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The Charismatic Ginger

Ginger in the Garden

Ginger is a tropical perennial. In the United States, this showy plant grows outdoors in Hawaii, Florida, and other states with hot steamy weather. Ginger Root, the rhizome or underground stem, is the plant part used medicinally. Limited quantities can be grown indoors from a cutting of a piece of store-bought ginger, although the older, toughened ginger most often available has a low propagation rate. The leaves grown from such a cutting are milder than the root, but may be used to enhance the flavor of cooked foods.

Herbal History

Ginger has been used for centuries as a food and as a medication. We can thank the ancient Greeks for creating the original gingerbread treats. After dinner, as a digestive aid, the Greeks ate ginger wrapped in bread. Asian cultures have used ginger to prevent stomach upset and to relieve nausea.

Health Benefits

Ginger’s primary use is as a remedy for motion sickness, nausea, and indigestion. Due to its anti-inflammatory qualities, it is also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. A popular European remedy, ginger has been approved by Germany’s Commission E. It is also listed as “generally regarded as safe” by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Sailors and other travelers, take note: In multiple studies, ginger prevent motion sickness better and had fewer side effects than the leading over-the-counter motion sickness medication. Ginger’s effectiveness has been proved in tests on Swedish seafaring naval cadets and on folks subjected to a tilting rotating chair and other simulated test situations intended to induce nausea. Ginger has also been hailed as an aid for postoperative nausea and to lessen the side effects of chemotherapy. Ginger has a distinct advantage over conventional over-the- counter (OTC) anti nausea medications. The OTCs act on the central nervous system and have a wide range of possible side effects, most notably fatigue. Ginger appears to avoid these adverse effects because it works on the digestive system instead of the central nervous system. James Duke, former USDA botanist and author of The Green Pharmacy, lists more than 40 conditions that ginger is purported to help treat, including colds and flu, and cites it as a preventive against heart attack and stroke. Externally, ginger can be used in a massage oil to relieve lower back pain or in a wash to treat athlete’s foot and other fungal infections.

How to Use Ginger

Pungent ginger can be enjoyed in many ways. Fresh ginger is often available in the produce section of food markets; jars of dried powdered ginger are sold in the preserved herb and spice section. Ginger beverages are also popular. Ginger ale (the old-fashioned kind made without refined sugar, which negates ginger’s actions) can soothe a stomach ache. You can also make a tasty ginger tea. Try candied ginger, ginger cookies, and various spiced soups and dinner entrées as a way to increase your ginger intake. Capsules of ground ginger are especially convenient during travel as a remedy for motion sickness. Take two 500 mg capsules (which contain about 1 gram of dried ginger) about a half hour before boarding. Take another dose if you become nauseated. Effects should last about 4 hours. A 1-inch-square (2.5 cm) piece of candied ginger or two cups of brewed tea can be substituted for a 500 mg capsule. Varro Tyler, a leading expert on herbs and plant-derived medicine, recommends a maximum daily dose of 4 grams.