Herb Profile: Ginger

Zingiber officinale commonly known as ginger is such a diverse herb with so many beautiful healing qualities. I chose to profile ginger today as it is such an easily accessable herb that you can add to your cooking to enhance your health and the flavour of your food.

Ginger has been traditionally used to reduce nausea including travel and morning sickness, to improve circulation, stimulate digestion, reduce inflammation and treat colic.

Recent research has shown ginger to be effective for the treatment of functional dyspepsia (abdominal pain with bloating, burping, heartburn and nausea).

I use ginger in a lot of my herbal formulas for conditions ranging from IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), to the common cold and arthritis. It is such a great warming herb and a real treat for the tastebuds!

And then there’s the kitchen! What can’t you do with ginger?! You can add it to cakes, muffins, biscuits, oatmeal, stir fry, smoothies and so much more! In winter, its great for your immune system to take ginger in your tea. A great combo is ginger, lemon and honey – use fresh ginger root just finely sliced or grated.

So get creative and start adding some ginger to your life 

As with all herb prescribing, you should see your naturopath or herbalist if you think that you should be on this herb as there are some conditions and medications that are contraindicated for its use.