GINGER
Zingiber officinale
Common name: Ginger
Latin name: Zingiber officinale
Other names: Root Ginger, Black Ginger; Race Ginger; African Ginger; Sheng Jiang
Habitat: Ginger originates from South Asia.
Description: Herbaceous, perennial plant, with upright stems and aromatic, warty and branched rhizome. Leaves are long, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, green in color. Flowers are produced in a dense spike, yellow green with purple endings.
Parts used: Root (rhizome).
Useful components: Ascorbic acid, beta-sitosterol, beta-carotene, caffeic acid, capsaicin, curcumin, lecithin, limonene, selenium and tryptophan.
Medicinal use: Ginger is an old herbal medicine. Chinese healers recommended Ginger for different ailments: abdominal bloating, cough, diarrhea, rheumatism. Tibetan medical system considers Ginger to be helpful in treatment of various inflammatory joint diseases. Nowadays, Ginger is accepted as a remedy for different forms of nausea and vomiting problems: motion and morning sickness and problems with indigestion. Ginger is also considered helpful in treatments of headaches, menstrual pain, sore throat, fevers, and ulcerative colitis. Some gastrointestinal problems, such as gases and heartburn, can also be alleviated with Ginger.
Safety: Some herbs could react with certain medication. Therefore, it is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption of any herb.