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GINGER ROOT AS MEDICINE
Ginger root is a wonderful herb with many uses. Ginger is a golden-skinned, fleshy root with many branches and a yellow interior. Good quality ginger will be full-bodied and heavy with a smooth, shiny skin and a moist yellow interior. Shriveled-up ginger with dry, wrinkly skin and a discoloured interior should be avoided. In Chinese Medicine, herbs are classified according to their action, flavour, energy, organ effects and indications. The primary qualities of ginger are its hot spiciness and that it affects the digestion. This hot, spicy quality in the digestion causes a specific effect &Mac246; it dries up dampness and invigorates the digestive energy. For example, if a person suffers from bloating (stagnant energy) and/or feelings of heaviness, fogginess of the eyes or mind (dampness) then treatment by ginger root would be recommended since it invigorates the stagnant energy and dries up the dampness. According to Chinese Medicine the fresh root of ginger has an upwards and outwards action and is therefore very commonly used for colds which manifest as a runny nose, stiff neck, fatigue and chills. Ginger root pushes the pathogen up and out, warming and invigorating blood and energy circulation as it does so. The pathogens need to be pushed up and out through our noses and mouths and necks (the back of the neck &Mac246; the place your mother and grandmother were always telling you to cover &Mac246; or maybe you are a grandmother and know this already!!) in order to leave our bodies. Dry ginger, on the other hand, has an inward action, so it is not useful for treating colds. Happily, it does have a use of its own, which is warming the digestion. If you suffer from cramping in the abdomen that is relieved by heat, nausea, loose stool or diarrhea, or you feel cold all the time, then treatment with dry ginger would be indicated, since it strongly warms the interior. Since ginger is spicy and hot it should be avoided by anyone with a hot or dry stomach. Symptoms of a hot stomach include excess hunger, dry mouth, excess thirst and burning pains in the mouth and the stomach &Mac246; this includes excess acidity and heartburn. In Chinese medicine the stomach is known to express itself through the mouth, therefore eating ginger while one has a hot stomach would cause very unpleasant burning sensations in the mouth beyond what we would expect from spiciness. This indicates to us that our body is not equipped to deal with the energetics of ginger. There are many uses for ginger, but the main point in Chinese medicine is that an herb is seldom used alone. Most people present with a pattern of signs and symptoms which cannot be addressed with a single herb. Furthermore, each symptom is in a dynamic relationship with other symptoms &Mac246; treating only one symptom is seldom successful since another process is continuously generating it. Chinese herbal formulas generally contain at least 5 ingredients, all balanced with each other to deal with the presenting patterns. When herbs are used in this way they not only lend their individual effects to the solution but form a surprisingly powerful synergism as well. A Recipe Boil two thumb sized portions of ginger root and drink while wearing a jacket or scarf. Also avoid drafty areas during this period. For one person: The reason for drinking while wearing a jacket or scarf is to facilitate sweating as well as to keep us protected. Sweating opens the pores, and while we want the pores to open in order to expel the infection, we are also susceptible to re-infection via a draft during the period our pores are open. A scarf or jacket with a high collar usually provides adequate protection. If you don&Mac226;t sweat, then the tea was not spicy enough. More ginger needs to be used. Try this recipe the next time you have a cold. Thanks for reading, |