Ginger Health Benefits

"Taste is for sissies," the grisly old mountain man growled with a hideous leer. "I want my food to hurt!"

He grabbed for the Blair's 3 AM Reserve Pepper Extract before I was able to do so. I gave him a withering look and stomped on the floor a few times to signal my impatience.

He waved his arm in the air, to communicate a total and free-wheeling lack of regard for my boot pounding, thereby implying that it was his plan to completely ignore it. All the jostling around caused a lot of spillage, and quickly, the room was a mess. What was on our plates was now on the hardwood beneath our feet.

I knew I could not proceed with this impromptu feast. His German Shepherd was inching toward the dinner that got accidentally dumped, looking at us, then at the edible aromatic piles on the floor. I felt sorry for the beast. Soon he'd be out in the cold, with the wind howling, shivering in his scrappy dog house behind the garage, a full moon and barn owls gazing down menacingly.

"I'm taking my hot sauce home now, until maybe someday you learn to respect it, and let the owner have first drizzle," I said so stridently, so aggressively, I admit I scared myself. I had brought a bottle of the insanely burning brew to show off my culinary masochism. But he had to suddenly turn into an orator and me-firster and start sputtering profound remarks, spoiling the simple occasion.

I don't know if you like spicy foods or not, but there are all kinds of spices. Spices can be soothing, surprising, floral, sharp, mild, nutty, salty, bitter, sweet, and sour -- as well as hot. So it's unfair and unrealistic to call hot foods "spicy" as though all spices added heat to food. What is a gingerbread cookie, or a cinnamon bun, if not spicy, since they contain spices, but not peppers? See what I mean?

Other euphemisms for "hot" are: tangy, extra zip, South of the Border, 5 alarm, firehouse, and spiked accents.

Hot foods contain heat and heat is cause by peppers mainly.

But there are also some items that have a bite to them, without being painfully hot to the tongue.

One of those entities is ginger. It has a slight sting to it, but it's a really great flavoring. It's used in ginger ale, ginger candy, gingerbread, ginger breath mints, ginger salad dressing, ginger toothpaste, and ginger root tea. Look for Natural Flavor on the packaging, or more ideally, Natural Organic Ginger.

I'm drinking Alvita Ginger Root tea right now. I added some Himilayan Raw Organic Acacia honey to it. It's a very refreshing beverage.

University of Maryland Medical Center states the following Health Benefits of Ginger:


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In China, ginger has been used to aid digestion and treat stomach upset, diarrhea, and nausea for more than 2,000 years.

Ginger has also been used to help treat arthritis, colic, diarrhea, and heart conditions. In addition to these medicinal uses, ginger continues to be valued around the world as an important cooking spice and is believed to help treat the common cold, flu-like symptoms, headaches, and even painful menstrual periods.

Native to Asia where its use as a culinary spice spans at least 4,400 years, ginger grows in fertile, moist, tropical soil.

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WebMD reports on the how ginger can help chemotherapy patients in "Ginger May Root Out Nausea".

For even more details on the therapeutic powers of ginger, OrganicFacts provides information.




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Stomach: Ginger root and ginger oil is often used for stomach upsets. It is one of the best remedies for indigestion, stomach ache, dyspepsia, colic, spasms, diarrhea, flatulence and other stomach and bowel related problems. Ginger or ginger oil is often added in numerous food preparations, especially in India, as it helps in improving digestion. Ginger tea is also used for relieving stomach problems. Further, it increases the appetite of a person.

Food poisoning: Ginger is antiseptic and carminative. As a result, it can be used for treating food poisoning. It is also used for treating intestinal infections and bacterial dysentery.

Nausea and Vomiting: Research has proved that ginger root and its oil is also effective against nausea, motion sickness and vomiting. Usage of ginger may result in reduction in pregnancy related vomiting as well in women.

Heart: It is strongly believed in China that ginger boosts and strengthens your heart. Many people use ginger oil as a measure to prevent as well as cure heart diseases. Preliminary research has indicated that ginger may be helpful in reduction of cholesterol levels and prevention of blood clotting. With reduced cholesterol levels and blood clotting the chances of blockage of blood vessels decrease thereby reducing incidences of heart strokes.

Respiratory: Since ginger root and ginger oil is a good expectorant, it is effective in various respiratory problems such as cold, cough, flu, asthma, bronchitis and breathlessness. Ginger is very effective in removing mucus from the throats and lungs and hence it is often added with tea in India. The health benefit of honey and ginger in treating respiratory problems is well known.

Inflammation and Pain: Extract of ginger is often used in traditional medicine to reduce inflammation. Research has now proved that its anti-inflammatory properties can be attributed to the presence of the substance named Zingibain. It is analgesic in nature and reduces pain caused by muscle aches, arthritis, rheumatisms, headache, migraine, etc. Ginger oil or paste of ginger is often massaged on aching muscles to remove muscle strain. It is further believed that regular use of ginger leads to reduction of prostaglandins which are the compounds associated with pain. Hence ginger helps in pain relief. Recently a few Chinese researchers have reported that ginger is effective for treating inflammation of the testicles.

Menstrual Problems: Irregular and painful menstrual discharges can be treated with ginger.

Malaria: Ginger root and ginger oil is also effective against yellow fever and malaria.

Stress: Ginger oil, being an essential oil is stimulating and therefore relives depression, mental stress, exhaustion, dizziness, restlessness and anxiety.

Impotency: Ginger is helpful for men’s health as well. Since ginger root and its oil are aphrodisiac in nature, it is effective in removing impotency and treating premature ejaculation.

Kidney: It is also believed that ginger root juice is able to dissolve kidney stones.

Hair: Ginger is useful for hair care as well. Usage of the juice of ginger is useful in controlling dandruff.

Cancer: According to the American Cancer Society, preliminary research on animals has shown that ginger may be useful in treating cancer through chemotherapy.

It should be noted that ginger oil is very strong and therefore it should be used carefully.

Ginger oil blends well with many other essential oils including lemon, cedarwood, lime, eucalyptus, frankincense, geranium, rosemary, sandalwood, patchouli, myrtle, bergamot, rosewood, neroli, orange and ylang-ylang.

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University of Maryland also provides the ginger adult dosage amounts.


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 Adult

In general, ginger intake should not exceed 4 grams daily (this includes the ginger obtained through diet such as from ginger ale, ginger snaps, and ginger bread). Usually, food sources contain no more than 0.5% ginger.

Standardized dose: Take 75 - 2,000 mg in divided doses with food, standardized to contain 4% volatile oils or 5% total pungent compounds including 6-gingerol or 6-shogaol.

For nausea, gas, or indigestion: 2 - 4 grams of fresh root daily (0.25 - 1.0 g of powdered root) or 1.5 - 3.0 mL (30 - 90 drops) liquid extract daily. To prevent vomiting, take 1 gram of powdered ginger (1/2 tsp) or its equivalent, every 4 hours as needed (not to exceed 4 doses daily), or 2 ginger capsules (1 gram), 3 times daily. You may also chew a 1/4 oz piece of fresh ginger when needed.

For pregnancy-induced vomiting, use 250 mg 4 times daily.

To relieve arthritis pain: Take fresh ginger juice, extract, or tea, 2 - 4 grams daily. Topical ginger oil may also be rubbed into a painful joint. Fresh ginger root may also be placed in a warm poultice or compress and apply to painful areas.

For cold and flu symptoms, sore throat, headache and menstrual cramps: Steep 2 tbsp of freshly shredded ginger in hot water, 2 - 3 times daily. A drop of ginger oil or a few slices of fresh rhizome may also be placed in steaming water and inhaled.

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Blair's 3 AM Reserve Pepper Extract 

hot sauce ($34.25)


Buy natural and organic ginger products
at Naturally Yours Grocery online.


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at Naturally Yours Grocery online.