Ginger is one of the most familiar spices in Vietnamese life. Ginger is widely used in meals and has excellent medicinal effects. Ginger root is not simply a spice but also a folk remedy that everyone knows about. Check out the properties of ginger and the folk remedies from this tuber.
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Features of ginger root
Ginger is a perennial, grass-stemmed tree with a height of about 50-100cm. Ginger stems are layered on top of the leaf sheaths to form a tubular plant. Each ginger leaf grows alternately and grows into separate single leaves, elongated like spears. A special feature is that ginger leaves are very fragrant, the leaf surface is dark green smooth and the veins are light green.
The flowers of the ginger plant are yellow and the flower axis is erect from the base, about 20cm long. The rhizome of the ginger plant is fat and bulging into tubers. The root ginger grows underground, has many burns and in each burning there are shoots. When conditions of ideal humidity are encountered, the sprouting seedlings will form new stems.
The most important part of the ginger plant is the tuber with a light yellow outer shell, and the inside has many warp fibers. The root ginger has the scientific name of Zingiber officinale L., belongs to the family Zingiberaceae and the name of the Chinese medicine used is Khuong. The characteristic of ginger root is spicy, warm, attributable to economic waste, spleen, and taste.
Distribution
Ginger is widely distributed in regions of Vietnam. Ginger is easy to grow and is also one of the essential spices of families, so people grow a lot. Ginger is distributed throughout the world including Southeast Asia, India, China, Australia, …
Harvesting
As mentioned above, ginger root has many burns and grows out each bud and develops into a new stem. Therefore, the cultivation of ginger is also grown by using the sprouted ginger to plant. Ginger is usually planted in the spring, and in the autumn, it begins to be harvested gradually.
The harvested part of the ginger plant is the tuber part. Some countries grow a lot of ginger and give large output for export such as China, India, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, …
The use of ginger root
Ginger has many uses in both life and in treating panic diseases. According to the Chinese remedies, depending on the different preparation methods, it is necessary to create herbs for each different disease. Ginger can be used raw as sinh Khuong, dried ginger root called can khiang, ginger rooted to be baked or backed up as guava khong. Ginger has many uses such as:
- Ginger root helps fight motion sickness: When motion sickness is often very uncomfortable or nauseous. Ginger also helps reduce motion sickness by using a few slices of ginger and keeping it in the mouth.
- Ginger root has a spicy flavor that helps to warm up the abdomen quickly. However, if you use ripe ginger, the warmth of ginger will no longer work. Therefore, to cure the cold, the patient should cook porridge and use fresh ginger and perilla to eat with. When exposed to cold water, you can also use ginger tea or scrape with ginger.
- Relieve nausea during pregnancy: Ginger contains many components Vitamin B6, which is useful in treating nausea in women during pregnancy.
- The remedy for those with weak physiology: because of the warmth of ginger root, this root also has a great effect in improving erections and helping to enhance sexual health in men.
- Strengthens the immune system, contains substances that block oxidation. The spicy substance of the fresh ginger root has a special effect against the oxidation of animal fats. In addition, ginger essential oil is also considered a very good natural antibiotic that helps prevent the penetration of harmful viruses, increasing the body’s resistance.
- Abdominal pain treatment when coming to menstruation: Every woman’s period often causes colic very uncomfortable. Many women use medicine to stop the pain. However, this approach is very harmful to health. Women can use warm ginger tea to relieve pain effectively.
- Ginger root helps to prevent gallstones: According to some studies, ginger root contains substances that can inhibit the creation of gallstones. Therefore, regular use of ginger can help people with gallstones alleviate the disease and do not need surgery.
- Ginger also helps to reduce the amount of Cholesterol in the blood, reduce blood pressure and heart diseases.
- Regular use of ginger by soaking your feet with ginger water can also help reduce stress and stress. Ginger contains Cineole which helps the body relax, relax, relieve pressure, headaches and sleep better. Ginger root has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and fungal properties, so it is useful in soothing toothache and preventing upper respiratory infections.
Chemical composition in ginger root
The chemical composition of ginger root includes: contains essential oils (from 1% – 3%), including substances Zingiberene and Beta-bisabolene, Sesquiphellandrene. The spicy substance in ginger root from 1% – 2.5% Shogaols and Gingerols.
Zingiberene and Beta-sesquiphellandrene make up the highest percentage in fresh ginger root, it will be easily decomposed when dried and stored. That is the reason why fresh ginger root is preferred over dry ginger in the treatment of colds, colds, …
Medicines from ginger root
Ginger root is great in healing and has been handed down in folklore. Medicines prepared from ginger root such as:
- Use fresh ginger: Because of its warm spicy properties, fresh ginger root helps increase blood circulation, enlivens the intestines, stimulates the secretion of gastric juice, cures colds, is good for digestion, cures cough, … Simple preparation using 4 – 10 grams of ginger directly at a time. Can be used with warm water mixed with a little honey, shaved with ginger, …
- Use dried ginger: Each time use 2 – 6 grams of dried ginger, put it in warm water to warm the stomach, treat bloating, spleen, …
- Use grilled or inverted ginger: Roast the ginger on the outside to burn black, but the inside still smells of ginger and keeps its golden brown color. Each time using from 2 – 4gr grilled ginger, has the effect of stopping the bleeding. Grilled ginger has a warm bitter taste.
- Use the bark of ginger root to dry and combine with some other folk herbs such as mandarin bark, areca bark, mushroom bark, spirit tree bark. All 5 types of shells called moist dermis help treat swelling in the legs for even pregnant women.
Side effects of ginger
Although ginger root has many uses in treating diseases, it can also cause side effects if used incorrectly. Therefore, when using ginger also need to note the following:
- Overuse causes heartburn, diarrhea, and upset stomach.
- If using ginger in direct contact with skin avoid overuse. Overuse or irritation to any of the ingredients in ginger root can cause skin burning, irritation.
- Symptoms such as swelling of the throat, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips or tongue can occur when taking too much ginger.
- Use of aspirin and Coumarin with ginger should be approximately 4 hours apart. Not taking together will cause undesirable side effects.
- Do not use ginger for those preparing for surgery or after surgery. People who are bleeding, bleeding or coughing, vomiting blood, passing blood, bleeding teeth, nosebleeds should also not use.
- In the case of people with heat stroke, high fever but not cold, perspiration, should not use ginger.
- Although ginger is useful for people with cardiovascular disease, diabetes or pregnant women, it should not be used too much.
- Fresh ginger, when beaten, will produce many toxins that can cause liver necrosis, liver cancer or esophageal cancer.
Ginger root is a folk medicine that is widely used in traditional medicine to cure diseases. Patients wishing to use ginger in treatment should consult a physician to avoid causing unwanted side effects. In case of dangerous diseases should not arbitrarily use ginger to treat the disease.
