What is Ginger

    
 & By: Nutritionist Ayat shatara
Ginger is the root or rhizome that has popularly used as a spice and herbal 

medicine for thousands of years. It has been used to treat many health problems like indigestion, all stomach disorders , diarrhea, arthritis, cancer, by chemotherapy, diabetes type (2), and menstrual cramps.

u Ginger is one spice that I recommend keeping on hand in your kitchen at all times. Not only is it a wonderful addition to your cooking (especially paired with garlic) but it also has enough medicinal properties to fill several books.

u Fresh ginger root keeps well in your freezer. If you find yourself nauseous or with an upset stomach, mince up a small amount (about the size of your fingernail) and swallow it. You'll be amazed at the relief it provides. Yet this is only the beginning

   

     In 2013, a study also found that women athletes taking three grams of ginger or cinnamon daily (that's less than one teaspoon) had a significant decrease in muscle soreness. Ginger has even been found to be as effective as ibuprofen in relieving pain from menstrual cramps in women.

     The pain-relieving potential of ginger appears to be far-reaching. Along with help for muscle and joint pain, ginger has been found to reduce the severity of migraine headaches as well as the migraine medication Sumatriptan – with fewer side effects.

      Another recent study, which was presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference, found that adding ginger compounds to isoproterenol, a type of asthma medication called a beta-agonist, enhanced its bronchodilating effects. Because ginger enhances bronchodilation, it may provide a much safer alternative, or at least complement, to current asthma medications on the market.

u Ginger has anti inflammatory property that helps to reduce the inflammation which causes pain in the stomachache just as similar as NAIDs. It eases the inflammation that gives relief from the indigestion and hyper acidity.

u It’s a mild stimulant that promotes blood circulation and aids for better digestion neutralizes the stomachache.

u It contains strong antioxidant called gingerols and shogaols that will decrease the free radicals production and also the damage to the body and finally gives relief from the pain. It also aids your muscles of intestinal track relax which gives relief from the stomach pain occurring as well as gas.

Nutritional breakdown of ginger

u Using fresh ginger is an easy way to flavor foods and drinks without adding unnecessary sodium. Since it is often consumed in such small amounts, ginger does not add significant quantities of calories, carbohydrate, protein or fiber.

u Ginger does contain numerous other anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds beneficial to health such as gingerols, beta-carotene, capsaicin, caffeic acid, curcumin and salicylate

Ginger provides a variety of vitamins and minerals:

u Carbohydrate - 17.77 g

u Dietary Fiber - 2 g

u Protein - 1.82 g

u Dietary Fiber - 2 g

u Sugars - 1.7 g

u Sodium - 13 mg

u Vitamin B6 - 0.16 mg

u Calcium - 16 mg

u Iron - 0.6 mg

u Vitamin C - 5 mg

u Potassium - 415 mg

u Magnesium - 43 mg

u Phosphorus - 34 mg

u Zinc - 0.34 mg

u Folate - 11 mcg

u Riboflavin - 0.034 mg

u Niacin - 0.75 mg

u Iron - 0.6 mg

Ginger to Treat Stomach Ulcer

u Method:

     Ginger may be eaten in a variety of foods, such as gingerbread, many Chinese foods, ginger ale, teas, and ginger snaps. Do not exceed 4 grams daily. More conveniently, ginger may be taken as a supplement. The standard dose is 250 mg 4 times daily.

u Why It Works

     Because ginger is an antibacterial, it can prevent the growth of ulcer-causing bacteria. It also works to reduce the volume of gastric juices.

u  Ulcer Promotion

      Because compounds in ginger root stimulate an increase in digestive juices, the potential for stomach irritation and peptic ulcers exist. Also, the “Physicians’ Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines” notes that ingestion of dried ginger root powder

    has been shown to increase turnover in epithelial cells in the surface of the  gastrointestinal tract in humans. Since this can possibly lead to the formation

    of ulcers, it is recommended that ginger not be taken on an empty stomach.

u  Safety Precautions:

      The risk of ulcers increases with excessive doses of ginger. The University of Maryland Medical Center suggests taking encapsulated ginger supplements if you experience any gastrointestinal distress. However, consult your physician before using this herb if you have a history of ulcers, gallstones or a bleeding disorder. Ginger may also interact with pharmaceutical medicines, including blood-thinning drugs, anti-platelet agents, calcium channel blockers and diabetes medications

The Health Effects of Ginger

Coronary Heart Disease 

   There are several studies on the effect of ginger on Coronary Heart Disease (CHD).

    A study looked at the effects of ginger (and another substance known as fenugreek) consumption on blood lipids, blood sugar, and platelet aggregation in patients with CHD. Patients recruited for this study included healthy individuals, individuals with CHD, and patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) [with or without CHD].

u Researchers found:

    No effects on platelet aggregation, blood lipids, or blood sugars in CHD patients when ginger was given at a lose dose (4 g/day) for 3 months. However, when given a single large dose (10 g) of ginger, significant reductions in platelet aggregation were seen, indicating that large doses are necessary for the greatest benefit.

Ginger’s effectiveness for reducing blood pressure (BP) was assessed under varied dosages. A dose-dependant (0.3—3 mg/kg) decrease was noted in arterial BP, which provides support for ginger’s role in BP regulation.

Diabetes :

Ginger has been shown to possess anti-diabetic activity in a variety of animal studies. A study found that when rats were given ginger juice for 6 weeks, the risk for developing diabetes was reduced. The researchers found that treatment with ginger significantly increased insulin levels and decreased fasting glucose levels. Treatment with ginger also produced other favorable effects in diabetic rats, including decreases in serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure.

u Other Potential Uses:

u As mentioned earlier, ginger process mild anti-inflammatory and an-algesic properties. Published case reports indicates indicate that ginger may help people with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and muscular pain. The daily doses employed in these reports ranged from 3 to 7 grams. The length of treatment varied  from 3 months to 25 years. Three-quarters of the patients with arthritis enjoyed, to varying degrees, relief from pain and swelling.

u Ginger may also offer promise for margarine sufferers.

u Toxicity:

Normally, ginger is a safe drug without any adverse reactions and has a wide range of utility.

Paradoxically it’s include in the list of plants containing poisonous principles because of it’s oxalic acid content.

The oleoresin exhibited a marked action on the central nervous system.

A single does up to 0.5 g/kg resulted in vasodilatation, activeness, and alertness in animals.

Ginger In Home Remedies(Primary Health Care):

u Decoction of dry ginger together with Jiggery (a form of crude sugar) relieves dropsy (an excessive accumulation of water fluid in any of the tissue or  activities of the body).

u Hot decoction of dry ginger is stomachic and digestive and relives cough, asthma, colic, and angina pectoris.

u Ginger juice with an equal quantity of milk is indicated in ascetic(abnormal accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal  cavity). The ghee prepared with 10 times the ginger juice also has the similar effect.

u Warm juice of ginger mixed with gingerly oil, honey, and rock salt is a good eardrop in otalgia (pain in the ear).

u Unfortunately, the only published paper on the topic is mostly theoretical and involves only one case study. More research is needed before ginger can reach the same level of clinical assurance enjoyed by feverfew.

u Finally, ginger may be a promising treatment for the nausea following chemotherapy. However, large studies are needed to confirm not only the effectiveness of ginger but also whether it may have any negative interactions with chemotherapy drugs.

u This is definitely one area you need to discus with your doctor should you decided to take ginger.

u Paste of ginger made with Ricans root decoctions is cooked over red-hot coals after covering with mud, and the juice is collected with this special method. This juice if taken along with honey, cures the symptoms of rheumatic fever.

u Juice of ginger with old jigger cures urticaria (nettle rash)and is digestive.

u Ghee prepared with ginger juice, ginger paste, and milk relieves edema, sneezing, ascetic, and indigestion.

u Ginger juice along with lemon juice mixed with little rock salt bowder is effective in flatulence(presence of excessive gas in stomach and intestine), indigestion, and anorexia(having no appetite for food).

u Dry ginger is effective in all symptoms due to due to the ingestion of jack fruit.

u Ginger immersed in lime water(calcium hydroxide)and applied to the skin can remove warts.

u Ginger juice and clear ( a small painful horny growth on the sole of the foot are the toes).

u Ginger juice and honey in equal quantities is hypotensive in action, and course is excellent for relieving cough.

u Application of ginger juice around the umbilical region is good for curing diarrhea.

u Purified ginger juice, onion juice , and honey in equal parts if taken at bedtime in anthelmintic in action.

u Dry ginger pounded in milk and then the expressed juice used as a nasal drop relieves headache and associated symptoms.

u Dry ginger boiled in buttermilk is ant poisonous and is given for internal use.