Ginger

Ginger stimulates blood to inflamed areas of the body. Studies have shown ginger has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties similar to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, without the side effects of gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcers and constipation. It is also a useful treatment for most kinds of arthritis.

Ginger is one of the most cultivated spices in the world today; its versatility, popularity, and importance are unquestionable. In China and India it has been used for over 5000 years for cooking and as a natural remedy for healing ailments, such as colds, indigestion, joint pain, diarrhea and nausea; ginger has analgesic, sedative, and antibacterial properties and contains essential fatty acids, phytochemicals, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, B-vitamins, and zinc. It is no wonder that ginger has so many important healing qualities.

Ginger is a warming spice and its strong taste and stimulating effect on the body makes it an effective medicinal spice. It has been used to treat yellow-fever and malaria, and Chinese sailors chewed ginger root for seasickness thousands of years ago. Vertigo and motion sickness responded better to ginger than the standard pharmaceutical drugs. Recently, ginger has been recommended to alleviate nausea, and it is a safe remedy for morning sickness.

Ginger is well-known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Indian and Scandinavian studies have shown consistently that ginger is useful for treatment of most kinds of arthritis. Ginger offers a big advantage over NSAIDs and aspirin, both of which are irritating to the stomach, according to Dr. Krishna Srivastava, of Odense University in Denmark, a medical researcher on spices.

Dr. Charles Dorso, of Cornell University Medical College found that, after eating a large quantity of ginger, it is also an effective anticoagulant. Ginger is often referred to as a universal medicine in Indian Ayurvedic teachings and is used in most traditional Chinese herbal formulas.

Forget the aspirin and chemical medication for your muscle pain. According to a new study just reported in the Journal of Pain, published by the American Pain Society, daily doses of raw or heat-treated ginger effectively relieve muscle aches and discomfort and that includes even severe pain following strenuous exercise.

For centuries, ginger has been used by practitioners of Chinese medicine and by traditional Indian and Japanese healers to treat a host of conditions including vomiting and nausea, chronic coughs, morning sickness, gastrointestinal complaints and migraine headaches. It has also been used to treat both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. However, Western medicine has only recently started to seriously study the medicinal qualities of ginger.

Studies have shown that ginger has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties similar to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but without the side effects (which can include gastrointestinal bleeding and ulcers). In one study, taking a daily dose of ginger (30 to 500 mg.) for four to 36 weeks successfully reduced knee pain in people suffering from osteoarthritis.

Cultivated in tropical Asia for over 3000 years, ginger`s exact origin is unknown. Gingerroot was also used in the Middle East and southern Europe well before Roman times. The Portuguese introduced it into Africa and the Spanish took it to the West Indies. By the 1500`s, the Spaniards had a flourishing Jamaican ginger trade with continental Europe. Jamaican ginger is prized for its strong, perky flavor.

Excessive doses of ginger may cause mild heartburn, diarrhea and irritation of the mouth; it may also cause some mild gastrointestinal side effects, such as belching, heartburn, or stomach upset. This may be controlled by taking ginger supplements in capsules.

People with gallstones should consult a doctor before taking ginger. Do not take ginger if you have a bleeding disorder, or if you are taking blood-thinning medication, including aspirin. Although ginger may interfere with blood-clotting, there have been no scientific or case reports of interactions. Before using ginger it is best to talk to your healthcare provider.

Now, in new research from the University of Georgia and Georgia College and State University (GCSU), scientists have found even more evidence that ginger is a potent muscle pain reliever. The scientists worked with seventy-four student volunteers who were divided into three groups. One group was given raw ginger, one group received heated ginger and the third group received a fake ginger placebo.

Muscle pain was induced in the volunteers by having them perform 18 eccentric muscle exercises. Then the research subjects were tested on 11 consecutive days to see if those taking the ginger had reduced muscle aches and pains. And they did -- dramatically. The results showed that both raw and heat-treated ginger lowered muscle pain intensity by 25% and 23%, respectively.

More breaking ginger news: in a study just reported in the journal Pediatric Blood and Cancer, researchers from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi have documented that ginger significantly reduced nausea and vomiting in children subjected to chemotherapy for cancer. In addition, new research published this month in the journal Molecular Vision suggests ginger may prevent or delay the development of cataracts in diabetics. www.naturalnews.com