Ginger is used as a spice, flavoring agent as well as herbal remedy in almost every Indian household. It is rich in nutrients and certain bioactive compounds that have potent medicinal benefits. In the Ayurveda textbook, the properties of Ginger are mentioned as:
आर्दकं नागरगुणं भेदनं दीपनं गुरु॥ कटूष्णं दीपनं वृष्यं रुच्यमार्दकनागरम्।
श्वासकासवमीहिक्कवातश्लेष्मविबन्धनुत् ।। पाचनं रोचनं वृष्यं कटूष्णं वह्निदीपनम् ।
वातप्रकोपशमनं पाचनं शोथहृत्परम् ॥ भोजनादौ सदा पथ्यं जिह्वाकण्ठविशोधनम्।
अव्यक्तरसवीर्यत्वात्तत्परं तु कफापहम् ॥ काञ्जिकार्द्र सलवणं दीपनं पाचनं परम् ।वातप्रकोपशमनं हर्षणं लवणार्द्रकम् ॥- भावप्रकाश
Ginger has Bhedan (purgative), Deepan (appetizer), and Guru(heavy) properties which promote healthy digestion. Ginger also helps to reduce the symptoms of cough, cold, and body ache due to its Vata-Kapha balancing nature. Consuming ginger before taking meals can help stimulate the taste buds of the tongue and provide relief in sore throat. Ginger helps improve digestion by increasing the absorption of food which leads to better metabolism. A good digestive system can aid in weight management. Due to this, the regular intake of Ginger water might help reduce body weight.
Ginger also helps manage cardiovascular diseases due to its antioxidant property as it prevents cell damage caused by free radicals. Furthermore, Ginger helps improve sexual performance in men by increasing testosterone levels (male sex hormone) and also improves sexual desire due to its aphrodisiac property. Ginger is also found to be effective for women in managing menstrual pain due to its antispasmodic and analgesic properties.
Drinking a cup of ginger tea before traveling can even help prevent the symptoms of motion sickness like nausea and vomiting. Ginger also shows beneficial properties when used externally. Topical application of Ginger removes excess oil from the skin and manages certain skin infections. Applying Ginger juice on the skin might help control acne formation.
Ginger is also effective in controlling hair loss as well as promoting hair growth.
In some people, regular excessive consumption of Ginger tea may result in bloating and hyperacidity.
What are the synonyms of Ginger?
Zingiber officinale, Kulekhara, Ada, Adu, Adarakha, Alla, Hasishunti, Inchi, Ardrak, Ale, Adi, Adrak, Injee, Allam, Lakottai, Inji, Allamu, Allam, Katubhadra, shunthi