Ginger Root

Ginger root is a multipurpose rhizome of the herbaceous monocot, Zingiber officinale. The common name for this perennial plant is ginger, which is also used colloquially to denote the tuber part. It shares the same taxonomic family Zingiberaceae with turmeric and cardamom. Ginger is used as a spice in cooking, and herbal medicine in therapeutic treatment. So, what is so special about ginger root that makes it a valuable herb? Well! It contains several types of volatile oils, which are responsible for its characteristic taste, flavor, odor and curative properties.

Ginger Root Benefits

A native of South Asia, ginger is widely used in traditional Asian cooking and treatment remedies. Search for effectual cough home remedies, and you will definitely come across drinking of ginger tea as one of the tips. In fact, the health benefits of ginger root are numerous, and most of them are proven scientifically. Right from alleviating gastrointestinal problems to treating infections and killing cancerous cells, ginger root is truly a magic herb for natural treatment of various health problems. Major benefits of ginger root include:

• Ginger is good for treating digestion related problems and stomach cramps. It helps in stimulating the intestinal tract for smooth digestion process.
• It is taken as a herbal medicine to combat nausea, dizziness and vomiting. Considering these, ginger root is frequently used to manage morning sickness.
• Administration of ginger supplements is found to have a positive effect in treating flatulence, bloating, loss of appetite, heartburn and irritable bowel. For adverse effects of overconsumption, refer to ginger root side effects.
• Intake of ginger is beneficial for maintaining healthy circulation and reducing internal blood clots. The active ingredients present in this herb help relax the muscles and blood vessels.
• Teenagers and women who experience painful cramps before menstruation benefit from intake of ginger root. It relieves general pain and menstrual cramps.
• Using ginger for headaches, toothaches and localized body aches is an age-old remedy in the folk medicine. It also benefits in preventing viral infections.
• Ginger root is one of the most effectual home remedies for cold, flu, cough, chills and seasonal allergy conditions. It can be consumed as pickles or tablets.
• Possessing anti-inflammatory properties, it has been used in treatment of joint pain and different types of arthritis. Studies are ongoing to analyze the effectiveness of ginger in arthritis treatment.
• Another purported medicinal benefit of ginger root is lowering the levels of bad cholesterol in the body. Overall, it reduces the risk factors for developing heart complications.

Ginger Root Storage

Ginger is a costly spice in some areas, and most people prefer purchasing it in bulk during the peak production season. Being a freshly rhizome, it should be stored properly to avoid rotting and alike cases. The following are some useful guidelines on how to store ginger root for a long time without sacrificing its quality.

• A simple method for storing fresh ginger is wrapping with a kitchen cloth (or paper towels), and placing it in a polythene bag.
• When kept in the refrigerator, it can be used up to 3 months. Or else, put the bag containing ginger root in the freezer for prolonged storage, up to 3 months.
• The next option for preserving ginger root is pickling it. All you need is fill a large pickle jar with vinegar and add clean ginger roots in the vinegar solution.
• Do not forget to keep pickled ginger in the refrigerator, or otherwise it will get spoiled soon. Ginger stored by pickling technique lasts for about a year or more.
• Last but not the least, you can store ginger root by grating the flesh, and air drying it. First, peel skin and grate ginger in the usual way.
• Place the grated ginger in a cookie sheet and allow it to dry in a cool place. Your dried ginger can be kept for more than a year.

Speaking about ginger root recipes, it is added as a spice along with garlic for preparing vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Regarding how to prepare ginger root tea, add slices of ginger root in water and bring to a boiling temperature. Remove from heat, put lid and leave for 10 minutes. If desired, served with sugar (or honey) and zest of lemon. Drink ginger root tea as a substitute for your regular tea or coffee, and enjoy the health benefits yielded by this flavorful rhizome.