Ginger - beneficial properties and contraindications for use

Greens and herbs

Ginger is an Asian herb whose root is widely used for medicinal purposes. Although the plant's beneficial properties have been known for centuries, it's important to understand that ginger also has certain limitations and contraindications, which should be considered before using it as a medicine.

Composition and general beneficial properties of ginger

The plant is rich in trace elements and vitamins essential for the normal functioning of the human body. However, it's important to note that the most beneficial components are found in the rhizome (the underground shoot of the flower, mistakenly considered the plant's root).

The product contains:

essential oils;
resinous compounds;
starch;
sugar;
lipids;
fats;
niacin;
unsaturated fatty acids;
asparagine;
zingiberene;
gingerol;
phellandrene;
choline;
camphene;
essential amino acids;
microelements (Zn, Fe, Mg, Ca, P, Na, K, Si, Ge, Cr and Al);
vitamins A, C, K, and group B.

The flower's rhizome has expectorant, warming, analgesic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, carminative, diaphoretic, immunostimulant, oncoprotective, and mild sedative properties. The plant's unique composition allows it to be used for the treatment and prevention of a wide range of diseases and pathological conditions:

Ginger restores hormonal balance regardless of gender. Taking the rhizome helps relieve menstrual symptoms in women and stimulates potency in men. The plant's underground shoots are actively used to treat female infertility.
The resinous substances in the root have a disinfecting effect and accelerate the process of restoration of damaged tissues.
In addition, the plant improves digestion by normalizing gastric secretion, thereby helping to get rid of symptoms of indigestion and flatulence.
Beneficial properties
The plant is actively used for the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections due to its expectorant, antimicrobial, diaphoretic and immunostimulating effects.
Ginger root relieves nausea, which is why it is used to prevent motion sickness and toxicosis in early pregnancy.
The plant's ability to inhibit the activity of parasites is used in the treatment of helminthic infestations.
Regular use of the plant helps strengthen the vascular wall and remove “bad” cholesterol from the body.
Chewing the rhizome of the flower after each meal will help get rid of bad breath and improve the quality of your teeth.
The plant's essential oils have a calming effect on the human nervous system.
Beneficial properties
Due to the plant's ability to speed up metabolism, it is an indispensable aid in weight loss.
The plant is used for poisoning, as it helps remove toxins and other harmful substances from the body.
In addition, the plant has been shown to have a beneficial effect on human cognitive abilities and physical performance.

Contraindications and harm of ginger for the body

Despite a number of medicinal properties that the plant's rhizome has, caution should be exercised when taking it.

The product is contraindicated in:

individual intolerance to the plant;
bleeding;
heat;
burns;
ulcerative diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
gastritis;
cholelithiasis;
diverticulitis;
diverticulosis;
food reflux;
arrhythmia;
heart diseases;
hepatitis;
cirrhosis;
tumor formations.

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When using the plant for these conditions, the disease may worsen. Ginger-based medications should not be taken before bedtime, as they can cause insomnia.

Excessive consumption of ginger may lead to unwanted side effects, including:

Deterioration of vision.
Dryness and irritation of the skin.
Arrhythmia.
Sleep disorders.
Emotional instability.
Nausea.
Vomit.
Diarrhea.

Remember!

If any of the listed symptoms occur, you should stop using the product.

Dosage forms and prescriptions

Ginger is a unique food crop that has been used for thousands of years as a spicy seasoning for dishes, and its juice is added to sauces, salad dressings, and even beverages. Ginger is also added to tea, baked goods, preserves, and even alcohol.

Tea

Ginger tea is a tonic drink that helps the body cope with colds.

Drink ingredients:

Ginger root – 2-3 pieces.
Lemon – 2 slices.
Honey – 1 teaspoon.
Cinnamon – to taste.

Ginger and lemon are steeped in boiling water for half an hour. Honey and cinnamon are added to the steeped and slightly cooled tea.

Tincture

To prepare the tincture:

You need to take 30 g of the flower root grated on a coarse grater and 200 ml of vodka.
Ginger is placed in a dark glass container, filled with vodka and tightly closed with a lid for further infusion in a warm and dark place for 2 weeks.
The tincture must be shaken daily.
Strain the liquid before use. To improve the taste of the medicine, you can add honey and lemon juice to the tincture.

Seasoning for dishes

Thanks to its distinct aroma and pungent taste, the product is used as an addition to various dishes, and ginger powder is added to various combined seasonings.

To prepare this seasoning, simply grind dried ginger in a coffee grinder to a powder. This spice is an essential element of Asian cuisine, imparting a distinctive, pungent aroma to all dishes. It pairs beautifully with meat, fish, and vegetables, complementing and enhancing these foods.

Juice

The plant's juice is the basis for many sauces and salad dressings. It can also be added to various refreshing and tonic drinks. To obtain the juice, grate the plant's root and squeeze out the liquid from the resulting pulp.

Pickled ginger and desserts

Pickled ginger root is widely used in Asian cuisine. To pickle 250 grams of ginger, you'll need:

Salt – 1 tsp.
Water – 2 tbsp.
Sugar – 1 tbsp.
Beetroot – 1 piece.
Vinegar – 1 tbsp.

Thinly slice the ginger root and pour 1 cup of salted boiling water over it. Let it steep for 5 minutes, then drain the water and pour 1 cup of sweetened boiling water over the ginger. Continue steeping the ginger in the sweetened water until it cools completely. Then add the beets and vinegar. Let it steep for 12 hours.

Pastry chefs often add dried or fresh ginger to various baked goods, buns, gingerbread, and muffins. Ginger syrup is used to make candies and jam.

How to take ginger correctly

The choice of medicinal form of ginger directly depends on the type of disease or pathological condition.

For weight loss

Adding this product to your diet helps boost metabolism, which can aid weight loss, as metabolic dysfunction is often the cause of obesity. For weight loss, it's recommended to consume ginger root fresh or as a spice.

Ginger tea with lemon, honey, and cinnamon is also used for weight loss. It is recommended to drink it in the morning, 30-60 minutes before meals.

For diabetes mellitus

Eating the product fresh not only boosts the body's metabolic processes but also lowers blood sugar levels, which is especially important for people with diabetes.

Remember!

However, patients taking hypoglycemic medications should avoid the plant.

This restriction is explained by the product's ability to enhance the effects of these medications, which will lead to a critical decrease in blood sugar.

Benefits for women

The flower's root alleviates the symptoms of painful menstruation and menopause. The plant is also used to treat infertility, as its use normalizes female hormonal balance. Women are recommended to drink two glasses of ginger tea daily.

Benefits for men

Since ancient India, ginger has been considered a powerful aphrodisiac and has been widely used to enhance libido. The spice stimulates potency by improving blood circulation in the intimate areas.

To enhance potency, take 30 grams of fresh root before bed for 30 days. It's best to take the root with warm green tea with sugar. This treatment will also have a beneficial effect on a man's hormonal balance. As an aphrodisiac, it's also recommended to take the product fresh 60 minutes before intercourse.

Normalization of digestion

This spice helps normalize digestion by increasing gastric acid secretion and accelerating metabolism. To improve digestion, you can consume it fresh or dried. Ginger tea also has a beneficial effect on digestion.

For coughs, colds, sore throats

A tea made from ginger, honey, and lemon can help relieve coughs and other cold symptoms. Continue drinking the warm beverage until you've fully recovered. The maximum daily dose is 2 liters. Ginger juice with salt can also help relieve a sore throat.

It's enough to take 2 tablespoons of this mixture 3 times a day, half an hour before meals. However, it's important to keep in mind that this product has a warming effect on the body. If you have a high fever, avoid ginger tea.

Boosting immunity

Both the fresh product and medicinal preparations made from it, such as tea or alcohol tincture, help boost immunity. The tincture should be taken 1 teaspoon at a time for 14 days, three times a day.

Cancer prevention

It is believed that regularly adding this spice to your diet helps minimize the risk of developing cancer.

Important!

However, ginger-based medications should not be used in the presence of malignant tumors, as their warming properties will only accelerate the growth of cancer cells.

For joint pain and rheumatism

A compress made from crushed plant roots to a powder can help relieve joint pain. Mix the powder with a small amount of warm water to create a paste-like consistency. Apply the paste to the affected area, cover with plastic wrap, and secure with a cloth or bandage. Leave the compress on the affected area for 8 hours. Treatment duration: 14 days.

For toothache

This product can relieve toothache quite quickly. To do this, the root is crushed into a paste and applied directly to the tooth or inserted into its cavity. The paste should remain on the tooth for 30 minutes to ensure the desired effect. The pain may intensify in the first few minutes after applying the paste, but typically the pain subsides completely within 5-10 minutes.

In cosmetology

The spice is used to restore skin smoothness and relieve various skin inflammations (acne, ulcers, boils, abscesses). To prepare an acne tonic, mix the plant juice with water in equal parts. Irritation or skin sores can be relieved with a cotton pad soaked in the rhizome juice.

Simply apply a damp cotton pad to the affected area for a few minutes to allow the juice's active ingredients to take effect locally. Repeat this procedure once a day until the problem disappears completely.

Use during pregnancy, breastfeeding and childhood

Ginger is a popular remedy for relieving the symptoms of morning sickness during pregnancy. However, it should be consumed with extreme caution during pregnancy, and should be avoided completely during the third trimester.

Take note!

Women whose pregnancy is accompanied by a risk of miscarriage or other pathologies should also avoid using the plant.

It is not recommended to consume this spice during lactation, as its active ingredients penetrate into breast milk and can cause sleep disturbances and restlessness in the infant. This spice is not recommended for children under 2 years of age due to its potential to irritate the gastric lining.

Storage rules

The product can be stored fresh, frozen, or dried. The spice can be stored in the refrigerator for quite a long time, but keep in mind that after a week of refrigeration, its nutritional value is reduced by half. For this reason, it should be refrigerated for no more than 6 days. The lower shelves of the refrigerator or the vegetable drawer are ideal for storage.

Freezing preserves both the flavor and medicinal properties of ginger. It's best to store ginger in the freezer chopped and wrapped in a plastic bag. This allows you to break off the required amount as needed, without having to defrost the entire product. Frozen rhizomes can be stored for up to 3 months.

Another way to preserve the product's nutritional and flavorful qualities is to dry it. Thinly sliced and dried, it can be stored in an airtight container for over six months. The spice can also be stored in combination with honey, as honey is an excellent preservative. For this type of storage, simply add the grated root to high-quality honey.

Frequently Asked Questions

When taking any plant with medicinal properties, questions arise regarding its effect on the body, and ginger is no exception.

Does ginger lose its beneficial properties when frozen?

The plant retains its beneficial properties when frozen and then stored in the freezer for 2-3 months.

Can pregnant women use it for toxicosis?

The product can be used in early pregnancy to relieve symptoms of toxicosis, if the pregnancy is proceeding without pathologies.

How does the plant affect blood pressure and heart rate?

The product normalizes blood pressure and stabilizes heart rhythm. However, consuming the plant is not recommended for those with heart disease.

What foods is ginger incompatible with?

The plant goes well with any food product.

Ginger is a healthy food crop that has found application not only in cooking, but also in folk medicine and has been used for many years to treat and prevent various diseases.

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