Ginger: Temperament, Benefits and Cautions
Ginger’s profile, hot and dry temperament, correctives, traditional uses and Dr Kalan’s advice, with safety notes.
With its hot and dry temperament, ginger is one of the basic remedies of traditional medicine. It can be used fresh or dried in food and drinks. It stimulates the appetite and has pain-relieving properties.
Profile
- Latin: Zingiber officinale
- German: Ingwer
- English: ginger
- Spanish: jengibre
- French: gingembre
- Family: Zingiberaceae (ginger family)
- Genus: Zingiber
- Temperament: hot and dry
- Correctives (muslih): sweet almond oil, honey
- Constituents: iron, copper, calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus; vitamins A and C, thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2) and niacin (B3); starch and plenty of fibre
- Native range: tropical Asia
- Grown in: China, Indonesia, India, Japan and Vietnam
- Soil: rich in humus, moist and loose
- Forms: fresh, root and dried
- Harvest: when the rhizome is mature and the leaves above ground start to yellow and die back (6 to 10 months, depending on the region)
- Parts used: rhizome (root) and leaves
- Forms of use: spice, extract, essential oil, hydrosol
Traditional uses
- Diuretic
- Stimulates the appetite
- Strengthens the memory
- Helps with hoarseness
- Strengthens the body
- Helpful in rheumatic complaints
- Used for partial paralysis and tremor
- Helpful in respiratory complaints such as cough and bronchitis
Dr Kalan’s advice
Ginger is a strong cleanser. It helps clear toxins from the body, especially from the stomach, intestines and liver, and is very effective at expelling trapped gas. It “cooks” and reduces phlegm in the stomach. In laboratory studies it has antiparasitic, antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal activity.
It may help lower LDL cholesterol and supports heart health. It contains shogaols, strong antioxidants, and is being studied for its protective effects on the brain. It reduces blood clotting.
It is good for stomach and bowel complaints, dizziness and nausea, including car and sea sickness. It helps with sore throats and rheumatism and aids the absorption of food. It is helpful in fat burning and in reducing fluid retention, and it increases stomach secretions.
It is good for arthritis, joint pain and chronic pain caused by phlegm. It eases stress and period pain. In people with a cold temperament it increases libido and vitality.
People with a bilious (safravi, hot and dry) temperament should not eat too much of this spice, especially in hot seasons.
Safety
- Ginger reduces blood clotting: take care if you use blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder, and stop medicinal amounts two weeks before surgery.
- It may lower blood sugar: monitor it if you take diabetes medication.
- People with gallstones, reflux or stomach ulcers should use it cautiously.
- In pregnancy, small food amounts are commonly used for nausea; take larger amounts only with your doctor’s advice.
This article is for information only and is based on traditional medical sources and general health knowledge. It is not a medical diagnosis, treatment or prescription and does not replace an examination by a doctor. If you have a health complaint, take regular medication, are pregnant, or are considering this for a child, consult your doctor before applying anything. Herbal products can interact with medicines.
