Besides being used to enhance the flavor and aroma of dishes, ginger (Zingiber officinale) is also considered a medicinal herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine, known as “gao liang jiang”. Additionally, its extract is widely used in modern medicine to treat various ailments.
1 What is Ginger?
Ginger is a perennial plant belonging to the Zingiberaceae family. Its rhizome (underground stem), seeds, and leaves are commonly used. The rhizome, or ginger root, is formed by the swelling of the plant’s underground stems and ranges in color from reddish-brown when young to pale yellow when mature.
It has a thick, hard outer layer with many eyes and unevenly sized knobs surrounding the white or yellowish flesh, which is very aromatic, spicy-hot, and fibrous.
2 Medicinal Properties of Ginger
Enhances Male Sexual Performance
According to herbalist Bui Dac Sang, ginger can improve sexual performance and stimulate sperm production.
Additionally, herbalist Vu Quoc Trung (from the Vietnamese Traditional Medicine Association) notes that due to its spicy and warming properties, ginger can aid digestion, treat ringworm, eczema, diarrhea, sore throat, reduce phlegm, and alleviate joint pain.
Anti-Aging Properties
A study published in Costerics and Toilettries revealed that ginger extract increases the production of hyaluronic acid, a substance known for its moisturizing and wrinkle-reducing effects.
Consequently, participants in the study exhibited noticeable improvements, including increased skin elasticity and a more radiant complexion.
Furthermore, ginger extract has been found to alleviate various skin conditions such as eczema, itching, and fungal infections.
Anti-Cancer Properties
A study by F.A. Alasmary and colleagues reported that ginger’s anti-cancer activity was most potent against lung carcinoma and colorectal adenocarcinoma when compared to the drug vinblastine.
Additionally, ginger extract has shown promising results against other cancer cell lines, including colorectal adenocarcinoma, cervical carcinoma, and prostate cancer.
Antimicrobial Activity
A 2006 study by Tomoko Suzuki and colleagues on the antimicrobial properties of ginger concluded that ginger essential oils can eradicate bacteria, yeast, and parasites due to the presence of terpinen-4-ol, a potent antimicrobial agent.
3 Ginger-Based Remedies
The following remedies are shared by Doctor Hoang Son:
Ringworm Treatment
Slice 100g of mature ginger and soak it in 200ml of alcohol or 70% ethanol. Apply this mixture to the affected area 2-3 times a day.
Ginger Alcohol Tincture for Ringworm
Sore Throat, Cough, and Indigestion Remedy
Slice ginger into thin pieces and pickle them. When using, gargle with salt or chew the ginger slowly before swallowing.
Massage Oil
Dry and finely chop 20g of ginger, 16g of Polygonatum sibiricum, 24g of cinnamon, 20g of Saposhnikovia divaricata, and 16g of dried tangerine peel. Soak the mixture in alcohol for 10 days.
Apply the mixture to affected areas using a cotton ball and gently massage for conditions such as bone pain, sprains, joint pain, and localized pain.
Ginger Massage Oil
Rheumatism Treatment
Dry and powder 60g each of ginger, tangerine peel, and perilla seeds. Consume 4g of this mixture daily for 5-7 days, either mixed with a cup of warm water or alcohol, twice a day.
Ginger-Based Remedy for Rheumatism
Abdominal Pain Relief
Mix 20g of ginger, 60g of young papaya leaves, and 8g of Myrtus communis berries. Dry and powder the ingredients. Consume 5g of this mixture three times a day after meals with warm water. Alternatively, dry 200g of ginger, 80g of Amomum tsao-ko, and 120g of cinnamon. Decoct 12g of this mixture with 200ml of water until only 50ml remains; consume this infusion throughout the day. Use this remedy for 2-4 days.
Malaria Treatment
Mix 300g of ginger powder, 100g of Amomum villosum powder, 100g of cinnamon powder, and honey. Roll the mixture into pellets the size of corn kernels. Take 15 pellets before a malaria attack. Alternatively, soak 40g of ginger in toasted sesame oil, mix with roasted and powdered ginger, and honey, then roll into pellets. Take 15-20 pellets daily.
Indigestion and Abdominal Bloating Relief
Slice ginger into pieces and pickle them. When consuming, gargle with a few grains of salt or chew the ginger slowly before swallowing. Use this remedy 2-3 times a day.
Ginger Remedy for Indigestion and Abdominal Bloating
Stomach Ache Due to Cold
(Symptoms: severe pain in response to cold, pain with a fixed duration, abdominal bloating, diarrhea, vomiting of clear fluids, deep pulse, aversion to cold, loss of appetite, pale tongue with white coating): Decoct 30g each of ginger, Lilium brownii, and Salvia miltiorrhiza, 8g of Angelica sinensis, 10g of Rubus alceifolius, 4g of Amomum villosum, and 7g of Syzygium aromaticum in three bowls of water. Drink two bowls of this decoction per day for five days.
Eczema Treatment
Crush 100g of ginger, the juice of one fresh lemon, and 100g each of Sauropus androgynus leaves and roots. Heat the mixture and apply it to affected areas using a gauze pad, twice a day for 5-7 days.
Nausea, Indigestion, and Dysentery Relief
Powder ginger seeds and consume 6-10g.
Weak Spleen and Stomach, Loose Stools, and Abdominal Pain Relief
Combine 12g of ginger, 12g of Atractylodes macrocephala, 16g of Piper sarmentosum leaves, 16g of Psidium guajava leaves, and 6g of Alpinia oxyphylla. Decoct these ingredients in three bowls of water until one and a half bowls remain. Drink this decoction two to three times a day.
Ginger-Based Remedy for Weak Spleen and Stomach, Loose Stools, and Abdominal Pain
Infant Colic, Diarrhea, and Frothy Stools Treatment
Combine 10g each of Dioscorea opposita, Polygonatum sibiricum, Atractylodes macrocephala, 6g of ginger, 10g of Glycine max, 6g of Citrus reticulata peel, 4g of Amomum tsao-ko, 10g of Alpinia oxyphylla, and 10g of Cyperus rotundus. Decoct these ingredients in two bowls of water until one bowl remains. Drink this decoction two to three times a day.
Abdominal Pain, Vomiting, and Food Poisoning Relief
In cases of severe abdominal pain accompanied by diarrhea, electrolyte imbalances, dehydration, rapid pulse, and low blood pressure, combine 16g of ginger, 12g of Glycine max, 10g of Coptis chinensis, 16g of Polygonatum sibiricum, 12g of Atractylodes macrocephala, 10g of roasted Alpinia oxyphylla, 10g of Cyperus rotundus, 10g of Amomum tsao-ko, 8g of Pinellia ternata, 10g of cinnamon, and 10g of Agastache rugosa. Decoct these ingredients in three bowls of water until one and a half bowls remain. Drink this decoction three times a day, every two hours.
Treatment for “Wu Ching Left” Due to Weak Spleen and Kidney Yang
(Symptoms: defecation at 5 a.m., urgent need to defecate, loose stools, cold hands, feet, and abdomen, general weakness): Dry 16g of ginger, 12g of Elymus dahuricus, 12g of Acanthopanax gracilistylus, 12g of Polyporus umbellatus, 16g of Polygonatum sibiricum, 10g of Colla corii asini, 12g of Astragalus membranaceus (salt-fried), 12g of Amomum tsao-ko, 16g of Atractylodes macrocephala (roasted with yellow soil), 12g of Citrus reticulata peel, 6g of Alpinia oxyphylla, 10g of cinnamon, and 10g of Agastache rugosa. Drink one decoction per day for 10-12 days as a treatment course.
4 Ginger, Galangal, and Turmeric
Ginger, galangal, and turmeric are familiar spices used in cooking. However, these three rhizomes have similar appearances, which can lead to confusion.
In terms of flavor: Ginger has a distinct, spicy taste, galangal has a sweet and refreshing flavor with a mild spiciness, while turmeric is the spiciest and most bitter of the three.
Ginger, Galangal, and Turmeric
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