Health Benefits of Ginger
Ginger is native to India and China. It takes its name from the Sanskrit word string-av era, which means “with a body like a horn,” as in antlers.
Researchers are starting to examine whether ginger has therapeutic value. As a child, my mom had me drink ginger-ale anytime I had an upset stomach. According to the latest research, ginger can relieve pregnancy related symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. Taking 250 mg four times a day has been shown to prevent nausea and vomiting during pregnancy for most women. Although ginger is known for its attributed medicinal properties, it has not been confirmed yet as to whether ginger works in treating rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, joint and muscle pain or high blood pressure. According to recent studies, ginger may increase bleeding in some patients. Ginger is considered to be a safe herb, however, some of the most common side-effects reported are gas, bloating, heartburn and mouth irritation. It is important to consult with your doctor first before taking any medication or herbal supplement on your own.
For many centuries, ginger has been important in Chinese medicine. It was one of the earliest spices in Western Europe, used since the ninth century. It became so popular in Europe that it was included in every table setting, like salt and pepper. Fresh ginger is used in Asian and oriental cookery. It can be sliced and eaten as a salad.
Ginger is mentioned in the Karma Sutra: It is used “to gain the affection of a woman.” Whether you take it internally or externally, ginger has long been known for its aphrodisiac powers.
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Nikita K | Aug 23, 2009 | Reply
This is quite interesting even though I did now a lot of this before hand because I did an article that covered some of these aspects
http://healthmad.com/health/10-ways-how-curry-can-be-good-for-your-health/
I remember when I used to be allergic to tomato ketchup but it wasn’t recognised yet and I used to vomit loads but my mum always gave me a bit of ginger to chew on and that subsidised my vomiting. Good article.
Guy Hogan | Aug 23, 2009 | Reply
Well, I didn’t know ginger was this useful. I’ll have to pick some up. Let me congratulate you on an article that was not only informative but also well written.
Melinda Winner | Aug 25, 2009 | Reply
Ginger is an amazing thing for people who suffer arthritis and other problems. great read thank you !
Birgit Niveaux | Sep 1, 2009 | Reply
Informative article. I had no idea that ginger had this many different health benefits. Great article and well written.