Ginger, an excellent treatment for colds and flu (Root Ginger)

Member Name: Shekera

Product:	Root Ginger
Date:	18/11/01 (639 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very powerful - use sparingly, Root ginger can be chewed to aid digestive disorders and prevent travel sickness

Disadvantages: Very powerful - use sparingly

Although most of us were brought up to believe that ginger came from Jamaica i.e. McVities Ginger cake! It is actually native to India and China and for many people, their only experiences of ginger has been in a culinary sense.

However, ginger is not just available in powder or root form as a cooking ingredient, but also as capsules and essential oil, which is classified as a base oil, and is made by distilling the roots of the plant.

Ginger has many medicinal uses, for example, ginger essential oil is great for the digestive system, including upset stomach, nervous dyspepsia and travel sickness; apparently, it is also reputed to be an effective aphrodisiac, especially in the older generation!

To treat sickness and nausea, add a few drops of ginger essential oil to a clean tissue and inhale the vapours. In addition, when inhaled, the warming ginger essence eases mental confusion and helps to relieve fatigue and nervous exhaustion.

To calm the digestion, dilute three to five drops of ginger essential oil in a carrier oil and use to massage around the stomach and abdomen – this works for me. It Is also great in treating the symptoms of flu as it promotes sweating, eases coughing and catarrh congestion – and for that sore throat, add two drops of ginger oil to 1 teaspoon of vodka and dilute with hot water. When it has cooled sufficiently, use as a gargle – don’t swallow!

Ginger tea, made from infusing 1 root of ginger (grated), a sprig of fresh marjoram and one of rosemary, in 500ml of boiling water can benefit those suffering from rheumatism.

However, it is to be noted that ginger essential oil should be used sparingly as its high concentration can cause irritation in sensitive people. Consumption of large amounts of ginger can bring on menstruation in women.

Ginger oil blends well with rose, cedarwood, rosewood, frankincense, vetiver, patchouli, pettigaran, neroli lime, gra
pefruit and lemon oil. Most definitely a “must have” oil.

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