Ginger root. Ginger root: beneficial properties and contraindications, how to use. Varicose veins and hemorrhoids

In the medicinal practice of many peoples, ginger or horned root have been used for several centuries. Some studies indicate that the cultivation of the plant initially occurred in India, and only then the grass with a branched rhizome spread to other continents. Why is ginger root so useful, and does it have any contraindications?

What are the benefits of ginger?

There is no doubt about the benefits of ginger for the human body. Research results indicate that the plant prevents blood clotting and lowers cholesterol levels. Ginger has the ability to treat toxicosis, reduce discomfort after chemotherapy, in case of poisoning or seasickness. The root is used to prevent strokes and heart attacks, as it perfectly cleanses the arteries.

The medicinal properties of ginger are valued due to the presence of active components: B vitamins, ascorbic acid, riboflavin, potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, iron, copper, selenium, zinc, manganese. All micro and macroelements of the root are calculated in milligrams, but this supply of useful substances is enough to put the plant in first place among spices.

Ginger - beneficial properties for women

The root of this unique plant has an anti-inflammatory effect, giving vital energy to the human body. What are the benefits of ginger for women? The high level of antioxidants that the root contains can be uplifting and calming. During pregnancy, taking the spice reduces signs of toxicosis and relieves dizziness. However, the root has some contraindications, so a pregnant woman should consult a doctor before using it.

Ginger root is effective for female infertility, excess weight, cellular aging, helping women look chic. The plant relieves pain that occurs during menstruation. You need to brew ginger tea, add a slice of lemon and a spoonful of honey (or sugar for taste) and the pain will quickly go away. Regular use of the horned root will help a woman improve memory, stimulate cerebral circulation, eliminate irritation and lethargy.

Ginger - beneficial properties for men

Ginger root is known to increase male potency by increasing potency. Ginger - beneficial properties and contraindications, which has been studied for a long time, prevents the development of genitourinary diseases and prostatitis. What else is ginger good for men? If you regularly consume this miraculous medicinal root, the functioning of the digestive tract improves, and accelerated blood circulation helps remove toxins from the body.

Can children eat ginger?

In children's therapeutic practice, ginger tea is actively used to treat colds. Parents should know that when studying the beneficial properties of the plant, doctors did not come to a consensus on whether ginger can be given to children under 2 years of age. It is better not to forget that horned root is a spice, so it may well cause an irritating effect on the baby’s gastrointestinal tract. Before giving your child a root to improve immunity, you should consider the contraindications of ginger and get the approval of your pediatrician.

How to use ginger

The benefits and harms of ginger depend on proper use. In order for the root to retain the maximum amount of nutrients, you need to take into account its characteristics when adding it to different dishes. How to take ginger:

1. Sauces. Season with spices after heat treatment.
2. Sweets. Add to sweet dishes until ready in three minutes.
3. Meat. To preserve the beneficial properties, the root is added to meat dishes 20 minutes before the end of the thermal effect.
4. Bakery. Dry ginger powder or candied fruits are added to the dough (1 g of spice per 1 kg of dough).

Ginger tincture with vodka

The drink improves health, normalizes metabolic processes, has a beneficial effect on the stomach, improves vision, and cleanses the body of toxins. How to make ginger tincture with vodka:

• select a root without rot and mold, peel, chop into thin layers;
• in a glass container, fill the plant with vodka (can be replaced with wine or alcohol 400 g per 1 liter) so that it completely covers the raw material;
• Place the container in a dark place for 14 days;
• then filter, consume 2 times a day, 1 tsp. along with honey and lemon.

Ginger for colds

Spring and autumn are the time of acute respiratory viral infections, acute respiratory infections, influenza and colds. The peak of respiratory diseases is associated with a sharp change in temperature, when the body does not yet have time to adapt to it. Tea with ginger is considered very effective for colds, runny nose, cough and other cold symptoms. Preparing a medicinal drink is not difficult - the recipe is simple:

• take any tea, brew as you are used to;
• strain the liquid and place on low heat;
• add 2 pcs. cloves, a few slices of fresh ginger root, a pinch of cardamom, cook for 15 minutes;
• remove the pan, cool, strain;
• Drink the tea warm until you recover.

Ginger root for men

Ginger root has a positive effect on the male body, especially with the development of prostatitis. It is known that staphylococci and streptococci provoke pathology, and the spice helps fight them thanks to its rich composition. How to use ginger for prostatitis? Prepare ginger tincture in water according to the following recipe:

• cut 30 grams of spine into slices;
• pour 300 ml of water, boil for 20 minutes;
• Cool the drink, strain, take 2 tsp 2 times a day before meals. until complete recovery.

Ground ginger

Dried ginger is used in folk medicine. He can overcome a headache without medication if he mixes the powder with water and puts a compress from this mixture on his forehead. The spice helps with arthritis if you apply the mixture to the knee joints (1 tbsp. powder per 1 tsp. water). The seasoning will help you avoid the symptoms of flatulence, cope with nausea, and remove the symptoms of gastritis if you dissolve 1 tsp. powder in a glass of warm water and drink.

Ginger with lemon and honey for weight loss

Ginger root, like lemon, is an excellent fat-burning agent. These two products have perfect compatibility, so nutritionists advise using them for weight loss. You can prepare honey and lemon with ginger for weight loss in different ways; there are a lot of recipes. The easiest one is:

• grind ginger root weighing up to 150 g together with peel in a blender;
• finely chop the lemon with peel (up to 200 g);
• mix the ingredients, add hot water (up to 80 degrees);
• leave the mixture to cool in a glass container;
• then strain, add no more than 3 tbsp to the drink. l. honey;
• drink half a glass 2 times a day for weight loss.

Ginger for the liver

The herbal substances found in this hot spice help restore liver cells and reduce the risk of hepatitis and other infections. The root helps to quickly cope with ailments associated with drinking alcohol. Ginger should be used correctly for the liver and gallbladder so as not to harm the body. The course of taking the tincture is no more than two weeks, during which you need to follow a diet excluding fatty foods and alcohol. Preparation of the mixture:

• steam a small ginger root with water (3 tablespoons per glass of water) in a thermos for 15 minutes, then strain;
• add a little mint and honey, drink every morning on an empty stomach, starting with a small dosage (50 grams), gradually adding 10 drops;
• Do not combine the medicine with diuretics, antibiotics and blood pressure lowering medications.

Ginger extract

In cosmetology, ginger root extract is used as a tonic and rejuvenating agent for the skin. It is added to masks, lotions, massage oil, creams for all ages. Ginger extract effectively removes waste and toxins, normalizes sebum secretion, and has an antiseptic effect on the skin. Hair masks containing ginger extract improve nutrition of the scalp, improve blood circulation, and accelerate the growth of strands.

Ginger for hemorrhoids

To treat hemorrhoids, the use of ginger root should be very careful. If bleeding is present, then ginger should not be used for hemorrhoids, so as not to aggravate the situation. Due to such contraindications, self-medication is not recommended. According to traditional healers, an effective recipe for hemorrhoids is to use a mixture of a pinch of ginger powder with 1 tsp. aloe juice It is recommended to take the medicine before meals (10 minutes) twice a day until recovery.

Ginger for pressure

The properties of the root are favorable for the treatment of the cardiovascular system and the prevention of high blood pressure. The plant contains components that improve blood circulation and relax the muscles located next to the blood vessels. Thanks to its warming effect, ginger root saturates the blood with oxygen, relieving spasms of peripheral tubular formations. Doctors say that ginger is indicated for any pressure, since it does not increase or decrease it, but normalizes it. The simplest recipe is to eat a small root when symptoms are active.

Ginger - contraindications

Before using spices for various diseases, you should familiarize yourself with its contraindications. Ginger has been proven to be harmful for people who have tumors of various origins in the gastrointestinal tract, since the seasoning will promote their growth. The presence of gallstones is also a contraindication, since taking the root can provoke their movement. Other pathologies for which it is harmful to use hot spices:

• cardiac ischemia, heart attack, stroke;
• second half of pregnancy;
• high body temperature;
• pancreatic disease;
• root allergy;
• chronic skin diseases.

Video: the effect of ginger on the human body

Ginger is a miracle root: it will relieve colds and flu, give strength, and increase potency!

The value of ginger

The value of ginger, as we already know, is in its underground part: the fleshy, branched root of this plant contains a number of useful substances. Ginger root contains a large amount of essential oils, to which it owes its spicy, tart aroma, and a phenol-like substance - gingerol (from the English ginger - ginger), which gives it a piquant pungency.

Ginger (zingiber officinale), like other medicinal plants, contains a very complex mixture of pharmacologically active components.

Ginger is rich in magnesium, calcium and phosphorus salts, as well as vitamins of the “nervous” group B (B1, B2, B12), C, A. In addition, ginger contains iron, zinc, potassium and sodium, aluminum, asparagine, calcium, caprylic acid, choline, chromium, germanium, iron, linoleic acid, magnesium, manganese, nicotinic acid, oleic acid, phosphorus, silicon. You can find the exact quantities of some of them in the table below. Ginger is listed in the pharmacopoeias of Great Britain, Japan, Switzerland, Austria, China, Egypt, and is used in African and Asian medicine and classical homeopathy.

In addition, ginger contains all the essential amino acids for humans (including tryptophan, threonine, leisine, methionine, phenylanine and valine), as well as essential oils (their presence gives that spicy, tart aroma), camphine, phelandrine, cineol, borneol, citral, beta-carotene, capsaicin, caffeic acid, curcumin. If ginger is dried, its chemical composition will change. In particular, the ability to stimulate digestion will decrease, but the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties will increase.

Let's compare ginger to orange. Who will win?

Even children know that citrus fruits are the best source of vitamins and microelements in the world. It’s not for nothing that lemon and orange are called “first aid” for viral diseases! But here there is something to argue with: ginger contains 32 times more sodium and 18 times more magnesium than an orange; 3 times more calcium than lemon. Ginger contains from 1.5 to 3% healing and valuable essential oil, while lemon only 0.1-0.25%. Yes, of course, it’s hard to argue with the amount of vitamin C in lemon and other citrus fruits - nowhere is there more of this valuable vitamin than in lemon (85%). But for residents of central Russia and northern regions it is extremely important to maintain a balance of microelements. In the absence of as much sun as in southern latitudes, the body may suffer from their deficiency, which will affect the state of the nervous, digestive, hematopoietic systems, and the condition of the bones. That is why, using a very small amount of ginger when preparing food and drinks, you can successfully replace various mineral complexes and dietary supplements with it - it has everything that we northerners need!

Medicinal properties of ginger

We have already seen that ginger is simply a storehouse of nutrients, vitamins and microelements. It’s amazing how nature managed to create such a concentrate of health that fits in a small, nondescript root.

In this chapter, we will see how powerful protection nature has given people from various diseases and microbes.

Ginger in alternative and Eastern medicine

Long before our era, ginger was used by oriental doctors. To this day, in Eastern medicine it is believed that ginger strengthens memory, opens blockages in the liver, and softens the body. It is recommended for colds, flu, indigestion, vomiting, belching, abdominal pain, and also reduces blood cholesterol, treats the thyroid gland and is effective in preventing cancer. The most important thing is to learn to use a strictly measured amount at the required time and prepared only in the manner recommended by the doctor.

As we already know, after ginger entered Europe, doctors almost immediately noticed its healing properties and tried to find a use for them. Nevertheless, in the East, in the homeland of this amazing plant, by that time there had already been a centuries-old culture of growing and using ginger for medicinal purposes. Eastern doctors managed to thoroughly study its properties, beneficial and side effects. Therefore, it makes sense to start talking about ginger as a medicine with oriental medicine.

Use of ginger root in traditional medicine

Today, nutritionists strongly recommend introducing ginger into your daily diet. A description of the pharmacological action of ginger can take more than one page, its uses are so diverse. Depending on the form and amount of the substance, it has a positive effect on a variety of ailments. Let's list a few in order to give an idea of ​​the versatility of ginger root.

Actions of Ginger

So, the miracle root has the following actions:

• expectorant
• antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiseptic, bactericidal,
• anti-arteriosclerotic (cleanses the walls of blood vessels from atherosclerotic plaques),
• mild laxative, carminative, choleretic,
• anthelmintic,
• promotes digestion, antidote for mushroom poisoning,
• removes excess cholesterol and prevents its accumulation
• anticoagulant (suppresses thromboxane synthetase and is a prostacyclin agonist),
• antihyperglycemic (fresh juice),
• antispasmodic (relieves spasms of various origins),
• stimulating blood circulation,
• antiulcer (treats skin ulcers and boils),
• diaphoretic,
• salivary, and significantly increases the content of the digestive enzyme amylase in saliva,
• cardiotonic (responsible for the tone of the heart muscle),
• increases sexual arousal, male and female potency,
• peripheral vasodilator,
• positive inotropic,
• stimulating, tonic,
• the effect of a catalyst and synergist with other herbs (allows the healing properties of other medicinal plants to manifest if used together with them),
• aromatic, and so on.

Ginger is especially useful in cold weather and during epidemics. It has been reliably proven that ginger lowers blood cholesterol levels. In Eastern medicine, ginger is believed to strengthen memory, open blockages in the liver and cleanse the blood, soften the body, and remove thick and raw matter from the brain and larynx.

Many of the amazing properties of ginger are explained by the fact that it contains a large amount of biological “fire”, which controls the flow of energy in the body and metabolism. With regular use of ginger in food in small quantities, internal heat increases, appetite is awakened and digestion is gently stimulated, the stomach and blood are warmed, and the body is cleansed. This can explain the versatility of ginger and its ability to treat many diseases.

Diseases and methods of treating them with ginger

The list of diseases cured by ginger is very long. But I won’t be mistaken if I say that the most famous effect of ginger is cleansing the body. This is the first thing any Eastern doctor starts with. After all, in order to build a building of health, you must first prepare the foundation. Otherwise, the healing effect can be expected for years. Therefore, if your treatment is planned, do not be lazy to give the first few days to cleanse the body. In this case, the benefits of therapy will be much stronger and the results will last longer. In emergency cases (colds, exacerbations of diseases, etc.), immediately use the recommended treatment regimen. Cleansing at such a moment is just an additional burden for an organism already exhausted by the disease. However, remember: if you are sick, it means that not all systems in it are functioning normally, some channels are “clogged” and interfere with a normal healthy life, so you cannot avoid “cleaning”. It can be done when your condition has stabilized.

Why ginger is a universal medicine, or about waste and toxins

But really, why? Are there not enough fruits, roots, leaves and herbs that have a unique composition, contain useful microelements, vitamins, organic acids, can relieve inflammation, and so on? The fact of the matter is that there is a lot. The list of beneficial properties of ordinary chamomile or lemon is no less than that of ginger.

What's the secret? Ginger has the unique property of cleansing the body of almost all types of toxins: food, alcohol, radiation and chemicals. Long before these properties were identified and confirmed by official medicine, Ayurvedic doctors knew that ginger has the ability to burn Ama (waste). Cleansing from Ama is based on the principle of kindling the digestive fire (Agni), due to which Ama (waste) is burned.

What is the connection between waste and disease? Alternative medicine has been saying for decades that it is direct. And the official one is also beginning to slowly lean towards this point of view.

Slags and toxins are the main cause of many diseases. Bragg and Shelton, Walker and Nishi, Galina Shatalova and Maya Gogulan spoke about this. Toxins poison our body, they cause cell degeneration and lead to cancer. Toxins are deposited on the walls of blood vessels and cause hypertension, sclerosis, stroke, and heart disease. Toxins filling the intestines lead to gastritis, colitis, ulcers, pancreatitis, metabolic disorders, endocrine diseases, and diabetes. Salts (the same waste) deposited in the joints cause arthritis and osteochondrosis.

As you can see, there is almost no common disease that is not caused by toxins. At the same time, our “squiggle” - ginger - is capable of burning all this garbage, cleansing the body, and therefore leading it to health in a natural way, that is, without unnecessary chemotherapy, surgeries, or difficult procedures.

Where do waste come from?

The answer to this question is simple. We ourselves fill the body with them. First of all, this concerns our nutrition. Even if you try to avoid foods containing preservatives, flavorings and flavor enhancers, this does not mean that you are eating organic food. Unfortunately, in our age, agriculture depends more on the chemical industry and fertilizer production than on the weather and soil quality. Fertilizers, herbicides, growth stimulants - anywhere and everywhere. And we ourselves salt, cook, process even this initially not entirely natural food, depriving us of even the few beneficial substances that it contains.

Boiled and fried food is harmful. Bragg and Nishi write about this in their works. Combinations of foods familiar to our diet, for example, everyone’s favorite meat and potatoes, are detrimental to the intestines, and therefore to the whole body. Shelton talks about this. The names we name belong to people who, through their lifestyle and their research, have earned the right to give us advice. After all, their recommendations helped thousands of terminally ill people survive.

Of course, changing your lifestyle and diet overnight is difficult, and perhaps impossible. But taking care of yourself, nurturing and nurturing your body is possible.

How do you know if your body is suffering from toxins?

You can find out whether there is an excess of harmful substances in your body by the following signs:

• heaviness in the stomach and lethargy throughout the body;
• frequent fatigue and feeling of irritation;
• lack of shine in the eyes, and the skin has a faded color;
• bad breath;
• lack of appetite.

If you notice any of the listed signs, then we can say that one of the reasons for this condition is an excess of toxins or undigested food waste, which, deposited in the cells of the body, poison your entire body and lead to various diseases.

How to rid the body of toxins and the body of diseases

Ginger will help restore health, good mood, fresh complexion and clarity of eyes. It will cleanse the blood, stimulate digestion, and ensure the burning of excess “garbage” (by the way, ginger will also help destroy accumulated fat, which means it will lead to weight loss, but we will talk about this a little later).

Alternative medicine advises starting any treatment with cleansing. Otherwise, the “dirt” settled in the body will lead to the return of the disease. Moreover, the cleansing procedure itself can lead to complete recovery.

Today there are many books on the shelves that present different recipes for cleansing the body: from yoga practice, using juices, urine therapy, and so on. Not all of them are simple and, most importantly, safe. There are quite a few cases when a person began cleansing, succumbing to the author’s convincing arguments, and as a result ended up in the hospital. Cleansing is a very complex procedure that must be supervised by doctors. The exception is a balanced diet, which gently and gradually improves the proper functioning of the body. Food containing ginger has the same mild effect. You simply drink ginger tea, eat dishes with ginger, and the toxins are gradually burned and removed from the body.

Of course, this in no way means that you can give up on your discomfort, forget about bothersome pains and rely entirely on ginger. Firstly, treatment with ginger has contraindications, we have already written about them, and secondly, all disturbing symptoms must be discussed with your doctor.

Remember! Self-medication and self-diagnosis are dangerous!

And now we offer you a simple recipe for a ginger drink that can be consumed daily to cleanse the body of toxins.

Preparation of imbin drink:

Brew 10-20 g of fresh ginger or 1 teaspoon of powder with a glass of hot water, leave for 10 minutes, add 1 teaspoon of honey and lemon juice to taste. Take half a glass in the morning on an empty stomach (preferably half an hour before meals). During the day, the second half of a glass of brewed drink can be drunk in small sips between meals. The drink enhances digestion, neutralizes toxins accumulated in our stomach and helps absorb food.

Ginger for liver cleansing

For long-term and systematic cleansing of the liver (especially when treating alcohol-dependent patients), use the above proportion (10-20 g of root per 1 glass of water), but prepare an infusion (how to prepare and store the infusion, see above). Take on an empty stomach in the morning, 10-15 minutes before meals.

You must follow the diagram:

• start with 10 drops, increasing every day by two drops, increasing in 2 weeks (15 days) to 40 drops, respectively;
• Maintain this dosage for another 15 days, after which the amount is gradually reduced in the opposite direction, bringing it to 10 drops;
• take a two-week break, after which it is recommended to repeat the treatment.

When treating alcoholism, taking the decoction should be combined with a diet rich in potassium and magnesium, with a small amount of fat, but a sufficient amount of carbohydrates. During the intake process, the body “learns” to daily get rid of toxins - products of the breakdown of alcoholic enzymes. Thus, there is a general improvement in the patient’s health,

especially its digestive and hematopoietic systems. The pungent taste of ginger “switches” the human taste apparatus. To do this, they even advise taking small pieces of ginger with you and sucking them when the patient feels the urge to drink again.

The cleansing effect of ginger explains its ability to relieve hangovers and treat alcohol addiction. To do this, take 2 teaspoons of ground ginger powder, finely chopped lemon peel, nutmeg on the tip of a knife, 1 clove. The mixture is poured into a glass of boiling water and left under the lid for 15 minutes, after which it is ready for use as an emergency remedy. It is used as follows: drink half a glass in small sips while the liquid is still warm. Then wait half an hour, then drink the second half of the glass, diluting it to a full glass with warm water (we remember that ginger drinks are best used warm). Since this remedy quite strongly stimulates the gastric mucosa and causes the secretion of bile and gastric juice, in the break between two servings of the drink it is better to eat something light (dried toast, a piece of cheese, a banana). For those who are in a state of withdrawal (hangover), this does not always seem possible. But believe me, after the first portion of the drink a person already comes to his senses and is able to eat, drink and even go to work. The liver immediately becomes involved in the process of removing alcohol breakdown products.

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Zingiber officinale Roscoe
Ginger family - Zingiberaceae
Common name: White root.

Description

Ginger is a perennial herbaceous, reed-like tropical plant from the ginger family. One of the oldest spicy plants. The roots are adventitious in origin and form a fibrous root system. A modified underground shoot is often mistaken for a root - a rhizome of dark yellow or white color, from which green above-ground shoots and adventitious roots extend. The rhizome is horizontal, tuberous - primary structure: covering tissue - cork; the central axial cylinder is a ring of vascular-fibrous bundles (closed collateral), parenchyma with numerous vascular-fibrous bundles (closed collateral) and cells with essential oil (yellow-green). The ginger rhizome has the appearance of roundish, finger-shaped pieces located mainly in one plane. Vaguely resembles various figures. The false stem is formed by alternate leaves with long sheaths, erect, round, not pubescent, more than 1 m high. Internodes more than 1 cm, elongated. The outer (lower) leaves are scale-like. The inner leaves (middle and upper) are alternate simple, entire, lanceolate, entire, with a pointed apex up to 20 cm long, on the lower side of which the central vein is pronounced, and have a leaf sheath. The length of the sheaths increases from the outer leaves to the inner ones, reaching a whole meter in the latter. The leaf base is heart-shaped. Lower generative shoots up to 30 cm high extend from some ginger rhizomes. They are formed by a flowering stem, densely covered with scale-like light green leaves with long sheaths and almost undeveloped plates. At the top of such a shoot there is a spike-shaped inflorescence up to 6.5 cm long. The flowers are zygomorphic. The green calyx consists of five sepals, fused. The corolla is separate-petaled and consists of three petals of violet-brown or yellow-orange flowers. The androecium (stamens) is polyfraternal, one stamen is fertile, the rest are infertile. The gynoecium (pistil) consists of three fused carpels. Each flower is located in the axil of a rather large and wide bract. The fruit is a tricuspid capsule with small angular black seeds.

Ginger is currently not found growing wild anywhere. This is an exclusively cultivated plant. Despite the fact that the plant has a fruit with seeds, it is propagated vegetatively by cutting rhizomes into pieces. There are many types of ginger (the Zingiberaceae family has about 47 genera and more than 140 species).

Spreading

The countries of South Asia are considered to be the birthplace of ginger. Currently grown in China, India, Indonesia, Australia, West Africa, Jamaica and Barbados. Its largest exporters are Indonesia, Taiwan, India, Malaysia, Thailand, and Fiji. Most of all this spice is imported by Arab countries, Great Britain and the USA. In Russia it is consumed in small quantities, but for quite a long time.

Habitat

Ginger grows well and produces marketable products only in tropical areas with high temperatures and heavy rainfall. Tolerates shade well.

Flowering time

Blooms depending on where it grows. In India, for example, flowering occurs twice a year.

Collection time

Harvesting for culinary purposes begins 250 days after planting. For medicinal purposes, for obtaining essential oil and as a spice, rhizomes begin to be dug up only 9–10 months after planting, when the leaves turn yellow and the skin of the rhizome turns greenish-brown.

Harvesting method

Ginger is harvested by hand. The ripe rhizome is dug up with shovels and cleared of soil, roots and aerial parts. Depending on the further method of processing the rhizome, ginger can be “white” or “black”. White ginger is pre-washed, stripped of its outer cork tissues and sun-dried. Sometimes the rhizomes are bleached with lime “milk”. Black ginger is unprocessed ginger. In some countries, the rhizomes are soaked in water for one night, then the outermost layer of bark is peeled off and dried in the sun. Sometimes they don’t peel off the crust, but rinse it well and dry it immediately. In other places, the rhizomes are scalded with boiling water before drying. Black ginger has a stronger aroma and is more pungent than white ginger.

Chemical composition

The ginger rhizome is truly a “storehouse” of useful and medicinal substances. Rhizomes contain: proteins, fats, carbohydrates, fiber, all amino acids necessary for the human body (tryptophan, threonine, leisine, methionine, phenylanine, valine). Macro- and microelements elements - K (potassium) in the ionic state is needed in all intracellular processes; Ca (calcium) is necessary for the formation and growth of bones, teeth, nails; Mg (magnesium) is needed for the normal course of many reactions associated with energy metabolism, in addition, magnesium is a physiological regulator of cell growth; Fe (iron), required for the formation of blood; Zn (zinc) is included in enzymes responsible for metabolism and protein formation; F (phosphorus) is necessary for the functioning of the brain and heart muscle; Na (sodium) in the form of various salts is part of the blood, lymph and digestive juices; without it, normal fluid balance in the body is impossible; Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) strengthens the nervous system, stimulates the endocrine glands, and helps blood formation. Thanks to it, the body’s defenses increase, blood vessels become more elastic, and the respiratory tract is less susceptible to disease; Vitamin B1 (thiamine hydrochloride) is responsible for protecting nerve cells, preventing the aging of brain cells, preserving memory; Vitamin B2 (riboflavin mononucleotide) is responsible for all energy processes in the body, for the condition of the skin and vision; Nicotinic acid (B3, or niacin) regulates nervous activity, relieves fatigue, absent-mindedness, night anxiety, and is involved in the synthesis of serotonin, which brings a cheerful mood; Vitamin A (retinol acetate) affects growth, helps the body fight infections, improves vision at night; Mn (manganese), Se (selenium) and many others.

Applicable part

Medicinal raw materials are often rhizomes, less often leaves.

Storage Features

Today, fresh ginger can be bought all year round in almost every store. But sometimes there is a need to preserve ginger for a long time at home, we offer several ways:

• Wash, peel, grate the ginger root. Place in a large plastic bag, remove air, seal tightly, shape into a thin plate and place in the freezer. If necessary, break off the desired piece and put the rest in the freezer.
• Wash, peel, grate the ginger root. Prepare a paste from the peeled and grated root using a blender. Then put it in a large plastic bag, remove the air, seal it tightly, shape it into a thin plate and put it in the freezer. If necessary, break off the desired piece and put the rest in the freezer.
• Candied ginger can be stored in the refrigerator for about 1 month. In this case, the peeled root should be cut into thin slices, dipped in sugar syrup (1 part sugar to 1 part water) and boiled for 10 minutes.
• You can preserve ginger by preparing an alcohol tincture from it. The resulting ginger tincture is added to tea, drinks, and dough. The raw materials themselves can also be put into baked goods and tea.
• Place the ginger root in a plastic bag, wrap it, but do not seal it tightly, and put it in the refrigerator.

Application

In folk medicine, for therapeutic and preventive purposes in the preparation of various dosage forms for oral and external use, ginger rhizome is used in different forms:

• Fresh ginger rhizome;
• Dry rhizome;
• Powder;
• Ginger oil;
• Ginger essential oil.

And it is used by folk healers:

• As an expectorant and anti-inflammatory agent for diseases of the upper respiratory tract and respiratory organs;
• As an antiviral agent;
• As a diaphoretic and antipyretic;
• As a mild diuretic;
• As antibacterial (bactericidal);
• As an antiseptic and antiulcer agent for skin and other diseases;
• As an anthelmintic;
• As an antispasmodic and fast-acting pain reliever;
• To stimulate appetite and stimulate digestion;
• As a mild laxative, carminative, choleretic;
• As an antitoxic agent;
• For the treatment and prevention of diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
• For the prevention and treatment of impotence and frigidity;
• As improving blood circulation and increasing blood fluidity;
• As a stimulant and tonic;
• To improve metabolism;
• To combat excess weight;
• In gynecological practice for various disruptions of the menstrual cycle, ovulation disorders, to alleviate premenstrual syndrome, for toxicosis in the first months of pregnancy, etc.;
• For problems with the vestibular apparatus;
• How aromatic.

Ginger enjoys well-deserved attention from homeopaths. The fairly well-known homeopathic medicine Zingaber is used for various ailments. The drug is available in granules and drops and is prescribed for the treatment of disorders of the vestibular apparatus, to stimulate the formation of bile and normalize bile outflow. It is better for you to ask your doctor about other methods of treatment with ginger in homeopathy.

Official medicine has not ignored ginger either. Traditionally, ginger is used to treat the human musculoskeletal system, various gastrointestinal diseases, acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections, respiratory diseases, and to improve blood circulation. In surgical practice, ginger is used after operations, as it stops vomiting and nausea after anesthesia. Pediatrics recommends it for symptoms of delayed psychomotor development. Today, ongoing research is being conducted to study the effect of ginger on the human body and positive results have already been identified in the treatment of cancer, especially ovarian and pancreatic cancer, alleviating the condition and reducing side effects after chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and Alzheimer's disease. Ginger is included in many medications and dietary supplements:

The drug "Zinaxin"

Anti-cold medications "Doctor Mom"

Prescribed for acute and chronic diseases of the respiratory tract, accompanied by a cough with difficult to separate sputum (acute respiratory infections, pharyngitis, laryngitis, including professional lecturer's, tracheitis, bronchitis, including smoker's bronchitis), pneumonia (in combination therapy), mechanical irritation of the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract.

Hypoprotective agent "Dipana"

Hypoprotective agent (protecting the liver) “Dipana” is prescribed for acute and chronic infectious, toxic and drug-induced hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, fatty liver of various etiologies, liver cirrhosis, prevention of chronic intoxication. The course of treatment and dosage depend on the disease.

Herbal cough lozenges "Fitolor"

Used in symptomatic therapy for diseases of the upper respiratory tract accompanied by cough; inflammatory diseases of the pharynx; acute and chronic diseases of the respiratory tract accompanied by cough; mechanical irritation of the respiratory tract mucosa; professional “lecturer” laryngitis.

Preparations "Kofol"

Used for coughs and colds.

Contraindications

We can say that consuming ginger has no contraindications. However, the phenomenon of individual intolerance cannot be ruled out, and given that ginger is a spice and therefore contains essential oils, bitterness and has a pungent taste, there is a category of people who are not advisable to consume it. It is best to consult your doctor before using ginger as a medicine. So, the use of ginger as a medicine is practically contraindicated:

• For ulcers of the esophagus and stomach, duodenal ulcers, nonspecific ulcerative colitis;
• In case of inflammatory processes in the body, accompanied by high temperature;
• Externally, during exacerbation of inflammatory skin diseases;
• With esophageal reflux (retrograde movement of stomach contents through the lower esophageal sphincter into the esophagus);
• With diverticulosis, the presence in the gastrointestinal tract, most often in the colon, of diverticula (bag-like protrusions in any part of the gastrointestinal tract) and diverticulitis - inflammation of one or more diverticula;
• During exacerbations of hepatitis;
• For various bleedings;
• If you are allergic to ginger;
• In the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, especially in cases where there was a previous miscarriage;
• For hypertension, especially during exacerbation;
• For urolithiasis;
• For cholelithiasis;
• During the acute phase of pulmonary and intestinal diseases.

Ginger combines well and interacts with other medications. But still, if a person is taking any medication, then before starting to take ginger, he should consult with a doctor about the possibility of taking it and dosage in order to avoid undesirable consequences. So, ginger:

• Strengthens antidiabetic medications, helps lower blood sugar;
• Enhances the effect of heart medications;
• Interacts (sometimes antagonizes) with antiarrhythmic medications and may increase the risk of arrhythmia;
• Gives strength to cardiac glycosides;
• Interacts with depolarizing muscle relaxants;
• Counteracts nitrates and annular channel blocking agents, which increase the risk of hypokalemia (low potassium levels);
• Counteracts drugs that block beta-adrenergic receptors;
• Improves treatments and medications targeting anticoagulation;
• The properties of other medicinal herbs are revealed more fully in the vicinity of ginger, which is why it is often included in herbal preparations. If you like ginger, then to give it a pleasant taste and aroma, you can add it when brewing any medicinal herbs (taking into account contraindications);
• May antagonize antihypertensive medications.

In general, ginger is considered to be absolutely safe for human health and does not cause serious side effects. As a rule, nutrition and treatment that includes ginger has a mild effect. It is always very easy to choose the right form and dosage. First of all, side effects are caused by ginger in powder form. Ginger is a powerful medicinal plant; rare side effects from its use, and more often from an overdose, include:

• Bloating;
• Nausea;
• Belching;
• Heartburn;
• Fresh ginger may cause constipation;
• Diarrhea;
• Vomit;
• Allergic reactions.

If side effects occur, you should stop taking the drug and drink as much fluid as possible. In order to neutralize the burning effect of ginger, you can drink milk. It is also good to take an antacid that will block the irritating effect on the mucous membranes: smecta, Maalox, Almagel and the like. If they are unavailable, a baking soda solution is also suitable as a first aid remedy: a teaspoon per glass of warm boiled water.

Other uses

In the food industry, ginger is a flavoring additive in the manufacture of spice mixtures, is used in the production of meat and fish products, and is a flavoring agent in the confectionery industry, in the production of alcoholic beverages and tea. Ginger is also used as an aphrodisiac.

Mode of application

Ginger preparations are used internally and externally. To improve the medicinal properties of ginger, it is advisable to use it in collections and mixtures. Before using it as a medicine, it is recommended to study contraindications and consult a doctor.

Ginger tea

Ginger tea is the easiest way to add such a healthy product as ginger to your diet. Ginger tea is prepared from fresh crushed rhizomes or dried ground root powder with the addition of herbs, spices, lemon, honey, etc. Or ginger is added to green or black tea. It is recommended to drink ginger tea in small sips before meals or between meals. And although in the East ginger tea is traditionally considered a drink for the cold season, ginger teas are also pleasant to drink chilled in the summer. Ginger tea will be useful for almost everyone, as it:

• Improves digestion and helps get rid of poor appetite, nausea, gastritis pain, constipation, etc.;
• Allows you to better digest food, regardless of whether the food was heavy or light, saving you from indigestion;
• Neutralizes toxins accumulated in the stomach and intestines;
• It is used to cleanse the body, as it has antioxidant properties, cleanses the body of waste and toxins, normalizes fat metabolism and blood pressure, thereby helping to get rid of excess weight, reducing the risk of atherosclerosis and blood clots, which is especially important for inflammatory diseases;
• Strengthens the immune system and helps fight colds, respiratory diseases and flu;
• Increases tone by accelerating metabolic processes in cells and tissues;
• Relieves headaches, improves mood, mental activity and memory, thanks to improved cerebral circulation;
• Used as a love potion. Increases male and female libido;
• Helps to get rid of the symptoms of morning sickness - nausea and vomiting, for expectant mothers in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Ginger tea has virtually no contraindications. However, there is individual intolerance to the ingredients and the presence of chronic diseases in which drinking tea can cause discomfort or exacerbations. In this case, you can try reducing the amount of ginger for making tea. It is not advisable to consume ginger tea or use it with caution:

• In the first half of pregnancy, if there is a threat of miscarriage;
• In the second half of pregnancy, since ginger tea can increase blood pressure and increase tone;
• During breastfeeding, ginger tea can cause overexcitement and insomnia in the baby;
• During hypertensive crises due to the ability of ginger to increase blood pressure;
• For some cardiovascular diseases;
• At high temperatures, this can raise it even higher;
• During exacerbation of various gastrointestinal diseases;
• When taking certain medications.

There are a huge variety of recipes for making ginger tea. It must be borne in mind that the spice has a rather pungent taste. To make it easier to get used to the drink, you can reduce the amount of ginger in the recipe. To improve the taste, add green or black tea, honey, mint, lemon balm, cardamom, lemon or lemon juice, orange juice. You may have your own favorite recipe for making this tasty, healthy and very aromatic drink.

Fresh ginger tea

• Pour 1-2 tablespoons of grated fresh ginger root (to taste) into 200 ml of boiling water, simmer over low heat for 10 minutes under a tightly closed lid. Then remove from heat and let sit for 10 minutes. Let cool slightly, add 1-2 teaspoons of honey and stir thoroughly until the honey dissolves. If you like hot drinks, then do not add honey, but drink it as a bite or replace it with sugar. You can add lemon. This drink is effective for colds.
• Cut a piece of ginger 1–1.5 cm in size and grate it on a fine grater. Place grated ginger in a teapot and pour boiling water over it. When the tea becomes warm, strain it, add a slice of lemon and two teaspoons of honey. If you like hot drinks, then do not add honey, but drink it as a bite or replace it with sugar. This tea is an excellent tonic and can serve as a substitute for morning coffee; the tea is also very effective for colds and flu without high fever. It strengthens the immune system, relieves inflammation and fights viruses. If you are sick, drink at least three cups of it a day.
• Place 1-2 tablespoons of grated fresh ginger rhizome in a teapot and pour boiling water over it. Let it brew. Drink like tea, adding 1/3 to a cup and diluting with water. To improve the taste you need to add honey and lemon.

Ginger powder tea

Pour 1/2 or 1/3 teaspoon of ground ginger (to taste) into 200 ml of boiling water, cover with a lid and let stand for 5 minutes. Let cool slightly, add 1-2 teaspoons of honey and stir thoroughly until the honey dissolves. If you like hot drinks, then do not add honey, but drink it as a bite or replace it with sugar. You can add lemon to taste.

Tibetan ginger tea

Pour 500 ml of water into an enamel bowl and put on fire. Add alternately 0.5 teaspoon of ground cloves, 0.5 teaspoon of ground cardamom, 0.5 teaspoon of ginger powder, 2 teaspoons of green tea, and bring to a boil. Boil over low heat for 1 minute, then pour in 500 ml of warmed milk. Add 1 teaspoon of black tea, preferably the Darjeeling variety, and bring to a boil again. Add 0.5 teaspoon of ground nutmeg to the drink and boil for another 1 minute. Remove from heat, let steep for 5 minutes, then strain through several layers of gauze into a ceramic bowl. Take in equal portions throughout the day. The first portion is taken in the morning on an empty stomach, the rest either an hour before meals or an hour after. Drink for ARVI, flu, sore throat.

Oriental ginger tea

Pour 1.5 tablespoons of fresh grated ginger into 500 ml of boiling water, let it brew for 10 minutes, strain, add 3 tablespoons of sugar or honey, 2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice, ground black pepper to taste, stir. Drink hot to prevent and treat colds. If the drink is used as a tonic and served cold, you can add fresh mint leaves to it.

Ginger tea with honey and lemon juice

Pour 1 tablespoon of fresh grated ginger or 1 teaspoon of powder into 200 ml of boiling water and let it brew for 10 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon of honey and lemon juice to taste. Drink 100 ml of tea in the morning, 30 minutes before breakfast. Add boiled water to the remaining drink and drink the original volume throughout the day in small sips between meals. The drink improves digestion, removes toxins, and helps digest food.

Green tea with ginger, lemon juice and honey

Pour 1 tablespoon of green tea and 1/3 teaspoon of ginger powder into a teapot, pour in 500 ml of boiling water and let steep for 10 minutes. Strain and serve with lemon juice and honey. This drink is useful for coughs; in addition, it has an antioxidant effect and significantly improves skin condition.

Classic ginger tea

Pour 3 tablespoons of grated ginger rhizome into 1.2 liters of boiling water. Let it brew for 10 minutes and add 5 tablespoons of honey, or 6 tablespoons of sugar, some mint leaves, ground black pepper (a pinch), 4 tablespoons of lemon juice. Let it brew for another 30 minutes. If tea is needed for medicine, then the ginger should boil for 10 minutes. All ingredients are added after turning off. The tea is infused for at least half an hour and drunk warm. To preserve the maximum of its beneficial properties, honey can not be added to a hot drink, but added after it has cooled. If tea is used as a preventative drink, you can add ice cubes.

Ginger tea with garlic

Place 2 tablespoons of fresh grated ginger rhizome, 2 whole peeled cloves of garlic in a thermos, pour 2 liters of boiling water, leave for 2 hours, and then strain. Drink tea hot or warm, without adding sugar or honey, in small portions throughout the day before meals and between meals to dull the feeling of hunger. Garlic enhances the effect of ginger, so it is added to tea to promote weight loss.

Ginger tincture

Ginger tinctures help remove waste and toxins, purify the blood, reduce body weight, they tone the body, restore strength after illness, physical and mental stress, increase female and male potency, have a beneficial effect on vision, and are useful for colds, flu and sore throat. In the past they were used to treat malaria and fever. As ancient Tibetan recipes say, the effectiveness of this remedy increases when it is consumed together with raspberries (or raspberry jam).

There are several main ways to use the tincture. Unless otherwise indicated, the tincture is most often taken:

• 1 teaspoon before meals, morning and evening (preferably no later than 18 hours; later intake may cause insomnia in some people) or morning and afternoon, washed down with water. To enhance the effect, the tincture can be consumed with raspberries or raspberry jam;
• 30 drops per 1/2 cup of water;
• 1 teaspoon per 1/2 glass of water.

There are many different recipes for tinctures with the addition of ginger rhizome. In some recipes, in addition to ginger, other ingredients are added to enhance the healing effect or improve the taste. It is best to prepare a tincture from fresh ginger root. Treatment with ginger tincture is carried out in courses 2-3 times a year.

Tincture with spices for the treatment of allergies

Place 150 g of fresh grated ginger rhizome, 5 black peppercorns, 3 clove buds, 1 teaspoon of motherwort root into a jar. Pour 1 liter of vodka and place in a warm, dark place for 30 days. From time to time, the jar with the contents needs to be shaken. Strain the finished tincture, let it settle and strain again, carefully draining the sediment. Store in a cool, dark place. Dilute 1 teaspoon of the resulting tincture in 1/2 glass of water and take 2 times a day after meals. For hay fever (“hay fever” - an allergy to pollen), it is recommended to start treatment even before the plants bloom, that is, in winter or early spring, and therapy should be carried out throughout the flowering period of the allergen plants.

Tincture for the treatment of bronchial asthma

Grate 400 g of washed and peeled rhizomes. Place in a liter jar or bottle, fill with alcohol or vodka. Leave in the sun or in a warm place for 2 weeks, shaking occasionally. The tincture should turn yellow. After 2 weeks, strain, let it settle and carefully drain the sediment again. Store in a cool, dark place. Take 15–20 drops 2 times a day after breakfast and lunch (taking in the evening can cause insomnia), diluted in 100 ml of water for bronchial asthma. Children from 3 to 5 years old take 5 drops 2 times a day, children from 5 to 12 years old - 10 drops. The course of treatment is to drink for a week, break for 2 days, and so on for 3 weeks. For those who for some reason cannot take an alcohol tincture, it is recommended to “evaporate” the alcohol from the tincture. To do this, you need to pour the required number of drops into a glass, and then add boiling water: the alcohol vapors will evaporate. In this form, the drug can be given even to children under 3 years of age. During treatment with ginger, it is advisable to follow a vegetarian diet and not overcool your feet. Before going to bed, it is useful to take a warm foot bath: 1 tablespoon of ginger powder per 1/2 bucket of water. Regular consumption of ginger root brings relief from bronchial asthma, helping to relieve the feeling of suffocation.

Ginger tinctures as a tonic

• Wash and clean the rhizomes. 200 g of fresh peeled rhizome, cut into small pieces or grate on a coarse grater and pour in 1 liter of vodka. Seal and place in a dark, warm place for 2 weeks. Shake the contents approximately once a day. After 2 weeks, strain. Take 1 teaspoon 2 times a day before meals. You can drink it with water. This is a wonderful tonic. You can add honey or sugar to taste.
• 150 g of ginger rhizomes are poured with 800 ml of vodka, left for 7 days, filtered. Take 1 teaspoon with water 2 times a day. The tincture is used as a tonic for digestive disorders and loss of appetite.
• 200–250 grams of ginger rhizomes are well washed, cleaned, then filled to the top with vodka. The container is sealed and placed in a dark, warm place to infuse (period: 2 weeks). The ginger tincture is shaken periodically, and after 14 days it is filtered and, if desired, a few teaspoons of honey or sugar are added.

Citrus-ginger tincture

To prepare the tincture you will need the zest of 2 large grapefruits, the zest of 3 limes, 3 tablespoons of fresh grated ginger and 500 ml of vodka. Thinly remove the citrus zest with a knife (so that there is no inner white layer left on it), cut into strips and place together with grated ginger in a jar or bottle. Pour vodka, seal and leave in a dark, warm place for 7–14 days. Shake the container daily. Strain the tincture through several layers of gauze, add a little sugar syrup or honey.

Tincture to improve the functioning of the digestive system

Place 400 g of fresh grated ginger root in a glass jar and pour in 1 liter of vodka, cover with a lid and place in a dark place to infuse for 2 weeks. Shake the jar from time to time. Then strain the tincture (it should acquire a yellowish tint) and squeeze out the ginger. You can add honey or sugar to improve the taste. Use the tincture during remission (patients with gastritis or ulcers should consult their doctor). The course lasts 3 weeks, during which time the tincture is drunk, diluted in 1 tablespoon of milk or water. You need to start with 7 drops for adults and 5 drops for children over 12 years old. The first 3 days - 7 and 5 drops, respectively, then increase every day by 2 drops, by the 10th day, increase the amount of tincture taken to 21 and 19 drops, respectively, take 3 days, 21 and 19 drops. Then you also need to gradually reduce the amount of the drug, reaching 7 drops in the last 3 days of the course. If the gastric mucosa is prone to irritation, you can use ginger tincture only with honey, milk and almond oil (you can use any vegetable oil). To strengthen the immune system and prevent colds, take 1 teaspoon with water 2 times a day before meals.

Ginger essential oil

Ginger is an oily plant. Unlike, for example, citrus fruits, where the oil content is only 0.5–1.5%, ginger rhizomes contain about 1–3% essential oil. Depending on the raw material, the quality of ginger essential oil varies. It is obtained either from fresh rhizomes by direct (cold) pressing, or by steam distillation from dried and crushed roots. Oil prepared from fresh roots has a more pleasant smell and taste, but the yield of essential oil from fresh crushed ginger roots is only 0.3–0.5%. While dry roots allow you to obtain more essential oil - up to 2% of the volume of raw materials. Externally, essential oil from ginger roots is a yellow liquid that thickens upon contact with air. It has a spicy aromatic smell, less pungent than the smell of ginger roots. It is made only in industrial conditions. To obtain 1 kg of essential oil, you need 50 kg of dry rhizomes. Due to its complex composition (more than 150 compounds), ginger essential oil is widely used in pharmacology, aromatherapy, cosmetics and homeopathy. It is used internally and externally for massage, compresses, baths, and inhalations. In addition, it is often used in the industrial production of perfumes and cosmetics, as well as for flavoring food products in cooking.

Internal use of essential oil

Internal use of essential oil has a milder effect than the effect of fresh root and powder, but ginger oil should not be used on an empty stomach. Essential oil can be taken at half the dosage during remission, even for those diseases for which dry or fresh ginger is contraindicated. Since the effect of ginger oil is very pronounced, it is not recommended for children under 7 years of age. The use of oil during pregnancy is practically contraindicated. If it is necessary to use it (for example, a cold or poisoning), pregnant women should reduce the standard dose of ginger oil by 2-3 times. Unless otherwise recommended, essential oil is taken 1 drop on a piece of refined sugar or added to 1 teaspoon of honey or mixed with 1 tablespoon of jam 2 times a day after meals, washed down with tea, juices, kefir, wine. Internal use of the oil is recommended:

• As an antiviral agent for colds;
• To stimulate appetite;
• To stimulate digestion;
• As a fast-acting pain reliever;
• As an antipyretic;
• As an antiseptic for skin and other diseases;
• As an anthelmintic;
• As a diuretic;
• To activate metabolic processes;
• For the prevention and treatment of impotence;
• To relieve premenstrual syndrome.

External use of essential oil

External use of essential oil has an even more extensive list of indications. An allergic reaction to oil is extremely rare. Sometimes individual intolerance occurs. When applied to the skin, a slight burning sensation occurs, redness is possible, but it is not dangerous and disappears within 5 minutes. However, we must take into account that ginger essential oil has a very active effect and can cause irritation not only in people with sensitive skin, so in some cases it is diluted with other oils. The ratio of essential ginger oil to base can be 1:2, or 1:3, or 1:5, or 1:10, depending on the treatment goals. You can use flaxseed, olive or any vegetable oil as a base oil. Ginger essential oil also goes well with lavender, patchouli, clove, rose, sandalwood, jasmine, neroli, juniper, bergamot, citrus and incense oils. Essential ginger oil is also added to various creams, ointments, serums - the dosage in each case is determined by the purpose of use.

For aromatic therapeutic baths

Essential oil is used for aromatic medicinal baths. To do this, add 3-5 drops of oil to a full bath. The water temperature should not be higher (37–38 °C), the duration of the bath should be 15–20 minutes. It is not advisable to take medicinal baths with essential oils before bed; this can cause insomnia in some people. Baths shown:

• For rheumatism;
• For arthritis;
• For muscle pain;
• When stretching muscles and tendons;
• For post-traumatic pain;
• For nausea;
• As a tonic to restore strength during fatigue, lethargy, apathy;
• As a preventive and therapeutic agent for viral diseases and colds.

Inhalations using essential oils

Cold and hot inhalations using ginger essential oil in a dosage of 1-2 drops and lasting 5-10 minutes help cope with:

• Diseases of the upper respiratory tract;
• Respiratory diseases;
• acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections.

To carry out the procedure, it is convenient to use a compressor-type inhaler, sold in a pharmacy. 1-2 drops of rhizome essential oil per 2 ml of saline solution is enough (for 1 session). The duration of the procedure is 7 minutes. Such inhalations are indicated for both adults and children over 3 years old. If you don't have a compressor inhaler, you can do hot steam inhalation "grandmother's method" by adding 1-2 drops of ginger oil to a bowl of hot water. Cover with a terry towel and inhale the vapors of the essential oil for 5-10 minutes. To avoid burns, the procedure is not recommended for small children.

Essential oil for compresses

Essential oil for compresses is used in a dosage of 2 to 5 drops per area of ​​10x10 cm, for application - 5–6 drops. Compresses and applications are used to treat:

• Rheumatism;
• Arthritis;
• Muscle pain;
• Sprains of muscles, ligaments and tendons;
• Post-traumatic pain;
• Scars and scars;
• Varicose veins.

Massages and rubbing using essential oils

Massages and rubbing using essential oils help cope with diseases of the musculoskeletal system (arthritis, arthrosis), injuries, and colds. For massage, the recommended dosage is 3 to 5 drops per 15 ml of base - simple massage or vegetable oil. For rubbing, it is recommended to use 5 to 10 drops per 15 ml of base - any other vegetable oil, ointment, cream.

Massage with ginger essential oil for the treatment of arthritis and arthrosis. You need to do it in the morning, without getting out of bed. If there is no irritation, then the oil can be used in its pure form; if the skin is sensitive, then it is necessary to dilute the essential oil in the recommended dosage. A few drops of ginger essential oil are rubbed clockwise into the affected area with light circular movements. After circular movements, soft tapping is performed with the fingertips, and then light rubbing movements. The massage ends with calm, soft stroking from the joint upward in the direction of blood flow. Massage with essential oil relieves inflammation, pain, and improves blood supply to the joint damaged by the disease.

For cosmetic purposes

The oil is no less widely used for cosmetic purposes; it is used:

• For the care of oily, unclean skin;
• To narrow enlarged pores;
• In the fight against cellulite;
• To nourish and strengthen hair.
• For enriching cosmetics (3 drops per 10 g of base).

With aromatherapy

Ginger essential oil is also deservedly popular in aromatherapy. For an aroma lamp, 5 drops of oil are enough for a room of 15 m2. The oil used in aroma lamps has a positive effect when:

• Emotional disorders, neuroses;
• Stress and chronic fatigue syndrome;
• Fears and self-doubt;
• Excessive intolerance and aggression;
• Alcoholism;
• Low blood pressure;
• Epidemics, as a disinfectant;
• Nausea.

1-2 drops of oil in the aroma medallion have an antiviral, stimulating and antiseptic effect.

Ginger oil

“Ginger oil” is an oil with a ginger smell and taste, obtained by mixing ginger extract with any vegetable oil (for example, flaxseed, olive, corn, peanut, lavender, patchouli, clove, rose, sandalwood, jasmine, juniper, neroli, bergamot, citrus and incense, etc.). This oil is already ready for use and does not need to be further diluted. Ginger oil and ginger essential oil are completely different products; they have different chemical compositions and medical indications. Therefore, when buying “Ginger Oil”, especially for medicinal purposes, you need to carefully look at the composition in order to avoid unwanted consequences from healing procedures or allergic reactions.

Decoction

Fresh, well-ripened root is used to prepare decoctions. The prepared decoction is used to rinse the mouth and throat for various inflammatory diseases; it can be used as a stand-alone remedy or added to herbal teas. Ginger decoction has disinfectant and antibacterial properties.

Pour 2 tablespoons of fresh grated ginger into 200 ml of cold water, place in a water bath and heat to a boil. Then heat over medium heat for 15–20 minutes. Remove from the water bath and leave covered until it cools completely so that the broth is well infused. The finished product can be stored in the refrigerator, tightly closed with a lid. Before use, the decoction should be warmed to room temperature or slightly higher. Rinsing should be done several times a day after meals until symptoms disappear. To improve the taste and medicinal properties of the decoction, you can add honey.

Infusion

The infusion is often used to detoxify the body, in the treatment of alcoholism, for rinsing the mouth and throat for various inflammatory and infectious diseases; it can be used as an independent remedy or added to herbal teas. Ginger infusion has disinfectant and antibacterial properties, and activates the digestive and circulatory systems.

• Pour 3 tablespoons of fresh grated ginger rhizome (or 3 teaspoons of powder) into 200 ml of hot boiled water, cover and leave for 10 minutes. Then strain through several layers of gauze. If the taste of the infusion seems very strong, you can add a little honey and lemon juice. Take the resulting infusion in the morning on an empty stomach, 10–15 minutes before breakfast, according to the following scheme: on the first day - 10 drops, each next day increase the dosage by 2 drops. Take the infusion in this order until the daily dose reaches 40 drops). Then begin reducing the amount of medicine by 2 drops daily, so that by the end of the course the dosage is again 10 drops. After a two-week break, repeat the course. It is recommended to carry out treatment according to this regimen for 3.5 months. The infusion is used to cleanse the liver, especially in the treatment of alcohol addiction. While taking the infusion, you must follow a diet that includes foods high in potassium and magnesium. The carbohydrate content in the diet should be at a physiological level, but the amount of fat should be reduced. During the treatment, alcohol enzymes are cleared of breakdown products and liver function is improved. The activity of the digestive and circulatory systems is activated, all organs begin to work better, and the entire body is detoxified.
• Ginger infusion for the treatment of sore throat. Pour 1 tablespoon of fresh grated ginger into 500 ml of boiling water and place in a water bath, cover and heat over medium heat for 15–20 minutes. Strain, cool slightly and add 2 teaspoons of honey. Drink warm throughout the day in small sips, the last time no later than 2 hours before bedtime.

Baths

Baths with ginger rhizome are used to relieve muscle and joint pain, and also as a means of preventing colds. Such baths relax, increase the body's defenses, and help avoid colds. It is recommended to take a ginger bath at a temperature of 37–38°C for no more than 20 minutes. At lower water temperatures, the time may increase. You should not take a shower after it. It is best to carry out such procedures in the evening, but no later than 2 hours before bedtime. Use with caution for people suffering from cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, thrombophlebitis.

• To prepare a bath, you need to place finely chopped and fried ginger root (4–5 tablespoons) in a gauze bag and tie it to a tap under running hot water (38–40°C);
• Pour 3 tablespoons of ginger powder into 1 liter of cold water, bring to a boil and heat over low heat for 10–15 minutes. Pour the broth into a bathtub filled with hot water (37–38°C) and mix well;
• Bath for weight loss. 2.5 tablespoons of echinacea tincture, one and a half roots of grated ginger and all the slices of a whole orange are dissolved in the bath, and half a root of ginger, half a spoon of echinacea and a teaspoon of honey are dissolved in black tea. Drink tea while taking a bath - this enhances the effect.
• Rogerson's bath is very effective for stress and fatigue. It is used as a strengthening, tonic, restorative agent, as well as a means of promoting the regeneration of skin cells. 2 tablespoons fresh grated ginger, 2 tablespoons lemon balm leaves, 2 tablespoons peppermint, 2 tablespoons wormwood, 1 tablespoon calamus root, 1 tablespoon common yarrow herb. Mix all ingredients and pour into a tank or enamel bucket. Pour 10 liters of water, bring to a boil, simmer covered over low heat for 25–30 minutes. Then leave without removing the lid until cool. Strain and pour into a bath of hot (38–40°C) water. Take a bath for 15 minutes, then rest for 30 minutes.
• Add 3-5 drops of essential oil to a full bath. The water temperature should not be higher (37–38°C), the duration of the bath should be 15–20 minutes.
• Foot baths with ginger. 1 tablespoon of ginger powder in 1/2 bucket of warm water.

Milk and ginger

Ginger goes well with almost all types of foods. In medicine, as in cooking, the combination of ginger and milk has not gone unnoticed. It turned out that milk with ginger is not only quite tasty, but also an easily digestible drink. Even an organism intolerant of milk easily digests it with ginger. It is better to take this drink at the beginning of the day or no later than 2 hours before bedtime. Milk with ginger helps in the treatment and prevention of:

• Upper respiratory tract diseases;
• Respiratory diseases;
• Flu, acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections;
• Indigestion (dyspepsia).

When preparing milk, add ginger or root powder only to boiling milk, otherwise the milk may curdle.

• Boil 1 glass of milk, add 1 teaspoon of ginger powder to the boiling milk, boil for 2 minutes, remove from heat, let it brew. To improve the taste and healing qualities, you can add a little cinnamon and cardamom to boiling milk. Drink the milk warm, adding honey. Before drinking milk, it is advisable to take a hot bath.
• "Bengal mixture" Add 2 g (1/2 teaspoon) ginger powder, 2 g red pepper, 2 g turmeric to 1 glass of boiling milk. Boil for 2 minutes. Let it brew, add honey and oil and take warm 3 times a day for colds and flu.
• 1/3 teaspoon of ginger powder, turmeric - on the tip of a knife, pour 1 glass of boiling milk. Let it brew. Add 1 teaspoon of honey, stir. Drink warm in small sips for a wet cough;
• Add a slice of fresh ginger to a glass of boiling milk and boil for a few minutes. Let it brew and drink warm. There will be no problems with digesting heavy food.

Ginger juice

Ginger drops for the treatment of runny nose and sinusitis

Grate the freshly peeled rhizome on a fine grater and squeeze the resulting pulp through a cloth. Dissolve 1 tablespoon of sugar in 1 tablespoon of juice. Place 1-2 drops in each nostril 4 times a day (last time before bed). To treat children aged 2 to 6 years, dilute the resulting juice with boiled water in a 1:1 ratio.

Ginger-lemon juice for dry cough and bronchitis

Squeeze the juice from 100 g of fresh peeled rhizome. Add 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and 1 teaspoon of honey to the resulting juice, mix everything thoroughly. Take the resulting product 4 drops, adding to tea.

Stomatitis

Prepare a decoction of peppermint. Add rhizome juice to the resulting decoction. Use for lotions and rinses for stomatitis. Ginger has disinfectant, antibacterial and analgesic properties, while mint is soothing and refreshing.

Ginger powder

In addition to the fact that the rhizome powder is used as a spice in cooking, it has proven itself as a medicine and is successfully used for the treatment and prevention of many diseases. Ginger rhizome powder is used not only as a stand-alone remedy, but also in mixtures and collections. It is taken orally for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, for nausea during pregnancy and during chemotherapy, motion sickness in transport, colds, and is used externally for rinsing, baths, compresses for colds and problems with the musculoskeletal system.

• Doctors in China prescribe ground ginger root 0.3–0.5 g (at the tip of a knife) 4 times a day for dysentery.
• If you lose appetite, take powder from ginger rhizomes, 0.6 g per dose.
• Ginger powder, taken in a dose of 2 g orally, completely restores digestion.
• Ginger gargle to treat sore throat. Pour 1/2 teaspoon of ginger powder into 200 ml of boiling water, cover with a lid and leave for 10 minutes, then strain and cool to 37°C. Gargle 4 times a day, the last time at night). Alternate with rinsing with chamomile infusion.
• For the prevention of colds and treatment in the initial stage. Pour ginger powder into socks and walk around. You can dilute ginger powder with a small amount of warm water to the consistency of thick sour cream and rub the resulting mass into the skin of your feet. To improve the effect, you can steam your feet before the procedure.
• Ginger mustard plaster. Pour ground ginger powder with a small amount of hot water and stir. Spread the resulting mass on a thin layer of gauze and place it warm on your back between your shoulder blades. Cover with film and something warm. If your skin is sensitive, then before applying the mustard plaster, lubricate the skin with a rich cream. The duration of the procedure is 10–15 minutes. Ginger mustard plaster is effective for colds and coughs, as well as for compresses for joint pain. Use with caution in people with cardiovascular diseases.
• When experiencing motion sickness in transport, add 1/2 teaspoon of ginger powder to regular tea or mineral water and drink 30 minutes before the start of your trip on a ship, plane, train or car.
• For toxicosis in the first trimester of pregnancy, you can drink not only ginger tea, but also ginger powder. Place the powder (on the tip of a knife) on the tongue and dissolve.
• Ginger water tonic. Pour 1/2 teaspoon of powder into 100 ml of boiling water, let it brew for 5 minutes. Take 1 time per day in the morning after breakfast. Course for 2 weeks, then take a week break and repeat the course. Treatment can last a long time (from 4 to 6 months), depending on the condition and the stress experienced (exams, hard mental work, etc.). It is best to use this product in the autumn or spring season. Ginger water strengthens the nervous system, improves memory and concentration.
• Heat 150 g of ghee until softened, add 4 tablespoons of ginger powder. Mix thoroughly. Leave to infuse at room temperature for an hour, stirring the mixture periodically. Then close the lid tightly and put it in the refrigerator. Take the resulting oil once a day in the morning on an empty stomach according to the following scheme: first day - 0.5 teaspoons, second day - 1 teaspoon, third day - 1.5 teaspoons, fourth day - 2 teaspoons, fifth, sixth, seventh, the eighth day - 2.5 teaspoons, the ninth day - 2 teaspoons, the tenth day - 1.5 teaspoons, the eleventh day - 1 teaspoon, the twelfth day until the end of the oil - 0.5 teaspoon. The course of treatment can be carried out once every 2 years. The oil normalizes stool during constipation, helps with colitis, flatulence, and gastrointestinal diseases.

Collections and mixtures

It has long been known that some medicinal plants complement and enhance the healing properties of ginger. For the preparation of medicinal mixtures and preparations, ginger rhizome powder is often used, and fresh ginger is less often used.

• For the treatment of cough and other respiratory diseases. Fenugreek, seeds - 2 teaspoons; ginger powder - 2 teaspoons. Pour fenugreek seeds into 200 ml of hot water and heat over low heat for 10–15 minutes. Remove from heat, add ginger powder. Let it brew, strain, add honey to taste. Take 70 ml 3 times a day.
• For the treatment of pulmonary diseases. Onions, juice - 1 tablespoon; ginger powder - on the tip of a teaspoon. Grate the onion and squeeze the juice through a cloth. Add ginger powder to the onion juice and mix everything well. Divide the resulting mixture into an equal number of parts and take 1/2 teaspoon 2 to 4 times a day.
• To relieve hangover and cleanse the liver. Ginger powder - 2 teaspoons; nutmeg powder - on the tip of a knife; clove, bud - 1 piece; lemon, zest - 1/4 teaspoon. Pour ginger powder, cloves, ground nutmeg into an enamel or porcelain bowl, add grated lemon zest, pour in 200 ml of boiling water, cover with a lid and let it brew for 15 minutes. Strain through 3-4 layers of gauze and cool slightly. Divide the infusion into 2 servings. Drink 100 ml of warm drink in small sips. After 30 minutes, add warm water to the remaining infusion, filling the glass to the top, and drink slowly. To avoid the irritating effect of the infusion on the gastric mucosa, it is recommended to eat a small amount of light food during the break between taking the infusion.
• To remove toxins from poisoning and when recovering from heavy drinking. Ginger, fresh rhizome - 2 tablespoons; wormwood, herb - 2 tablespoons; European hoof, root - 1.5 tablespoons. Pour the mixture into a thermos, pour 1 liter of boiling water, close and leave for 2 hours. Strain the resulting infusion and take 200 ml every hour between meals or 10 minutes before meals.
• For gastrointestinal disorders. Ginger powder - 1/2 teaspoon; nutmeg powder - 1/4 teaspoon. On the first day of treatment, pour the resulting mixture into 100 ml of warm boiled water, stir and drink. Take after each attack of vomiting or diarrhea. At the same time, to replenish the loss of fluid in the body, it is recommended to drink weak tea, dried fruit infusion or rice water. On the second day of treatment, pour the mixture of powders with natural unsweetened yogurt without aromatic additives.
• For the prevention of colds and flu. Ginger powder - 1 teaspoon; cinnamon powder - 1 teaspoon; black pepper, powder - on the tip of a knife; honey - 1 teaspoon. Pour ginger, cinnamon and pepper into a glass, pour in 200 ml of boiling water and let it brew under the lid for 5 minutes. Add honey. Take no later than 2 hours before bedtime.
• For hypotension, vascular spasms and weather sensitivity. Ginger powder - 1/2 teaspoon; black tea, infusion - 200 ml; sugar or honey - to taste. Brew strong black tea, add honey or sugar, add powder to the resulting infusion, and stir. Drink 200 ml 3 times a day after meals. The course of treatment is 7 days. You should not increase the amount of tea you take per day, as this may cause increased heart rate.
• For the treatment of varicose veins. Aloe juice - 1 teaspoon; ginger powder - 1/4 teaspoon; cardamom powder - on the tip of a knife. Mix the powders, add aloe juice and mix everything again. Divide the resulting mixture into 2 servings and take 2 times a day 10 minutes before meals. The course of treatment is 2 months. Then take a break and repeat the course of treatment. It is better to carry out treatment courses in spring and autumn.
• For the treatment of hemorrhoids. Aloe juice - 1 teaspoon; ginger powder - 1/4 teaspoon. Mix aloe juice with ginger powder. Take 2 times a day until all symptoms of the disease disappear.
• Diuretic mixture with ginger. Ginger powder - 1 teaspoon; short beans, shells - 2 tablespoons; elderberry, black, flowers - 1.5 tablespoons; St. John's wort, herb - 1.5 tablespoons; horsetail, grass - 1.5 tablespoons; blue cornflower, flowers - 1 tablespoon. Mix everything thoroughly. Pour 2 tablespoons of the mixture into an enamel pan, pour 1 liter of hot water, cover with a lid and leave overnight. In the morning, bring to a boil and heat, covered, over low heat for 10 minutes. Let the broth brew for 2 hours, then strain. Take 200 ml 3 times a day. This diuretic collection relieves inflammation in primary and chronic cystitis.
• Collection for urological diseases. Ginger powder - 1 tablespoon; blue cornflower, flowers - 3 tablespoons. Mix everything thoroughly. Pour 1 teaspoon of the mixture into 200 ml of boiling water. Leave covered for 1-2 hours. Strain. Drink the infusion 3 times a day, 100 ml for chronic pyelonephritis, cystitis, inflammation of the bladder.
• To regulate the menstrual cycle. Ginger, fresh rhizome - 2 tablespoons; stinging nettle, leaves - 3 tablespoons. Grind nettle leaves and ginger root, pour 1 liter of boiling water, let steep for 5 minutes, strain. Drink 100 ml 3 times a day.
• For pregnancy. Ginger powder - 1.5 teaspoons; licorice, root - 2 teaspoons; comfrey, roots and leaves - 3 teaspoons; nettle leaves - 3 teaspoons; raspberries, leaves - 2 teaspoons; dandelion root - 1 teaspoon. Mix everything. Pour 3 tablespoons of the mixture into a liter jar. Pour boiling water to the brim and leave to steep overnight. Drink as tea leaves (filling the cup a third and adding boiled water). You can add honey to improve the taste. This drink helps saturate the body with vitamins and microelements necessary for bearing a child.
• Against malignant tumors. Ginger powder - 2 tablespoons; rose hips, fruits - 4 tablespoons; buckwheat - 4 tablespoons; common anise, fruit - 3 tablespoons; Rhodiola rosea, root - 3 tablespoons; sandy immortelle - 3 tablespoons; chamomile, flowers - 3 tablespoons; sweet clover - 3 tablespoons; Astragalus woolly flower - 2 tablespoons. Mix all ingredients. Pour 3 tablespoons of the mixture into a thermos. Pour 1 liter of boiling water and leave for 2 hours. Strain through a cloth and take the resulting product, 100 ml warm, 8 times a day. Along with this treatment, it is recommended to drink 50 ml of pomegranate juice 15 minutes after eating. In addition, in the summer it is very useful to eat fresh wild strawberries, since they contain substances that quite effectively prevent the growth of cancer cells and reduce the consequences of radiation damage.
• Ginger paste for the treatment of furunculosis. Ginger powder - 1/2 teaspoon; turmeric powder - 1/2 teaspoon. Mix ginger with turmeric, dilute the mixture with water and stir until a homogeneous mass with the consistency of sour cream is obtained. Place the resulting mixture on a cloth and apply to the boil. Leave for 1-2 hours. This will help draw out the contents of the abscess. If the boil does not burst and the pus does not come out, the procedure should be repeated. For sensitive skin prone to irritation, apply a thin layer of rich cream under the ginger compress.
• Compresses for joint pain. Ginger powder - 2 teaspoons; kernel oil (grape, peach, apricot) - 5 drops. Pour a small amount of hot water over the ginger and grind until a homogeneous mass of sour cream is formed. Add oil, mix again. Apply the mixture to gauze, apply to the sore spot, cover with compress paper or polyethylene, secure with a bandage and cover with something warm. Keep the compress from 40 to 60. This treatment, having a local irritating effect, relieves pain and reduces inflammation. Compresses with ginger paste are also effective for headaches and muscle pain.
• Compress for back pain. Ginger powder - 2 teaspoons; chili pepper, powder - 1/2 teaspoon; turmeric powder - 1 teaspoon; vegetable oil, sesame or mustard - 2 drops. Combine all the ingredients, add a little hot water and mix the mass well. Apply the warm mixture to a piece of cotton cloth, apply to the sore spot, cover with plastic wrap or compress paper, secure with a bandage and wrap with something warm. After 30 minutes, remove the compress, wash off the ginger mass with warm water and soap and apply a nourishing cream to the skin, then wrap yourself up again and rest for 2-3 hours. So the compress can quickly stop an attack of radiculitis.

Cosmetics

Ginger is also useful for maintaining a healthy appearance; it refreshes and tones the skin, and gives vital energy to cells. The ground root is used to eliminate a variety of problems: old calluses, rough or dull skin, oily seborrhea, etc.

• Herbal mixture with ginger against acne. Ginger powder - 1.5 tablespoons; elecampane, root - 1.5 tablespoons; large burdock, root - 1 tablespoon; Great celandine, leaves - 1 tablespoon; St. John's wort, herb - 2 tablespoons; silver birch, leaves - 2 tablespoons. Grind everything and mix. Pour 3 tablespoons of the mixture into 1 liter of water, put on fire and boil for 15 minutes over low heat. Cool, strain. Wash your face with the resulting decoction 3 times a day. The course of treatment is 3 weeks. Then take a week's break and repeat the treatment course to consolidate the results. The decoction can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 5 days. To improve results, it is advisable to follow a diet.
• The collection is rejuvenating and restorative. Ginger powder - 3 teaspoons; common anise, fruit - 2 teaspoons; lemon, zest - 2 teaspoons; chamomile, flowers - 2 teaspoons; peppermint, herb - 2 teaspoons; blue cornflower, flowers - 2 teaspoons; red rose, petals - 2 teaspoons; motherwort, herb - 1 teaspoon; medicinal sage, herb - 1 teaspoon; common thyme, herb - 1 teaspoon, honey - to taste. Mix everything, pour 4 tablespoons of the mixture (without a slide) into a thermos, pour 1 liter of boiling water and leave overnight. In the morning, pour the infusion into a container and place in a hot water bath. Boil for 10 minutes, strain. The course of treatment is 3 weeks. Take the infusion according to the scheme - take 100 ml 3 times a day hot for 1 week, adding honey to the infusion to taste, in the second week gradually increase the single dose to 250 ml, 3 week take 250 ml 3 times a day. The infusion can be given to children from 2 years old, 30–50 ml 2 times a day. The infusion helps cleanse the body of toxins, removes swelling, is a good general strengthening agent during epidemics, cleanses the face of acne, gives facial skin elasticity and a healthy color.
• Mask for oily, problem skin. Ginger powder - 1 teaspoon; white clay - 1 tablespoon; chamomile, flowers - 1 tablespoon; grape seed extract - 2 teaspoons; green tea extract - 2 teaspoons. Grind chamomile flowers into powder, mix with ginger powder and white clay, mix everything thoroughly. Add grape seed and green tea extracts. Mix everything again. Apply the resulting mass to the skin of the face, avoiding the area around the eyes, leave for 10 minutes, rinse with warm water. Apply the mask 1-2 times a week. Unused composition can be stored in the refrigerator in a tightly closed container for no more than 3 days.
• Mask for tired, aging skin. Ginger, fresh rhizome - 2 tablespoons; pomegranate juice - 1 teaspoon. Grate the fresh rhizome, add pomegranate juice, stir. Apply the resulting paste to the face, avoiding the eye area and neck. Leave for 20 minutes. Then rinse off with cool water.
• Collection against dandruff, hair loss, baldness. Ginger powder - 3 tablespoons; stinging nettle, leaves - 4 tablespoons; coltsfoot, leaves - 4 tablespoons; stinging nettle, leaves - 4 tablespoons. Mix everything. Place the resulting mixture in a large saucepan and add 6 liters of hot water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes over low heat. Let it brew for 6 hours. Wash your hair with the prepared infusion. Carry out the procedure 3 times a week.
• Mask for oily hair. Ginger powder - 1 tablespoon; sesame oil - 2 tablespoons. Pour sesame oil over ginger powder and stir until smooth. Rub the mask into the scalp and leave for 30 minutes. Then rinse your hair thoroughly with warm water.
• Bath against calluses and rough feet. Place 4 tablespoons of ginger powder in a bowl, pour in a small amount of boiling water, cover with a lid and let steep for 15 minutes. Dilute with cold water to a pleasantly warm temperature. Soak your feet in the bath for 15 minutes. Remove dead skin with pumice stone, then spread with the remaining steamed ginger, which will act as a scrub. After the procedure, wipe your feet dry, lubricate them with cream and put on simple socks. After the bath, apply a thin slice of fresh ginger to the old callus and fix it. After 3 hours, remove the slice, remove the softened skin, rinse with water, wipe dry and spread with cream. If necessary, repeat the procedure after 1–2 days.
• Anti-cellulite mixture. Ginger powder - 2 teaspoons (or 2 tablespoons of fresh grated rhizome), honey - 2 tablespoons; lemon, juice - 1 tablespoon; nutmeg powder - 1 teaspoon; kernel oil - 3–4 drops; plantain, leaf - 1 tablespoon. Prepare a decoction of plantain leaves. Mix all ingredients until smooth, add plantain broth and mix thoroughly. Apply the prepared mixture to problem areas and wrap them with plastic film, then with a terry towel or something warm. Leave for 1 hour. Take a shower, massage problem areas until the skin becomes slightly red with a special mitten. Apply nourishing cream or body milk to the skin. Carry out the procedure once a week.

Ginger in the fight against excess weight

Ginger plays a special role in the fight against excess weight. Ginger stimulates metabolism, promotes the breakdown of subcutaneous fat deposits, removes toxins and excess fluid from the body, and improves blood circulation. However, you should not expect an immediate result - regulating the metabolism of the entire body takes a long time. It is also necessary to take into account that ginger is a spice that stimulates digestion, so you should not increase the frequency of meals or the serving size, so as not to achieve the opposite effect.

• Mix ginger rhizome powder and ground nutmeg in a 1:1 ratio. In the morning, on an empty stomach, 15 minutes before meals, put the resulting mixture under your tongue (on the tip of a knife) and dissolve. Recommended for improving metabolism and weight loss.
• It is useful to add ginger root to food, both fresh and in powder. Eating salads with fresh ginger on fasting days gives a good effect.
• Drinking up to 2 liters of ginger tea per day without sugar or honey helps promote weight loss. You can diversify the drink with various additives, for example, lemon, orange juice, cinnamon, cardamom.
• Ginger tea with garlic. Ginger, fresh rhizome - 2 tablespoons; garlic - 2 cloves; water - 2 liters. Grate or finely chop the ginger, peel the garlic. Place whole peeled garlic cloves and grated ginger in a thermos. Pour 2 liters of boiling water and leave for 2 hours. Strain. Drink the infusion hot or warm in small portions, before meals and between meals to dull the feeling of hunger. Garlic enhances the effect of ginger.

Goodies

The taste of ginger and its importance for human health have given rise to many ways of preparing it. Cuisines all over the world use ginger and its use knows no limits. Everything is limited only by the imagination and taste of the cook. Recipes using ginger in different forms (fresh, dried, powder, juice) exist for salads, first and second courses, sauces, seasonings, desserts and drinks. Pickled ginger is an excellent addition to meat dishes, fish and seafood. However, when using ginger in cooking, you need to know a few simple rules:

• For cutting and slicing rhizomes, it is advisable to use synthetic or glass cutting boards, since wooden utensils easily absorb and retain a specific odor for a long time. It is best to grind ginger using a fine grater.
• The rhizome needs to be washed and with a sharp knife, peel the skin as thinly as possible, since it is under it that there is a large amount of useful substances.
• The taste of fresh and dried ginger is completely different. Fresh ginger primarily gives a refreshing aftertaste, while dried ginger gives a burning and aromatic aftertaste. Therefore, fresh root is used for its aroma, while dried root is used for its pungent taste.
• A tablespoon of fresh grated ginger can be replaced with a teaspoon of powder. Typically, 1 g of ginger per kilogram of product weight is used for cooking meat and baking.
• The timing of adding ginger to various dishes is important to preserve the aroma and beneficial qualities. For baking, for example, ginger is introduced into the dough when kneading it, and candied ginger is placed on the finished baked goods. For meat dishes, ginger is added 20 minutes before the end of cooking, for sweet dishes - 3 minutes before cooking. Ginger is added to sauces after heat treatment.
• Dried ginger is usually soaked before use.
• Ginger and milk are often used together when preparing sweet dishes. It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that ginger in such cases is taken fresh. Dried ginger is much more pungent, and the aroma is more appreciated here.

Ginger cookie

Ingredients: baking flour - 6 cups; tea soda - 1 tablespoon; ginger powder - 1 tablespoon; nutmeg powder - 1 teaspoon; cloves powder - 1 teaspoon; cinnamon powder - 1 teaspoon; sugar (brown or white) - 1 cup; honey or molasses - 1/4 cup; vanillin - 1 teaspoon; cooking fat or butter - 1 cup; chicken egg - 1 piece; water - 1/2 cup.

Preparation: Melt cooking oil or butter in a water bath and cool to room temperature. Add sugar, water, egg and vanillin to the butter, mix until smooth. In another bowl, thoroughly mix flour, soda, spices - nutmeg, ginger, cloves, cinnamon. Then, in a bowl with butter, with constant stirring, gradually add flour with spices. Mix everything thoroughly until a thick, homogeneous mass is obtained. Divide the resulting mass into three parts. Make a bun from each part and lightly roll it out on a board (a layer about 4 cm thick), put it in the refrigerator for 2 hours. After 2 hours, remove the cooled layer from the refrigerator and roll it out on a smooth surface to a thickness of 10 mm, cut out cookies with a cookie cutter and place on a baking sheet without greasing it with oil. Place the baking sheet in a preheated oven and bake the cookies for 10–12 minutes. Do the same with the rest of the dough. The finished gingerbread cookies will look dry, but will be soft to the touch - after cooking, the cookies can be sprinkled with powdered sugar or covered with icing.

Ginger ice cream

Ingredients: ginger, fresh rhizome - 10 g; powdered sugar - 60 g; milk - 1 glass; egg, yolks - 5 pieces.

Preparation: Peel the ginger and cut into thin slices. Boil the milk. Pour boiling milk over the ginger and let it brew for 20 minutes. Beat the egg yolks thoroughly with powdered sugar. Put the milk and ginger on the fire and let it boil. Carefully pour the egg yolks with powdered sugar into the boiling milk, stirring constantly, and cook until thickened. After this, strain the resulting mass, pour into molds, cool and freeze. Garnish with candied ginger if desired.

Pickled ginger (1 option)

Ingredients: ginger, fresh rhizome - 500 g; sugar - 4 tablespoons; rose wine - 4 tablespoons; vodka - 2 tablespoons; rice vinegar - 1 glass.

Preparation: Peel the ginger and boil for 1 minute in boiling water, cut into thin slices. Fold the slices loosely into a jar. Pour vodka and rose wine over the sugar, put on low heat and heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar dissolves, pour in the vinegar and bring the marinade to a boil. Pour the marinade over the ginger slices. After cooling, place the jar in the refrigerator.

Pickled ginger (2 option)

Ingredients: ginger, fresh rhizome - 300 g; sugar - 1.5 tablespoons; salt - to taste; red wine - 3 tablespoons; wine vinegar or any fruit vinegar - 1/2 cup; water - 4 tablespoons.

Preparation: Peel the ginger, cut into very thin strips, across the grain. Boil water and add salt to taste. Place chopped ginger into boiling water, stir and cook for 3 minutes. Then drain the water, cool the ginger and put it in a jar. Place sugar in a container, add hot water, heat over low heat until the sugar dissolves, add wine, vinegar and let it boil. Pour the resulting marinade over the ginger. Close the jar with a lid and leave to marinate for 3 days at room temperature. Then put it in the refrigerator.

Ginger flavored tea

Ingredients: essential oil of ginger rhizome - 3–4 drops; tea - 100 g.

Preparation: Drop essential oil into a tightly closed jar, then pour in 100 g of tea. Close tightly and, without opening for 5 days, shake periodically. After this, the flavored tea is ready to drink.

A perennial tuberous plant, ginger grows in Ceylon, Japan, India, China, and Central America. It belongs to spices. This spice came to Europe from the East. Ginger roots are used in cooking and folk medicine. Even 3000 years ago, the medicinal properties of the plant were known. Now it is actively used for the prevention and treatment of ailments, although many still think that the properties of ginger are limited only to its pickled taste. We will tell you about all the beneficial properties of ginger for the human body.

What are the benefits of ginger?

Ginger root has the following effects on the human body:

• fights colds;
• stimulates the immune system;
• gives freshness to breath;
• improves reproductive function;
• improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
• strengthens gums.

Composition of ginger

The beneficial properties of ginger are explained by its rich composition. It would take a very long time to list the substances that make up this plant. The following can be distinguished: phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, calcium, chromium, aluminum, silicon, nicotinic acid, linoleic acid, choline, caprylic acid, vitamin C, fats, choline, asparagine. Ginger contains many amino acids that are essential for the body. These are phenylalanine, methionine, tryptophan.

The main components of ginger root include starch, sugar, gingerol, borneol, camphene, bisabolene, and citral. The main component is gingerol. It is to him that this spice owes its specific taste. Essential oils give the plant its aroma. Ginger has very few calories, only 80 kcal per 100 grams.

Ginger is a source of phytoncides

Traditional medicine recommends chewing a slice of fresh ginger root at the initial stage of a throat disease. Relief comes immediately, the pain goes away. If this method is used several times a day, the disease will completely recede.

Ginger is a metabolic stimulant

Obesity causes a decrease in metabolic rate. Because of this, even the usual amount of food gives the body more calories than usual. As a result, numerous fat deposits appear on the thighs and sides. To cope with them, physical activity and a low-calorie diet are necessary. And the use of ginger promotes the process, increasing the effectiveness of the methods, creating favorable conditions. Increasing metabolism will help a person become slimmer.

Ginger is a source of antioxidants

Ginger root contains a large amount of vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and a means of preventing cancer. By consuming a couple of slices of the root of this plant daily, you can give the body the opportunity to resist the development of pathology.

Ginger for women's health

In the treatment of infertility, ginger is used to improve blood circulation and also as an anti-inflammatory agent. Its use makes it possible to improve blood flow in the pelvic organs, relieve inflammation, thereby creating normal conditions for conceiving a child.

During and before menstruation, ginger helps relieve pain, weakness, and relieves bad mood and cramps. It is enough to prepare ginger tea and drink it warm. The benefits of this drink have been confirmed by scientists from the University of Tehran. They observed a group of women with severe signs of PMS. Ginger tea helped manage symptoms without negative effects.

Opinions differ on whether ginger is beneficial or harmful for pregnant women. It is better, in order not to harm the fetus, to consult a gynecologist who is monitoring the pregnancy. It is believed that in small quantities in the first trimester, ginger will not harm the expectant mother. On the contrary, it will help get rid of toxicosis and improve your well-being. During lactation, ginger can get into the milk; this spice can spoil the taste of the milk, affect the baby's sleep, and cause allergies.

Ginger for men's health

According to scientists, ginger is one of the five best medicinal plants for men's health. It can be considered a sexual stimulant. Regular intake of ginger and preparations with it improves the functioning of the vascular system, blood circulation, and removes bad cholesterol from the body. The man will always be in good shape, the erection will be in normal condition. Ginger is a wonderful aphrodisiac.

Ginger root contains a lot of vitamins; they can stimulate the functioning of the pelvic organs. Zinc increases testosterone production. The plant helps fight germs and bacteria, it helps in the treatment of sexual diseases and inflammatory processes.

Ginger contraindications

• It is necessary to carefully study the contraindications before trying ginger for the first time. When taking any medications, you should consult a specialist to find out how compatible ginger is with them.
• The spice is contraindicated for any problems associated with inflammation of the mucous membrane (stomach, intestines).
• In case of cirrhosis and hepatitis C, ginger can lead to complications of diseases.
• It is not recommended for people who have stones in their bile ducts. The spice can cause the stones to move, causing severe pain.
• Hemorrhoids are also a contraindication for ginger. With this disease, bleeding occurs, and ginger.
• People with heart disease and high blood pressure should be careful when taking ginger.
• Children under two years old are not recommended to take all spices, including ginger.
• There is individual intolerance to the plant and allergic reactions.
• At a temperature, ginger can raise it even further.

Ginger in cosmetology

Ginger can improve hair condition. The plant affects the increased oiliness of the scalp, it reduces it, eliminates hair loss and dandruff. Ginger is also used to cleanse the skin. Ginger root helps get rid of dry skin and acne. It improves blood circulation, improving skin color.

Is pickled ginger good for you?

Many people often use pickled ginger when ordering oriental dishes. Ginger contains a large amount of multivitamins, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and amino acids. Pickled ginger improves digestion, helps with poisoning, and is used as an analgesic. The product is useful for people suffering from asthma, improving the functioning of the respiratory system. Ginger is also useful for improving brain function.