Twenty Ways Ginger Can Serve You

Ginger almost needs no introduction. This universal medicine can be given almost to everyone and will have at least one benefit.

Dry ginger controls and balances all three doshas, although in excess it may increase Pitta.

Fresh ginger can increase Pitta and is forbidden in conditions when Pitta is high, such as heavy bleeding, inflammation, and fever.

Ginger stimulates the appetite, intensifies agni (digestive fire), relieves bloating and abdominal distention due to gas, helps with hemorrhoids, prevents menstrual cramps, and supports heart health.

Dry ginger is hotter and drier than fresh and is better as stimulant and mucus discharger for educing Kapha and increasing digestion. Fresh ginger is a better perspiration promoter for colds, cough, vomiting and for Vata imbalance.

Here are 20 ways Ginger can serve you:

1. Chronic diarrhea.
Take ginger with rock salt and cumin in water after meals.

2. Motion sickness.
Drink Ginger tea before trip and chew crystallized ginger when on your way.

3. Sunstroke.
Ginger with lime juice and sugar or salt is a popular first aid remedy in India.

4. Thick respiratory congestion.
Drink hot milk with dry ginger and  turmeric to loosen congestion.

5. Constipation.
Dry ginger with evaporated sugarcane juice or molasses.

6. Ama (toxins).
Weak  tea of powdered ginger help to digest ama accumulated in the gut.

7. Rheumatism and rheumatoid arthritis.
Strong ginger tea taken with castor oil before bed.

8. Poor circulation.
Ginger baths. Start with 1 tablespoon of dry ginger along with an equal amount of baking soda. Slowly increase the quantity.

9. Musculoskeletal aches and pains. See #8.

10. For productive cough.
Use Ginger alone or with black pepper and long pepper (Piper longum) with honey.

11. Nausea and vomiting.
Fresh ginger juice with mint juice, lemon juice, and honey.

12. Dry cough, pharyngitis, bronchitis. See #11.

13. Influenza.
Fresh ginger juice with fenugreek decoction and honey.

14. Carpal tunnel wrist pain.
Wrap the wrist with thin, flat strips of fresh ginger roots and leave overnight.

15. Migraine.
Before the pain starts have two tablespoon of dry ginger powder with warm water.

16. Slow digestion.
Chew a thin slice of fresh ginger with a pinch of salt 10 min before the meal to stimulate the digestive fire.

17. Sinus congestion.
Take 1 teaspoon fresh ginger juice with 1 teaspoon honey 2-3 times a day.

18. Flu.
One cup of tea made of 1 teaspoon each of dry ginger, cinnamon and fennel.

19. Hoarseness of the voice and chest pain.
Take 1 teaspoon each of ginger juice and lime juice and 2 pinches of rock salt.

20. Splenic pain and Osteoarthritis.
Cook 1 tablespoon of ginger powder with 2 tablespoons of Ghee(clarified butter) in an iron pot to make it into a paste. Eat 1/2 teaspoons at a time, 3 times a day.

Trikatu is the famous digestive tonic, an ancient blend of Ginger, Black pepper, and Piper longum (Pippali). Trikatu means “three bitters” which boost the metabolism and enhance elimination.

Ginger in Culinary.

There are plenty of recipes where one can use ginger. Here are just a few suggestions: Gingerbread, Ginger-Pear Muffins, Split mung soup, Kitchari,Sweet potato salad.

Ginger Teas:

Ginger – Ajwan tea (good for Vata and Kapha)- relives sinusitis.
Ginger – Hibiscus – Cinnamon tea (all doshas, Pitta in moderation)- relives cold.
Ginger – Coriander tea (all doshas, Pitta in moderation)- mildly dispels gas.
Lung tea : use wild cherry bark, osha root with fresh grated ginger and honey or brown sugar to loose congestion.

TODAY’S TIP: Ginger is one of the most sattvic spices,that means that Ginger makes the mind creative and peaceful. The two other food qualities, rajas and tamis, either  agitate our mind like hot peppers or make it dull like garlic(See How food affects our mind).