Ginger is the underground stem called rhizome belonging to the
Zingiber officinale plant. The height of the stem extends about 12 inches above ground and is characterized by long ribbed, narrow, green leaves, and white or yellowish-green flowers.
The main components of the ginger root are volatile oils and pungent phenol compounds. Ginger is available in a variety of forms. The root of
Ginger can be used as tea while the herb is available in capsules, extracts, tinctures, and oils. Ginger is a very common and popular cooking spice and has been used by the native Asians for over 4,000 years. It can be found in ginger snaps, ginger bread, ginger sticks, and ginger ale.
Ginger and its medicinal properties have been used by Asians, Arabs, and Indians since ancient times. For example, more than 2000 years ago,
ginger was used in China for treating digestion, diarrhea and nausea. Through ages, ginger has been used in treating arthritis, heart diseases and colic. Even today it is used for treating common cold, flu, headaches and painful menstrual periods.
Ginger is also commonly used for digestion and vomiting associated with pregnancy and motion sickness. It is also used in chemotherapy for cancer though it has not been extensively researched upon.
If you have severe motion sickness, ginger can be of great help. Research shows that ginger may be more useful than placebo in controlling symptoms associated with motion sickness. To prove the effectiveness of
ginger in motion sickness, 80 novice sailors were administered with powdered ginger. Those sailors experienced a significant fall in vomiting and cold sweating compared to those who took placebo. While the results throw a positive impact on the use of ginger, however, studies have shown that ginger is not as effective as medications in reducing motion sickness symptoms. Volunteers who took medicines experienced fewer symptoms of motion sickness than compared to those who took ginger or
placebo. However, many still prefer ginger as it is one of the safest substances to have.
Ginger extract has also shown positive results in decreasing inflammation and health problems associated with arthritis, bronchitis, and ulcerative colitis.
In a recent study conducted on 261 people with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee, those who were given
ginger extract twice daily complained of less pain compared to those who traditional placebo.
Ginger has also yielded positive results to those suffering from heart ailments and cholesterol. However, more research in these areas needs to be done.
