Ginger Supplement

Ginger is a perennial plant that originated in China and spread to India, Southeast Asia, West Africa, and the Caribbean. It can grow up to 3-4 feet high and is especially used in landscapes

The plant is mainly cultivated for the roots. These are used for cooking, but also have medicinal purposes.

Ginger
Zingiber officinale

Origin:
The dried or fresh root of the ginger plant.

Dosage:
Powder, extract, tincture, capsules and oils, up to 2 g in three divided doses per day or up to 4 cups of tea daily.


Claims:
Decreases joint pain and reduces inflammation in people with OA and RA. Increases circulation in people with Ray­naud's phenomenon.

What we know:
Ginger contains active ingredients that may have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger reduces nausea and vomiting and is a proven treatment for motion sickness and chemotherapy-induced nausea.

Studies:
A recent study showed that ginger extract inhibited inflammation-causing chemicals, including TNF-α and COX-2. A 2005 study reinforced the anti-inflammatory effects of ginger. Another 2005 study showed ginger killed Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium that causes stomach ulcers. Ginger can interfere with medications for blood thinning. It should not be used if you have gallstones.
~Arthritis Foundation.

Ginger is also used as a remedie for dyspepsia, colic and diarrhea, and to disguise the taste of medicine. It has cholesterol lowering properties that may make it useful for treating heart disease.

You may already use it in the kitchen, to spice up a dish, but you can also make tea from the roots, simply by boiling them in water. If you prefer, you can add either honey, or lemon to it. The tea is commonly used to treat colds. Ginger beer and ale are commonly known to settle the stomach.

Before using fresh ginger for cooking, be sure to peel it. To keep the 'fresh' ginger fresh, wrap it tightly in a towel and put it in a plastic bag. This way it stays fresh in the fridge for about 3 weeks and up to 3 months in the freezer.

There are some negative effects to ginger as well. It can cause heartburn, bloating, gas, belching and nausea, particularly if taken in powdered form. Unchewed fresh ginger may result in intestinal blockage, and individuals who have had ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease, or blocked intestines, may react badly to large quantities of fresh ginger.

Since the plant can grow up to 4 feet high, it can be blown over and broken by the wind. The roots are anchored deeply in the ground though and will sprout again. We too can be broken by the winds of life. With our roots having a good foundation, God provides all we need, to sprout again.

Ezekiel 31:7
' Thus it was beautiful in greatness and in the length of its branches, Because its roots reached to abundant waters.