Ginger / Sheng Jiang
Zingiber Officinale
This biennial grows best in warm climates like Hawaii and the West Indies. Growing up, ginger was the folk medicine prescribed by my great grandmother for all stomach ailments. She was from southern Italy and born from a long lineage of farmers. I always loved the way the ginger tonic immediately made any belly discomfort dissipate. Today, it still has that effect on me. Now, working with Chinese medicine, I find it particularly useful for those with a cold stomach. It has a warm energy (fresh) to hot energy (dry) and an acrid and spicy taste. It is most commonly associated with the Earth and Wood Elements.
Eastern Properties
Dispels Cold (especially in the middle jiao)
Dispels Damp
Circulates Blood & Qi
Yang Tonic
Enlightens Mind & Spirit
Western Properties
Carminative
Rubefacient
Sialagogue
Anti-inflammatory
Antispasmodic
Medicinal Uses
Tinctures are used to relieve colic, diarrhea, dyspepsia, flatulence, digestive upsets, metabolic dysfunction and alcoholic gastritis.
An infusion of ginger and chamomile is used in treating heartburn and gout.
Eaten as a food, ginger balances blood sugar and promotes weight control. It also useful with the common cold, coughs, nausea, morning sickness, leukorrhea, and menstrual pain.
Magical Lore
The Chinese believe that ginger enlightens the mind and spirit by bringing energy to the brain and the sensory organs thus slowing the aging process and decreasing memory loss.
It has been used as a daily tonic to strengthen health.
It is often worn as an amulet to protect the wearer.
When grown in the garden it protects the health of the garden and gardener.
It is used in the consecration of the Sacred Knife.
Heal with Ginger