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Botany
Erect, smooth plant with
thickened and aromatic rootstocks. Leafy stems are 0.4 to 1 meter high.
Leaves are distichous, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, 15-25 cm long,
and 2 cm wide or less. Scape from rootstock is erect, 15-25 cm high,
covered with imbricate bracts. Calyx is 1 cm long. Corolla is greenish-yellow
with a tube less than 2 cm long.
Distribution
Widely cultivated
in the Philippines
Parts utilized
Tops, leaves and edible roots.
Constituents
• Pungent principles, mainly zingerone and shogaol, provides the
characteristic taste.
• Volatile oil, 1.23 to 3% - gingerol, zingerone, zingiberene,
cineol, borneol, phellandrene, citral, zingiberene, linalool, geraniol,
chavicol, vanillyl alcohol, camphene; resin.
Properties
• Extracts and active constituents have shown potent antioxidant,
antiinflammatory, antimutagenic, antimicrobial and possible anticancer
activities.
Uses
Nutritional
Flavoring for ginger ale,
ginger beer, and other beverages.
Salabat, a native beverage, is prepared from the rhizomes.
A prominent condiment in Filipino cuisine.
Taken with rocksalt before meals is cleansing to the tongue and throat
and increases the appetite.
Folkloric
Antiseptic: Prepare tincture
of dried rhizome with 70% alcohol (not rubbing alchol) and apply on
superficial cuts and wounds or use juice from fresh rhizome.
As digestive aid and for flatulence and tympanism: Take decoction of
the rhizome as tea.
Rheumatism: Pound roasted rhizome, mix with oil and apply locally.
Sore throat and hoarseness : Take warm decoction of the rhizome as ginger
tea (salabat) or chew a small piece of rhizome.
Cough remedy and carminative.
Diuretic.
Hangovers.
Headaches: Ginger plaster (bruised ginger in water to the consistency
of poultice) applied to the forehead. Same preparation may be helpful
for toothaches and facial pain.
New uses
May have antiemetic properties. Used for Nausea,
motion sickenss (1 gm taken 1/2 hour before the voyage). Stimulates
digestion. Possibly antiinflammatory.
Preparations
Ginger tea
Ginger tea preparation, the Chinese
way : Bring one cup of water to boil. Add one teaspoon of the roasted
(parched and browned) rice and a small piece of ginger root. Boil for
one minute. Let stand to cool for drinking. (Preparation of dried rice:
Pour enough water to cover 1/2 cup white rice in a flat dish; and let
stand overnight. In the morning, drain off the excess water. Roast the
rice in a dry pan, stirring constantly until parched and brown. Store
in a glass jar for future use, tightly covered to keep moisture out.)
Ginger
lozenges
• Wash and
peel the ginger, then mince.
• Spread and air-dry for a day or oven-dry at 250 C.
• Grind and strain the dried ginger.
* In a mortar, mix 1 cup ground giner and 1 cup confectioner's sugar.
• Pound and mix while gradually adding water until a pulp is formed.
• Level the pulp on a board lined with wax paper.
• Using a mold, make balls from the pulp and wrap each lozenge
in aluminum foil.
How
to make medicated candies from powdered rhizomes
Materialls,
proportion and procedure
Go
to Traditional and Modern Medicine
http://traditionalmed.blogspot.com/2007/01/how-to-prepare-ginger-lozenges.html
Studies
• Pharmacological basis for the medicinal use of ginger in gastrointestinal
disorders: Study confirmed prokinetic
activity of the extract. Spasmolytic constituents may explain its use
in hyperactive states as in colic and diarrhea.
• Antibacterial Activity Of Allium cepa (Onions) And Zingiber
officinale (Ginger) On Staphylococcus aureus And Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Isolated From High Vaginal Swab: Thes study showed both plant
had antibacterial activity on the test organisms, ginger having more
inhibitory effect, and confirming their folkloric use.
• The use of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) as a potential
anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic agent: Study suggests
ginger can be used as a cholesterol-lowering, anti-thrombotic and anti-inflammatory
agent.
Side effects
No known side effects or drug interactions.
The German Commission E recommends that it be avoided during pregnancy
due to possible inhibition of testosterone binding in the fetus. The
use in pregnancy for hyperemesis gravidarum is controversial. Use for
nausea during pregnancy is not recommended. Should not be used by pregnant
women with a history of bleeding disorders and miscarriages.
Anticogulang precaution
Decreased platelet adhesiveness; therefore, should be used with caution
by patients on anticoagulant therapy.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
Popular condiment and perennial market produce.
Candied ginger and lozenges.
Tablets and capsules.
Dried powdered gingeroot.
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