Healing Benefits of Ginger

Ginger, in it's natural state, is one ugly little thing.  But don't let it's looks deceive you!  For thousands of years ginger has been a virtual medicine chest in Ayurvedics.  According to a newsletter I get from Food Matters, here is a list of the benefits this one little root has within it:

Eat fresh ginger just before lunch to stoke a dull appetite and fire up your digestive juices if you weren't feeling hungry.

Ginger improves the absorption and assimilation of essential nutrients in the body.

Ginger clears the "microcirculatory channels" of the body, including the pesky sinuses that tend to flare up from time to time.

Chew on ginger (may be tossed with a bit of honey) to quell nausea, even if airsick.

Ginger helps to reduce flatulence - no more "toot-a-thons"!

If your tummy is moaning and groaning under cramps, munch on some ginger.

Reeling under joint pain?  Ginger, with its anti-inflammatory properties - can bring relief.  You can even add some ginger essential oil to a bath for aches in muscles and joints.

Chewing on ginger post-op, can reduce that nausea.

Stir up some ginger tea to get rid of throat and nose congestion.  And when there is a nip in the air, the warming benefits of this tasty tea are even greater!

Bedroom blues?  Try adding a gingery punch to a bowl of soup.  (Ayurvedic texts credit ginger with aphrodisiac properties.

I keep a small bag of dried ginger in my car.  Sometimes I find it a great way to overcome my desire to drive into a fast food place when I'm suddenly starving.  It also calms my stomach.  I'm trying to quit mints and gum chewing, and a bit of ginger goes a long way in that department too!  I use ginger in a lot of my recipes and I've totally fallen in love with pickled ginger you can buy in small jars in some markets.

Let me know if you have tried it.