Herbal Spotlight: Ginger | Zingiber officinale

There’s something about ginger that just smelling it, makes me come alive. The energetics of this exotic, yet common plant is undeniable. Warming and energizing and disctinct in flavor and constituents, the medicinal effects of ginger on the body are nothing short of amazing.

Properties: anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anodyne (pain-relieving), carminative (helps digesting), blood-circulating, diaphoretic (sweat causing)

Energetics: when fresh, warming and drying; if dried, hot and drying

Uses: indigestion, pain-relief (i.e. arthritis, cramps, migraines), nausea, inflammation, stomach flu, and many others

Preparations: tea, decoction, tincture, culinary, fresh juice, powder

Here are just a few ways to incorporate ginger into your daily routine:

Ginger Infusion — Add 1 tsp of chopped ginnger to boiling water, cover, infuse 10 minutes. Add lemon and/or honey, if desired and only when the infusion has cooled off. Helps to soothe indigestion, cramps, feelings of cold and stagnancy.

Ayurvedic Apple Bowl — this easy to make breakfast bowl is so quick & easy and incorporates other super healthy ingredients such as flax seed, oats, curcuma, and yes, ginger (I tend to use a big chunk). It’s filling while not being heavy and makes your kitchen smell heavenly! Get the recipe here.

Ginger Shots — another super simple recipe in which you need just a handful of ginger, lemon and a blender. This one is from my teacher, Dr. Aviva Romm, and can be found here.

Soothing Ginger Fomentation — A fomentation is a decoction that’s applied using a towel that’s dipped into the warm herbal liquid annd applied directly on the skin. This remedy is great for stiff necks, menstrual cramps, and sore backs. Find the recipe here. Note: if you don’t have cramp bark or cayenne, you can make the fomentation using just ginger. It will also do the trick ;)