Many scholars believe that the very name ginger comes from a district called Gingi in India, where ginger tea was peddled as a treatment for colds and related illnesses. An alternative hypothesis is that the word ginger is derived from the Sanskrit word for the root, sringavera, meaning “shaped like a horn”. Either answer points to the long history of ginger in India, where it has remained useful in folk medicine and Indian cooking since its discovery.

The first thing the Chinese and Indians did when they discovered the stem was to cut a small piece and taste it. From that moment on, ginger rhizome likely became a staple for flavoring food: ancient people could have sprinkled the grated root over a curry or a piece of meat that was sizzling on an open fire, as well as used it in soups and refreshing beverages during hot weather. Through its culinary use, ancient peoples likely discovered ginger’s therapeutic effects on indigestion, diarrhea, and other internal ailments. People inhaled ginger essential oil to relieve headaches and the common cold, and applied it in massages to alleviate arthritis and tired muscles.

Ginger oil was a game changer when its medicinal properties were discovered in ancient times. The yellow essential oil of ginger was a crowd pleaser from the start since the hint of lemon and pepper captivated the taste buds, and the aroma heightened the senses. The oil became a natural healer and was a major player in Ayurvedic as well as Chinese medicine. Chinese herbalists may have started using ginger root to treat digestive issues because the shape of the root resembles the intestinal system and kidneys. This method of treatment is called the Doctrine of Signatures and supposes that plants that resemble parts of the human body will have beneficial effects on that part of the body.

While not exactly scientific, the Doctrine of Signatures proved true in the case of ginger, as the root seems to be able to settle the stomach and prevent cramps, indigestion and diarrhea when consumed at mealtimes. Chinese medicine classified ginger as a “yang” herb with drying and warming properties that supported the health of the spleen, kidneys and digestive system. It was also thought to be a male aphrodisiac and remedy for impotence.

A cup of fresh ginger tea is a common medicinal tonic in China for improving digestion and kidney health. Ginger root and ginger oil were also valued analgesics in Asia, and later in Europe after the ginger made its way there via Middle Eastern trade routes.

Ginger oil was also considered a liquid spice in Europe that improved digestion. Sailing ships were often stocked with a large supply of dried ginger, in the belief that it prevented nausea and vomiting due to seasickness. Ginger also served as a crucial food supplement for sailors because it could prevent scurvy, a tissue disease that could otherwise result from chronic vitamin C deficiency during long sea voyages when fresh fruits and vegetables were unavailable.

Back on shore, many European doctors explored the potential of ginger in treating emotional imbalances, particularly in people suffering from hysteria or a short temper. One common treatment involved shredding ginger like tobacco and having patients smoke it out of a pipe!

The worldwide fondness for ginger is evident in the hundreds of different recipes that call for ginger root throughout the world, including gingerbread, ginger beer and brandy, ginger snaps, and ginger chews. Ginger essential oil is still used to prevent nausea during pregnancy as well as for several other health issues, and it has become an accepted therapeutic essential oil in all parts of the world today.

One of ginger’s most distinctive characteristics is its sweet, warm and citrusy fragrance.

Its unique scent is the expression of hundreds of individual compounds.  In fact, ginger is one of nature’s most complex essential oils.  And, an almost infinite cascade of beneficial activity results from the synergistic reaction of its chemical constituents, giving ginger oil profound therapeutic benefits, and making it one of the most valuable of the oils.

Some of the therapeutic properties of ginger include: analgesic, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-nauseant, expectorant and stumulant.

During the cold and flu season, ginger oil offers some important benefits.  It provides excellent soothing benefits to the digestive system, helping to relieve nausea and lessen diarrhea and vomiting.  It can also be used as an expectorant, and for congestion, coughs and sore throat.

Ginger is also beneficial for nausea due to morning sickness, motions sickness, chemotherapy and general anesthesia.  It can also be used for stomach ache.

Ginger also aids digestion, and is helpful for colic, constipation, diarrhea, stomach ache, indigestion and nausea.

Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it can be beneficial for some types of migraine headache, as well as arthritis and rheumatism, chest pain and back pain.  It might also help with high cholesterol (which can be a response to inflammation).

doTERRA’s Certified Pure Therapeutic Essential oil is certified GRAS by the FDA, so it can be used topically, internally and diffused into the environment.

To aid with motion sickness or nausea, mix 3-5 drops of ginger oil with water or juice, then drink.  This can be done 2-3 times per day, depending on the need.  Ginger may also be diffused or inhaled to lessen nausea or motion sickness.

Ginger can also be applied topically for nausea or stomach issues.  Just apply to the stomach, lower back and behind the ears.  For use on children, either apply to the bottom of the feet, or dilute with a carrier oil.

For a sore throat or throat infections, add 1-2 drops to water or juice and drink or gargle.

For chest or back pain, or cold or flu symptoms, apply topically on location.  For migraines or other headaches, apply to the originating areas immediately upon onset.

http://www.PassionateAboutOils.com

Jodi Stone 317-441-7250

Rain, rain, rain.

A nice soft rain.  It amounted to about a half-inch here.

One good thing about not having rain for so long is that it gave us a chance to get our crops planted in a timely manner.  We did not have to worry about the ground being too wet to plant.  Also we got some new ground planted and the crops established there without weeds overtaking them from the start.

But the soil has been so dry.  We are lucky most of the beds are covered with agricultural fabric, because the high winds would have blown all our soil away.  Every time we needed to till a bed we had to pre-water it so we didn’t lose soil due to the dry and windy conditions.

The ground was so dry the annual weeds in the grass were dying.  This poor frog didn’t stand a chance.  I was glad when Gavin finished installing the irrigation in the new growing areas.

Yesterday we planted the ginger crop in the greenhouse.

The ginger ‘seed’ has been sitting in potting mix in the yurt for several weeks in its pre-sprouting stage.  It was hard to tell if there was anything was going on under there (although I did peek once or twice).  Look at the nice roots and shoots growing on this piece!

The tomatoes in the greenhouse are starting to flower!

Despite the unusual spring weather (is there ever usual spring weather?) things here are off to a great start.  In some ways I wish the markets started this weekend instead of next, because there are many good-looking veggies and flowers out in the field!  I can’t wait to start harvesting them en masse.  We have already sampled the goods and it is great eating home-grown again.  We were so busy with projects this winter that we didn’t do any over-wintered produce, so it has been a long couple of months staring at these tiny plants waiting for them to grow!

One of the things the doc tried to pin on me was Rheumatoid (autoimmune) arthritis. He told me I had fibromyalgia, and that my “something-or-other” was high. I asked him what it was, and he said, “Oh, it’s a big word. You don’t need to worry about that.” …um, yeah… that went over like a lead balloon! I’m no doc, and don’t pretend to be one, but don’t tell me that somethin’ in my body is “too big a word”, and that I “shouldn’t worry my pretty little head about it.”!!! I was livid! All done with that doc, LOL!  My body got a LOT better once we got out of that house, but it took time and a LOT of work to make the headway that enabled me to become a strong, active, and even athletic woman again.

With that nut-shell background, a bit on what has been helpful for me in fighting the symptoms of severe, crippling (had to be carried when I could no longer crawl) arthritis:

MSM: methylsulphonylmethane– organic sulphur. No USRDA on it. Too much can give loose bm’s (which is a place where the zeolite can come in handy), but when I’ve been hurting badly, 2,000 mg every 2 hours has helped immensely. 3-5,000 / day maintenance dosage seems to be about right for me now. Also a nice anti-cancer tool.

FYI (by Garden of Life) or Rejuvenzyme (cheaper, but same strength of stuff): It’s pineapple enzymes, but super-potent: stronger than regular bromelain. Works better than Ibuprofen, and without the side-effects.

Wild Yam Root: terrible tasting stuff, and it took a good bit when I was in real pain. I’d take 2 heaping Tbsp of it every 2 hours, alongside the MSM when I needed it. I ordered it in by the pound b/c it’s cheaper that way, but it’s like swallowing gravel, so I had to be sure to have plenty of liquid on-hand to get it down. Again, an anti-cancer tool.

Ginger Root (Rhizome for technical folk): STRONG-brewed tea– great anti-inflammatory stuff. I was doing 3 quarts / day of about a heaping TBSP of ginger root powder per quart of hot water. Be sure to cover it while it brews to keep in the healthy stuff– steam can leach out some of the best properties in teas of all sorts. Also great for warming up cold tummies, and great for digestion.

Aloe Vera: 2-6 ounces / day– recipe here, and another post I wrote on it, with the Ancient Hebrew pictograph here. I’ve seen this plant do some beautiful things, both inside and out! Another anti-cancer tool in my basket!

Cod Liver Oil: 4 Tbsp / day– more info on my experiences with it & what king here. Great for weight loss and detox, too!

Zeolite: Great for drawing toxins out of the body. Slows down bm’s a bit if you have difficulty with diarrhea. Special kinds of minerals are just amazing tools!

Arnica: (only if you have some form of trauma you’ve dealt with) I was at the 1M level, as-needed for quite a while, but have since healed, got a reaction (“proving,” meaning that I’d healed at that level, and needed to move down to a lower potency) at the 1M level, and moved down to the 200C level, eventually had a reaction at that level, and was able to move down to the 30C level, again, as-needed. Only need it very occasionally now   More info on different potencies and how I use them here.

Diet : No GMO’s, No sugar, no grains except for brown rice, no legumes, TONS of Brassicas (broccoli, kale, collards, maca, etc.), no “unclean” animal meats (pork, shellfish, etc.), and for a while there, no dairy or eggs. Later on, I’ve been able to incorporate eggs & dairy back in, slowly and carefully– no hormones or antibiotics, no blood spots in the eggs, and the milk has to be RAW, and CULTURED– raw-milk organic cheese, or keifer, for example.

Sauna / Sweat: Great for getting rid of pesticides and petrochemicals– my joints LOVE sauna sessions. More info here.

Exercise / gentle movement, increasing as able– this one started out as moving whatever small appendage I was able to move in the mornings when I would wake up in the toxic house. Eventually, I’d be able to move another finger or toe next to that one, and so forth, until I could crawl, and then walk (most days). During that time, it was a choice– I could lie there and just quit breathing, or I could move a bit, even when it hurt. I recommend moving… as gently, and as much as possible

Heat at night: When I was living in the toxic house, I found that my lymph fluid would kind of “freeze up” in my joints– I’d wake up in the mornings with lumps everywhere– fluid that “got stuck” All but two are gone now– one in my right hand, and one in my left leg. Still working on those, but they don’t impede movement anymore Anyhow, I warm a cotton bag filled with rice or other grain in the oven or microwave ’till it’s as warm as I can touch, wrap it in a towel to hold the heat all night, and put one on my guts (where lymph fluid is supposed to drain into so that it can be eliminated through the normal channels), and one on whatever joints were worst-off, and elevated those joints, so the lymph fluid would flow back down toward the gut for natural elimination. I invariably woke up with better functioning when I started doing this.
I’m currently working on a book– if you have time to investigate any or all of those links (yeah… I know LOL!), I’d love feedback on what is / isn’t clear, helpful, etc– The book will be entitled, My Body Knows Torah… And I’m Not Jewish! (btw, for my Christian friends: Torah is the first 5 books of the Christian Bible)
OH… and the disclaimer thing:

I’m  no doc, and don’t pretend to be one. I am therefore not legally licensed to diagnose, cure, treat, prevent, or otherwise mitigate any disease, and neither is the stuff I generally choose for healing… but then, I’ve not been educated indoctrinated by boards with big pharma reps on them, either   so do your own research and find what works for you

I’m also no rabbi, so please don’t take my experiences and path as your Rx for Kosher living