Ginger Medicinal Uses

Ginger Zingiber officinale is a plant grown in North America, China, Asia and India. It is now a cultivated plant and I don't think it is found in the wild any longer. Don't confuse this ginger with the wild ginger from North America that goes by the same common name.

The medical part of the plant is the rhizome. a rhizome is a more descriptive term than just root. A rhizome is a type of root. You can think of a rhizome as a carrot like root that grows horizontally. Ginger is a popular spice as well as a herbal medicine.

Ginger has historically been used to treat an upset stomach, diarrhea, nausea, arthritis, colic, diarrhea, sore throat and heart conditions.

The active components of the ginger root are oils and compounds such as Gingerols and Shogaols.

Today modern doctors may recommend ginger to help prevent or treat nausea and vomiting, pregnancy, and for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Treatment of seasickness is one of Ginger's best known medical uses. Ginger has been found in studies to be effective against seasickness but not as effective as modern anti sea sickness medications. But it does not have any of the negative side effects.

There is some evidence that Ginger may help reduce pain from osteoarthritis. It is believed that prolonged use of Ginger may be required for treatment of osteoarthritis.

Small studies showed that ginger may lower cholesterol and help prevent blood from clotting. This can be a big help for the treatment of heart disease. And Ginger has also been suggested for the treatment of blood sugar control among people with type 2 diabetes.

Ginger is made fresh or dried ginger root. Some people like to take fresh ginger root and make tea simply for the taste.

Never give ginger to infants and small children should only take it occasionally if they need it for medical purposes.

1 gram a day is usually the recommended doses prescribed by doctors.

It is rare to have side effects from ginger as it is one of the less powerful natural medicines but in high doses can cause mild heartburn, diarrhea, and irritation of the mouth.

If you suspect you have gallstones do not take ginger. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should not take ginger. If you have a bleeding disorder, avoid ginger!!!

Ginger may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medicines. If you take any of the following medicines, you should not use ginger. Ginger can increase the risk of bleeding. So if you are on blood thinners refrain from taking ginger.

Ginger may lower blood sugar. That can raise the risk of developing hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. Ginger may lower blood pressure, raising the risk of low blood pressure or irregular heartbeat.

A paste of ginger and honey rubbed on a sore throat knocks out the pain for a while! Not quite as effective as apple cider vinegar gargle but why not both!!!

So as you see although it isn't the most potent of medications it is still powerful enough to have warranted medical research.