Adrak / Zingiber officinale / Ginger

Ginger is in two forms dry and fresh ginger and its actions are quite similar except the dry one which is preferred to fresh on during summers. It treats asthma, Indigestion, nausea, and more.

Latin name: Zingiber officinale

Family: Scitamineae

Division: Angiospermae

Sub-kingdom: Phanerogamia

Genus: Zingiber

Species: Officinale

Class: Monocotyledanae

Subclass: Petaloidanae

Names in different languages:

Hindi Name: Aadi, Adarakh (fresh)

Punjabi Name: Adrak, Adarak, Ada

Marathi Name: Aale

Tamil Name: Inji

Kannada Name: Shunti, Hasi Shunti

Telugu Name: Allamu, Alla

Farsi Name: Anjeebeele Tara

Bengali Name: Ada

Tamil Name: Inji

Malayalam Name: Inchi

Arabian Name: Janjabeele Ratab

Its Sanskrit synonyms:

(Wet Ginger)

Ardra Shaka, Moolaja, Ardraka, Gulma moola (Knotty rhizomes) and Anupaja (grow in moist places)

(Dry Ginger)

Ushana (Hot in nature)

Katubhadra (has pungent taste)

Nagara- Found in Nagar Pradesh and it is best among katurasa

Shunti- Useful in Kapha, vataja vikaras

Ardhraka- Causes salivation

Katuviddi- Have katu rasa

Katugranthi- Having nodes and internodes

What are the chemical constituents of ginger?

Ginger chemical constituents are d-Borneal, B- D- Curcumene, D- Camphene, B- Bourbornene, A- Curumene, Zingerone, Zingiberol, Geraniol, Citronellol, Zingiberenes, Gingerol, Gingerone, Paradol, Gingerdiol, Gingerone B and C, etc.

What are the medicinal properties of ginger?

Rasa (taste)- katu (Pungent)

Guna (qualities)- Guru (heavy), Teekshna (strong, piercing), and rooksha (dryness)

Veerya (Potency)- Ushna (hot)

Vipaka- Madhura (undergoes sweet taste after digestion)

Effect on three doshas- Balances kapha dosha

Part used:

Rhizome

Dosage:

Fresh juice- 5-10ml

Powder- 1-2gm

Syrup- 2 to 5 ml

Ayurvedic benefits of ginger:

It used as spices that have a pungent taste and are anaphrodisiac in nature. As per Ayurveda, it helps in increasing Vata dosha. It improves the digestive strength and acts as a appetizer. It also treats constipation. These are the Ayurvedic benefits of ginger.

Difference between dry and fresh ginger-

Wet ginger is rooksha (dry) and ushna (hot) in nature and dry ginger is snigdha (oily, unctuous) and ushna (hot) in nature.

Wet ginger causes diarrhea but is more useful in constipation where as dry ginger has bowel binding property and is useful in IBS.

Wet ginger is used for a shorter period of time because of its dry nature whereas dry ginger is snigdha (unctuous) and hence tolerable for a longer period ie., it can be used for a long time.

The effects of wet ginger are seen more in stomach and intestines whereas effects of dry ginger is seen in both stomach and intestines.

What are the Ayurvedic uses of ginger?

Its application removes the excessive oil from the skin and manages various skin infections. It also shows good results in controlling hair loss as well as promoting hair growth. The application of Ginger juice on the skin helps to control acne formation.

Nausea

Ginger is a beneficial herb in stopping nausea. If you are going for long traveling, take fresh cloves of ginger that will help in travelling bad effects like nausea and headaches. Chew a ginger clove also treats morning sickness.

Cold and Cough

In winters, ginger increases the immune system of the body. It is a natural antiviral that protects the body from the illness by increasing non-specific immunity. It has an anti-inflammatory property which reduces inflammation in the respiratory tract. It is also a good cough suppressant that helps to clean the respiratory system.

Menstrual Cramps

During menstruation, women experience heavy menstrual cramps. In these days, a woman should take ginger tea, so as to get relief from the pain. It provides warmness in the stomach and maintains the normal flow of the blood. It also provides relaxation to the muscles and alleviates the pain.

Weight Loss

Ginger has a property of burning fat that promotes weight loss. Its thermogenic property activates the body’s metabolism. Due to its antioxidants properties, it eliminates the wastes from the body and detoxifies the body. Regular intake of ginger tea will help a lot.

Improves Blood Circulation

The ginger contains gingerol alkaloid which is present in the ginger tea helps in lowering the blood pressure. When the pressure in the blood vessels reduces, it allows easier blood flow. It has blood-thinning properties, which prevents heart attacks. Ginger tea helps in improving the blood circulation in the body.

Stress and anxiety

Ginger shows a calming and soothing effect on the mind and the body. It relieves stress and tension by keeping the brain calm. One cup of ginger tea improves your mood and gives a feeling of freshness. It also reduces the cortisone levels in the body which helps to keep you relax.

Damage Precancerous Cells

Many researches had stated that ginger tea contains strong antioxidant properties that prevent the body from infections. It can prevent the production of pre-cancerous cells from growing. Drinking ginger tea kills free radicals formation and decreases the risk of having cancer.