Ginger

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FYI-

It's on our per item list:

C. - Ginger – Box (5lb) $9.00, ½ box (1lb) $1.90

O.- Ginger – Box (5lb) $16.00, ½ Box (1lb) $3.40

 

Tanikka

 

Medical Uses for Ginger

by Betsy A. Hornick and Eric Yarnell

 

Ginger is one of the ancient, revered medicines of

India and Asia. The list of conditions for which it is

used is so long that it might prompt skepticism. How

can one herb affect so many seemingly different

diseases? Here's how this alternative medicine works:

 

 

Healing Properties

 

Ginger's ability to combat a variety of diseases and

conditions is due in part to its impact on excessive

inflammation, which is a significant underlying cause

of many illnesses. Inflammation is the body's natural

healing response to illness or injury, and its pain,

redness, heat, and swelling are attempts to keep you

from moving a damaged area while it is being repaired.

Inflammation subsides as the body heals. However, in

some conditions, including arthritis, diverticulosis,

gallbladder inflammation, and heart disease, the

inflammation does not go away. It becomes chronic and

leads to many other problems.

 

Ginger is particularly useful in treating chronic

inflammation because it partially inhibits two

important enzymes that play a role in inflammation

gone awry -- cyclooxygenase (COX) and 5-lipoxygenase

(LOX).

 

While anti-inflammatory drugs block COX more strongly,

they don't affect LOX at all and therefore only

address part of the problem. Even worse,

anti-inflammatory drugs can cause side effects, such

as ulcers, because they also block the beneficial

effects that COX has on the digestive tract, including

protecting the stomach.

 

Ginger does not cause stomach irritation; instead it

helps protect and heal the gut. Ginger also treats a

broader range of the inflammatory problem because it

affects both the COX and the LOX enzymes. And because

it doesn't shut down the inflammatory process

entirely, ginger may actually allow it to work

properly and then turn itself off, the way it does

with an injury.

 

Besides reducing inflammation, ginger has many other

benefits. It helps relieve nausea, destroys a host of

viruses, and in some laboratory studies has shown

promise as an anticancer agent.

 

Preparation and Dosage

 

The part of ginger we use is not a root, as one might

guess from the way it looks. It's actually the

rhizome, or underground stem. The spicy, aromatic

compounds in the rhizome that impart the medicinal

activity to ginger are relatively susceptible to heat

and oxygen, so tread gingerly when making medicine

from this herb.

 

To make a tea, cut a two-inch cube of rhizome into

slices and simmer them in one cup of water on low heat

for 10 minutes. Cover the pot while cooking to retain

as many volatile constituents as possible. Remove the

slices, and sip the remaining liquid before a meal.

Eat the slices after drinking the tea. Drink three

cups of tea per day, one before each meal.

 

Ginger capsules or powder are also widely available.

Take at least 2,000 milligrams three times or more per

day with or without food. Just be sure to use powder

that has not been sitting around too long, as it can

lose its potency.

 

People often make the mistake of taking too little

ginger and thus don't gain the full benefits.

 

Precautions

Ginger is extremely safe. Some people have trouble

tolerating its spiciness, but most tend to adapt if

they keep taking it.

 

Some concern has been raised because ginger may block

platelets from sticking together and cause bleeding,

but there have been no cases reported of bleeding in

people taking ginger.

 

However, do not take ginger with blood thinners

without first consulting your health care

professional. Ginger is safe to use for short-term use

(a few days) in pregnancy.

 

Storage

 

Store fresh ginger rhizomes in a cool, dark, dry

place. Do not keep them in the refrigerator, even

after cutting them, or they will shrivel up. Use

within 2 to 3 weeks for optimal effects. Capsules or

powder should be kept away from heat and light.

 

 

 

Betsy A. Hornick, Eric Yarnell. " Medical Uses for

Ginger " . March 20, 2006

http://health.howstuffworks.com/medical-uses-for-ginger-ga.htm

(April 24, 2007)