The health benefits of ginger have been identified through extensive research. Scientific research has shown that ginger not only reduces fever and infections but has also been shown to help the brain heal itself. In fact, ginger can reverse and even prevent certain types of brain damage. It seems that ginger can “turn off” certain brain cells that have become over-activated. When the brain is “turned off,” it helps the body to heal itself of many types of injuries, diseases, and illnesses.
The health benefits of ginger can be traced to the numerous chemical compounds that ginger has as a phytochemical, including ginger, eugenol, quercetin, and geraniol. The key to these chemical components of ginger is that they possess a powerful anti-inflammatory action. The anti-inflammatory activity is what helps ginger to not only reduce fever and other symptoms of illness, but also to treat such things as headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dyspnea, sore throat, sinusitis, asthma, and more. The beneficial effect of ginger in the circulatory system helps to keep the heart-healthy. Ginger also is a powerful anti-oxidant and plays an important role in keeping the blood thin and healthy.
As far as the health benefits of ginger in the digestive system, there are actually three different types of action. The first two actions are known as antispasmodic and are responsible for the feeling of fullness and relaxation after a meal. The last, called carvacrol, is responsible for the natural remedy of ginger. Carvacrol is an antihistamine which means it blocks the release of histamines in the body.
Because ginger contains many health benefits, it is considered to be a very powerful natural remedy for a number of illnesses and conditions. The two actions of ginger that we just mentioned, as well as the carvacrol, work together to help people who suffer from such things as chronic fatigue, allergies, asthma, constipation, irritable Bowel Syndrome, high blood pressure, inflammation, skin problems, flu, and the flu, heart disease, liver problems, osteoarthritis, and multiple sclerosis. Those are just some of the conditions in that ginger contains antioxidants to help treat. It is often used by Ayurvedic physicians to treat such conditions as arthritis, cardiac problems, and gout. Ginger, like all antioxidants, helps to protect the body from damage caused by free radicals.
In addition to the antioxidant actions, ginger has also been shown in various clinical studies to reduce the morning sickness symptoms that occur in pregnant women. In one study, women who took ginger during their pregnancy experienced a reduction in nausea and vomiting, as well as an improvement in their ability to control body temperatures. This was a preliminary study, however. More research is needed to definitively show that ginger does, indeed, have the effects on the body and human beings that the Chinese have long known it has.
Ginger does not have any known side effects, so it is considered quite safe for consumption. There is, however, one very strong warning that must be taken into account when using ginger, and that is the very close relation to the popular herb, garlic. Garlic is very similar in its healing properties to ginger, and people who are allergic to either must avoid both of them. Ginger can cause a severe reaction if it is ingested, and the same can happen to those who are highly allergic to garlic.
In addition to these two potent health benefits of ginger root, it is believed to be beneficial for those who are lactose intolerant. It may take a few tries, but it is believed to work best when freshly grated. Fresh ginger root is available in many health food stores and should be used instead of the powdered form which may contain inactive ingredients that have not been thoroughly pureed. It has a pungent taste, much like pepper, and is often added to tea or used in bread and pastes. As with any natural remedy, it must be used carefully, especially if you are allergic to certain foods or are lactose intolerant.
One of the most interesting claims about ginger is that it is effective against both colds and flu. This is largely attributed to the high level of the ginger present in the ginger root juice, although the authors do not specify how much of this ingredient they used. They did, however, give a detailed description of the preparation they used and the results obtained. They stated: “The effect of the ginger extract was most striking during the early part of the experiment, near the end of the sixth week, after the ginger had grown in the refrigerator for several days.” The extract was also tested against the common cold at the same time, but this treatment failed to demonstrate any efficacy. These are only some of the many health benefits of ginger which we will explore in subsequent articles.