Wellness – Healing With Ginger

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a widely used medicinal plant and culinary spice known for its warm, pungent flavor and therapeutic properties. The underground stem, or rhizome, is the part most commonly used in traditional medicine. In Ayurveda, ginger is often referred to as “Vishwabheshaja”, meaning “universal medicine,” because of its long history of use for supporting digestion, easing respiratory discomfort, and addressing various everyday ailments.

Rich in bioactive compounds such as gingerol, ginger is traditionally valued for its warming properties and is used in fresh and dried forms. Fresh ginger is commonly used in juices and decoctions, while dried ginger powder (shunthi) is used in herbal preparations. 

Indigestion

Take 1 tsp of crushed ginger rhizome with salt or jaggery twice daily before meals.

Ear Pain
Instill ½–1 tsp of fresh, warm ginger juice into the ear. (Do not use if there is ear discharge.)

Hoarseness of Voice
Take ¼–½ tsp of dry ginger powder with honey in three divided doses.

Aches and Pains
Take 2–4 tsp of a decoction prepared from about ½ tsp of dry ginger rhizome, twice daily.

Cold and Cough
Take ½–1 tsp of dry ginger powder with jaggery, divided into three doses throughout the day.

Prevention of Recurrent Cold
Take 2 tsp of a ginger decoction prepared from a piece of ginger every morning to help prevent recurrent episodes of cold.

Headache
Apply a warm ginger paste over the forehead up to 3–4 times daily.

Abdominal Pain
Take 1 tsp of ginger juice mixed with a glass of buttermilk, along with lemon and salt.

(Source: Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS), India. The information provided here is based on traditional Ayurvedic practices and is intended for general informational purposes only.)