Human Body

Ginger a good home remedy for common ailments

Posted by admin on Jun 20, 2009 in General

‘Ginger’ is a spice and a perennial herb belongs to India, parts of China, Jamaica and Taiwan and other parts of tropical areas. The useful part of the plant is the rhizome which is swollen part of the roots. It is closely related to Turmeric. These rhizomes are used in cooking and for medicinal purposes. Fresh ginger is generally used in cooking and dried ginger is used in medicinal purposes. It is not a wonder that ginger is used almost in every Indian houses for making curries. It gives a special taste and aroma to the foods. When the leaves are dried and turned into yellow the rhizomes are drug and removed for use. Ginger is cultivated throughout India however the ginger cultivated in Kerala state is said to be superior in aroma and taste.

Classification of ginger:

Family: Zingeberesea

Genus: Zingiber Species

Zingeberis officinale

Names of Ginger

English: Ginger

Hindi: Adrak

Telugu: Allam

Tamil: Inji

Food values of Ginger:
Ginger is used as a spice in almost all food preparations. It gives a good taste and aroma to the foods. It gives a good taste for non- vegetarian dishes when added along with garlic paste.

Moisture: 80% Iron: 2.6mg

Carbohydrates: 12% Phosphorus: 60mg

Proteins: 2.3% Calcium: 20mg

Fiber: 2.4% Vitamin C: 6mg

Fats: 0.9%

(Values per 100 Gms of edible part of ginger)

Uses of ginger:

Ginger is used as a spice in Indian and Chinese cookery.
It is used along with garlic in flavoring non vegetarian dishes
Ginger extracts are used as a home remedy to prevent gastric and respiratory problems like dyspepsia, anorexia, for improvement of appetite, flatulence, nausea, vomiting, cough and colds.
Dried ginger is used for controlling pains like migraine, arthritis and joint pains of gout.
It is reported that Ginger relieves the nausea of first few months of pregnancy. However pregnant women should use this under medical guidance.

How to use the ginger?
It is difficult to use ginger as it is in a fresh form because of its pungent smell and taste. Therefore ginger is used with many other ingredients. The common forms are usage is as follows:

Extracts: Cut the ginger into small pieces and take them into a small vessel and boil on a small fire for 10- 15 minutes. Cool and sieve it. Store it in a small bottle and can be used.

Ginger Juice: Cut ginger into small pieces and grind them in mixer. Remove and filter it through a sieve. The juice can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days.

Ginger paste: Cut ginger into small pieces and grind them in a mixer. The paste can be stored in a refrigerator.

Ginger powder: Ginger powder can be made from the dried ginger which is available in the market as ‘Sonti’. This can be powdered and stored for use.

Common home remedies of ginger:
Digestive disorders:

Take one teaspoon of fresh ginger juice mix it with one teaspoon of lemon juice and one table spoon of honey. Taking this mixture thrice daily relieves gastric problems like nausea, flatulence and dyspepsia etc.
Take dried ginger and grind with a few drops of water on a grinding stone. Collect the paste and mix with a tea spoon of honey. This can be given to children for all the gastric problem of children. It can be given twice daily to children.
Fry few pieces of ginger with ghee till they become golden brown. After cooling mix these pieces in a glass of fresh buttermilk. Drinking this thrice daily relieves from diarrhea caused by indigestion.
Mix one spoon of ginger juice with four spoons of onion juice and two spoons of honey. Boil the mixture for 2-3 minutes. Cool it and take the mixture thrice daily gives good relief for anorexia, and increases the appetite.

Respiratory problems like cough and cold:

Mix one table spoonful of ginger extract with one tablespoon of honey. Take this mixture four times daily. Good relief can be obtained in a couple of days. Light non spicy food should be taken during taking this.
During cough and colds ginger tea can be taken to get relief. To make ginger tea take few small pieces of ginger into boiled water and then tea leaves can be added. Sieve it add milk and sugar to make the tea.
A tea spoon of fresh ginger juice is mixed with one cup of fenugreek juice (Seeds of Menthi- Menthulu) and one spoon of honey. If taken regularly gives relief for bronchitis, asthma, cough etc.
Mix few small pieces if ginger, cloves and salt and chew these together and keep them in the cheeks and swallow the fluid like a lozenge. It gives good relief from sore throat and dry cough.

For joint and other pains in the body:

Mix ginger powder (Sonti) with jaggery and make it as a paste. Apply this paste on the affected part. Gives good relief from knee pains.
Make paste with ginger powder with a small quantity of water and apply on the forehead. Gives relief from severe head aches and migraine.
Instill two drops of ginger juice in the ear. It gives relief from ear ache.

For urinary problems:
Mix one spoon of ginger juice in a glass of coconut water. Drinking this gives a good relief from burning micturition (Urination).

For common fevers:

Mix two spoons of ginger juice, two spoons of Tulasi leaves juice and one spoon of honey. Mix them together and take this 4-6 times a day. Gives relief from Common fevers.

Ginger a good home remedy for common ailments

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