Ginger is known as a universal medicine (Vishwa bhesaj). It is a tonic for the heart. It is quite effective in arthritic conditions, relieves gas, cramps in the abdomen and menstrual cramps. Its paste is good for headaches and pain.
Ginger: A Profile
Botanical Name: Zingiber Officinale Roc
Indian Names: Adrak, Sonth, lnji, Chukku, Andrakam, Allamu, Ardraha, Zanjabil
Appearance: Erect perennial herb with aromatic rhizome. Stem, erect 15 to 150 cm tall.
Distribution: Hot, humid areas of South India, Assam and Himachal Pradesh.
Ginger: How to use it
| Ailment | Prescription |
| Premature greying of hair, facial wrinkles, rejuvenation | Soak shredding of ginger in honey. Eat a teaspoonful every morning. |
| Dysentery | A mixture of ginger and raw onions (1 to 13 tsps) taken with honey. |
| Cough, asthma | 35 ml of the mixture of the juices of ginger, pomegranate and honey in equal quantities. |
| Whooping cough | 25 ml of the mixture of the juices of ginger, lemon and onions in equal quantities, taken twice a day for two days. |
| Dyspepsia, nausea, vomiting due to billiousness, indigestion, morning sickness, jaundice, piles | Half a teaspoon of ginger juice with 1 tsp each of fresh lime, pudina juice and a tablespoon of honey. Thrice a day. |
| Cough | Juice of ginger taken with honey twice or thrice a day. |
| Cold | Ginger cut into small pieces, boiled in a glass of water, strained and sweetened with half a teaspoon of sugar. |
| Fever | A teaspoon of fresh ginger juice mixed with a cup of fenugreek decoction and a teaspoon of honey. |
| To rejuvenate the reproductive system | Half a teaspoon ginger juice mixed with honey and semi-boiled egg taken at night. |
| Painful, irregular menstruation | A piece of fresh ginger powdered and boiled in a cup of water. The infusion sweetened into sugar taken thrice daily after meals. |
| Headache | Rub dry ginger with little water in a grinding stone and apply to the forehead. |
| Toothache | Paste as above applied to gums with a little salt. |
| Earache | A little ginger juice used as ear-drops. |
| Bronchial asthma | One teaspoon of the powder of equal quantities of dried ginger, pepper and long pepper taken thrice daily- mixed with honey or can be added to tea. |
| Loss of appetite; stomach ache; cough, cold, headache | Take 1″ piece of dried ginger, discard the outer coating, cut into small pieces and boil in 2 cups of water. Mix with a little milk and sugar and drink twice daily |
| Rheumatic pain, joint pain | Grind a 3″pieceof dried ginger with a little asafoetida (hing) in milk. Apply the paste on affected area and warm the area under the sun. |
Caution
People who suffer from ulcer, high fever, bleeding, inflammatory skin diseases, etc., should avoid ginger. Any plant substance, whether used as food or medicine, externally or internally, can cause allergic reaction in some people. It is advised that our readers don’t try to self-diagnose without medical professionals.