Ginger





Zingiber officinale

Zingiberaceae



Citations





Habitat : Native to S.E. Asia but cultivated in India, China, the West Indies, Nigeria and elsewhere in the tropics.

Collection : The rootstock is dug up when the leaves have dried. The remains of the stem and root fibres should be removed. Wash thoroughly and dry in the sun.

Part Used : The rootstock.



Constituents : o Volative oil, l-2% or occasionally more, containing mainly zingiberene and bisabolene, with zingiberol, zingiberenol, curcumene, camphene, citral, cineole, borneol, linalool, methylheptenone and many other minor components 



o Pungent principles; a mixture of phenolic compounds with carbon side chains of 7 or more carbon atoms, referred to as gingerols, gingerdiols, gingerdiones, dihydrogingerdiones and shogaols. The shogaols are produced by dehydration and degradation of the gingerols and are formed during drying and extraction. The shogaols are twice as pungent as the gingerols, which accounts for the fact that dried ginger is more pungent than fresh.



Actions : Stimulant, carminative, anti-spasmodic, rubefacient, diaphoretic, emmenagogue.



Indications : Ginger may be used as a stimulant of the peripheral circulation in cases of bad circulation, chilblains and cramps. In feverish conditions, Ginger acts as a useful diaphoretic, promoting perspiration. As a gargle it may be effective in the relief of sore throats. Externally it is the base of many fibrositis and muscle sprain treatments. Ginger has been used world-wide as an aromatic carminative and pungent appetite stimulant. In India, and in other countries with hot and humid climates, ginger is eaten daily and is a well-known remedy for digestion problems. Its wide-spread use is not only be due to flavor, but to the anti-oxidant and anti-microbial effects, necessary for preservation of food, essential in such climates.



	Ellingwood describes this herb thus: This agent is mentioned in but few therapeutic works, although it occupies an important place, and should not be neglected. It is a profound and immediate stimulant, an active diaphoretic, an anodyne in gastric and intestinal pain, and a sedative to an irritated and overwrought system when there is extreme exhaustion. An infusion of the powder drunk warm produces immediate but mild emesis and active diaphoresis. Ginger is an emergency remedy. In every case in which brandy or whisky is given  to produce an immediate stimulating influence, the tincture of ginger can be given with even better results. From half a teaspoonful to a teaspoonful will produce greater stimulation than half an ounce of brandy. It may be stirred into half a glass of cold water, but is much more immediate in its action if given in hot water. The tincture does not produce emesis. The agent stimulates the stomach actively, producing a pleasing sense of warmth. It overcomes flatulence and quickly relieves flatulent colic. In atonic conditions of the stomach and intestinal tract, it stimulates the structure to renewed activity and materially assists in the restoration of normal tone. It relieves pain from any cause except inflammatory action, when this remedy must be avoided. In acute colds the entire train of symptoms may be aborted in a single night, by advising the patient to take a hot mustard foot bath at bedtime, while the body, prepared for bed, is wrapped in warm blankets. During the foot bath the patient should drink a glass or  two of hot water, each of which contains half of a dram of the tincture of Ginger. Acute inflammations may be aborted by this course. In dysmenorrhoea, ovarian neuralgia and uterine pain from any cause at the menstrual epoch, this agent is reliable. If given at the beginning of an hysterical attack it will often abort the attack, and produce quiet  and restful sleep.



Preparations & Dosage : Infusion: pour a cup of boiling water onto l teaspoonful of the fresh root and let it infuse for 5 minutes. Drink whenever needed. Decoction: if you are using the dried root in powdered or finely chopped form, make a decoction by putting l l/2 teaspoonfuls to a cup of water. Bring it to the boil and simmer for 5-l0 minutes. This can be drunk whenever needed. Tincture: the tincture comes in two forms, weak Tincture B.P. which should be taken in a dose of l.5-3ml three times a day and the Strong Tincture B.P. which should be taken in a dose of 0.25-0.5ml three times a day.







The herbalist by David Hoffman, (c)1993 David Hoffman, Hopkins Technology