The heat of ginger

Whether it is the untimely rains or poor quality of water, tummy and respiratory troubles plague us all the time. Don’t you wish for a magical herb to save you from these maladies? Ginger is the answer.

Growing as an underground stem, this rhizome has anti-viral, anti-bacterial, antioxidant and anti-parasitic properties and is widely recommended in Ayurveda. Available in both raw and dried forms, ginger has many benefits:

n To get rid of nausea and stomach issues, soak small pieces of lightly roasted ginger in lemon juice. Add some salt to it and store. Suck on the pieces when you feel nauseated. This is a good remedy for morning sickness too. The phenolic compounds in ginger aid in relieving gastro-intestinal problems. A small piece crushed and mixed with buttermilk and rock salt relieves tummy aches.

n As a preventive remedy, take a two-inch piece of dry ginger and lightly roast before powdering it. Mix it with some salt and store in an airtight jar. Take one tsp of this powder along with a little ghee and mix with rice. It’s best to take this before the afternoon meal. This can be taken on a weekly basis as it helps improve digestion and boosts immunity.

n For curing cold and cough, ginger is your best bet. Extract the juice of a piece of ginger and mix it with honey. Take a tsp of this three to four times a day till the phlegm clears. Also, sip on   some ginger tea to relieve the cough.

n Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties, making it suitable for relieving headaches and joint pains due to osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The oil extracted from ginger is often used in pain balms.

For those who find the ‘sting’ of ginger difficult to tolerate, they can candy pieces of ginger too. So, go ahead and use this wonder spice in your daily diet and benefit from its medicinal properties.