Ginger

Zingiber officinale

 

Monograph

1. Plant Family:
• Zingiberaceae, or ginger family ^[1]
2. Habitat & Cultivation:
• Ginger is an herbaceous perennial plant that is native to southern Asia. Ginger is mostly grown in India, China, Indonesia, Nigeria, the Philippines and Thailand, although other countries such as Jamaica produce it as well. ^[1]
3. Parts Used:
• Rhizome ^[2]
4. Herbal Actions:
• Stimulant
• Diaphoretic
• Expectorant
• Anti-inflammatory
• Circulatory stimulant
• Carminative
• Antiemetic
• Analgesic ^[1]
5. Indications:
• Nausea/vomiting
• Hyperemesis
• Stomach cramping
• Colds
• Sore throat
• Flu
• Fever
• Infectious disease
• Abdominal pain
• Arthritis
• Slow digestion (constipation, indigestion)
• Circulation support (cardioprotective)
• Muscular-Skeletal injury (sprains, aches, pains) ^[1]
6. Plant Constituents:
• Volatile oil, gingerols, lipids ^[2]
7. System Affinities:
• Digestive, immune, respiratory, circulatory, musculoskeletal ^[3]  
8. Energetics:
• Heating, drying, mobile ^[3]
9. Safety:
• May increase bleeding. Use no more than 2 grams of dried ginger daily in pregnancy. ^[2]
10. Interactions:
• Large doses may enhance effects of anticoagulant drugs. ^[2]

Personal Experience

1. Organoleptics:
• Dried: The dried root we were given is pale yellow/brown, and has a strong sour/bitter smell. It makes my nose tingle.
• Fresh: Fresh ginger root is bright yellow, stringy, and wet. The smell is much stronger than the dried root.
2. Preparation Method:
• Tincture: (1:5 in 40%) 1.5 – 5 mL 3x/day.
• Hot Infusion: 1 cup of boiling water over 1 tsp fresh or dried root and infuse for 5 mins. Drink freely. ^[2]
3. Usage Notes:
• First, I made a hot infusion from the dried root. It is very heating and gave me a feeling of reflux in my esophagus and stomach. I could feel my circulation increase, almost like my blood pressure was getting higher.
• Second, I grated some fresh ginger root and squeezed it in some cheesecloth to express the juices. The taste is amazing and so much stronger than the dried root! It soothed my stomach. I didn’t have the same heartburn-inducing feelings as with the dried preparation.

Sources:

1. Zollinger, R. & Riccio, L. (2018). Week 4 Study Questions. Bastyr University: SP-18_MW5123-A Botanicals 3: Pregnancy.
2. Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.
3. Frawley, D. & Lad, V. (2001). The Yoga of Herbs. Twin Lakes, Wisconsin: Lotus Press.