Despite its efficacy being well researched and understood worldwide, the wonders of ginger still fly under the radar.
The ginger herb is widely used to alleviate nausea, vomiting, motion sickness, morning sickness, the nausea associated with chemotherapeutic drugs, digestive complaints, and arthritis and joint pain.
It is easily taken in many forms, including teas, capsules and sugar-coated sweets. It is most easily assimilated into the diet by incorporating it into your food.
Ginger makes a delicious addition to curries, casseroles, soups, and stews and is well known for its benefits to the digestive system.
Lesser known benefits of ginger
However, there are a number of lesser known, and equally important, benefits of this wonderful herb.
For example, a number of studies have revealed that the taking of ginger powder at the first sign of migraine is very helpful in reducing symptoms (by blocking the prostaglandins responsible for blood vessel inflammation in the brain).
And unlike aspirin-related drugs, which are responsible for gastric bleeding, it does not weaken the lining of the stomach.
Inflammatory prostaglandins are also responsible for the joint pain and swelling associated with both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. Ginger capsules or tea ease these symptoms in between 50-75% of sufferers.
Additionally, repeated topical applications of creams containing ginger (or applying the crushed root directly to the affected area) provides pain relief by depleting the skin’s store of the neurotransmitter that is responsible for carrying pain signals via the spinal cord to the brain.
Ginger is able to relieve menstrual cramps because its antispasmodic action inhibits the painful contractions in the uterus. It also blocks the body’s production of substances that contribute to fever and bronchial constriction, and therefore is a perfect natural cough suppressant.
Lastly, this miracle root is also of benefit to those with high cholesterol, blood clots or heart disease as it thins the blood and reduces absorption of cholesterol by the body, promoting its excretion via the digestive tract.
And let’s not forget that ginger has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries and is still commonly used to alleviate numerous health issues in many parts of the world.
If you’d like to know more about the ancient practice of Ayurveda, you can read more here.
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