Ginger

Scientific Name: Zingiber officinale

Taste:  pungent, aromatic

Family: zingiberaceae

Medicinal Parts: rhizome

Energetics: warming, drying, relaxing

Actions:  diaphoretic, circulatory stimulant, emmenagogue,  anti-spasmodic, antiemetic, carminative, rubefacient.

Affinities: digestive system, circulatory system, reproductive system, respiratory system. 

Notable Constituents:  Volatile oil (1% to 3%, occasionally more), primarily containing the sesquiterpenes zingiberene, oleoresin (4% to 10%), containing gingerols, gingerdiols, gingerdiones, dihydrogingerdiones, shogaols; lipids (6% to 8%)

Medicinal Applications

• With gingers diaphoretic action, it can help to raise heat and circulate it throughout the body to induce or "break" a fever. 
• Ginger can help to warm up a cold, stagnant, and backed up digestive system. 
• By restoring blood circulation to the pelvic floor, ginger can help to get a sluggish period moving along. And by moving warmth around can help to release tension of the uterus. 
• As an antiemetic or anti-nausea, it can help with nausea related to chemotherapy, morning sickness, sea sickness, motion sickness, bad food, hangover. 
• As a relaxant and anti-spasmodic, ginger releases tension in the body and can be a good nighttime ally. 
• Help to reduce headaches
• Help to reduce systemic inflammation at high doses. 
• Aid in productive expulsion of phlegm in the lungs. 

In Practice

•  Can work with fresh or dry ginger. Fresh is very strong when chewed, but makes a weaker flavored tea. Dry creates a potent ginger flavor when infused with hot water. Dry has been know to produce a more "central" action to the GI tract. Fresh has been know to produce a more dispersive effect, not as potent as tea but when chewed (and can be spit out). This is individual. Find what works best for your body. 
• Taking just  a drop or two of tincture is sufficient for morning sickness and mild nausea. Three to four drops for more severe upset. Right onto tongue. 
• Tension/neck headache use topically. Cold and dull headache use tea with upward moving rosemary to help bring gingers warming energetic upward. 
• 1 to 6 grams for aiding in the reduction of systemic inflammation. These are high doses. 
• Made as a tea with chamomile to help relax the body and mind before sleep.
• Ginger, cinnamon, and date decoction to help prevent colds. Drink daily when possibly exposed. 

Cautions/Contraindications

• Ginger does have some mild blood thinning effects when being taken at high doses. Daily tea or culinary doses do not have this effect. 
• As an emmenagogue, some may worry that those who are pregnant should avoid, however it's safe and even beneficial to them. Ginger works to bring blood flow to the uterus and pelvic area, providing better nutrition access for the baby.  Plus it's great for morning sickness. 

Friends

chamomile, cinnamon, rosemary,