vomiting and coughing. It | | | | of the Middle East. |
| stimulates circulation, relaxes spasms and relieves | | | | Here is a recipe of that wonderful aromatic tea |
| pain. Ginger is perhaps best known for helping with | | | | called chai traditionally drank in India, Nepal etc. |
| travel sickness, nausea, morning sickness, | | | | Place three mugs full of water or 50:50 water and |
| indigestion, colic, abdominal chills, colds, coughs, flu | | | | milk (organic soy milk, or rice milk) into a pan. Add |
| and circulatory problems. Definitely a warming | | | | a few crushed cardamom pods, whole cloves, |
| herb, and traditionally has been used in "cold" | | | | cinnamon bark or powdered, and a few slices of |
| conditions. | | | | fresh ginger. Bring to the boil gradually, simmer for |
| Research shows ginger is effective in helping - | | | | a short while, then remove from the heat and |
| hypoglycaemia, cholesterol problems, and has | | | | add green tea, allow it to steep for 5 to 10 |
| anti-inflammatory properties. It helps to increases | | | | minutes. Do not sweeten, however if you need to |
| peristalsis and the secretion of bile and gastric | | | | add a little honey or stevia. |
| juices. Ginger been used for centuries in TCM | | | | It is very important to understand that ginger will |
| (Traditional Chinese Medicine) with much success. | | | | not help everyone, for some it could make it |
| It is very effective in removing excess moisture | | | | worse. Ginger is a heating herb and if you have a |
| in the body - such as catarrh and phlegm. In its | | | | 'hot' condition (not everyone does), ginger could |
| more recent history ginger has been sold in | | | | make things worse. If this is the case then I |
| capsule form - found in most health store. | | | | would suggest cinnamon, it is a warming spices as |
| It can also be used externally, for spasmodic pain, | | | | a opposed to a heating spice and cinnamon is |
| rheumatism, lumbago, menstrual cramps, bruises, | | | | renowned for increasing circulation to the joints |
| and sprains. In aromatherapy (external use only) | | | | Ginger or cinnamon are not cures for your |
| ginger is used to warm the body and the mind, | | | | condition, however they can be another valuable |
| helping to relief pain and inflammation. Initial studies | | | | part of the gig saw, part of an overall strategy |
| have shown that the active ingredients in ginger | | | | that all work collectively and synergistically to bring |
| are compounds called gingerols and that have a | | | | about pain relief. |
| similar structure to capsaicin, their active | | | | |