Ginger

Botanical Name: Zingiber officinalis

Family: Zingiberaceae

Plants of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae) prefer to live in tropical climates and have distinctive foliage with colourful, exotic flowers presented on long spikes. Like so many other herbs, Ginger has a long history of use in cooking and as a medicine, especially in Asia and Melanesia. The essential oil of ginger is clear with a sweetly pungent aroma and hot taste. It is extracted from the rhizome (root) of the plant by steam distillation.

 

Uses in Natural Skin Care Products:

Ginger is not usually found in cosmetic or skin care preparations, although it is suitable for Massage Oil blends.

 

Traditional Medicinal Uses:

Medicinal use of Ginger is well documented, especially in Traditional Chinese Medicine where it is highly regarded for its warming and stimulating qualities and is considered to have the following functions:

• Relieves Exterior and Disperses Cold.
• Harmonizes and Warms the Stomach and relieves nausea and vomiting.
• Resolves Cold Phlegm in the Lungs.
• Harmonizes the Ying (nutritive function) and Wei (protective) Qi in conditions of TaiYang Exterior Wind Evil.

These qualities make it suitable for use in ‘cold’ diseases such as poor appetite, sluggish digestion, cold fevers and against viral infections. It is a well known remedy against nausea due to morning sickness, travel sickness and nervousness.

Ginger has a stimulating and warming effect when used in Massage Oil blends and helps ease muscular cramps and pain. Ginger oil can be found in Wildcrafted’s Autumn Hydro Oil Blend.

Contraindications and Cautions: Always use in dilution. Do not apply to inflammations or broken skin. May cause allergic reaction in sensitive people.

 

Medical Aromatherapy

The essential oil of Ginger is obtained from the roots by steam distillation.

Properties of Ginger

Internal use:

• aperitif
• stomachic
• carminative
• antiseptic
• stimulant
• tonic
• antiscorbutic
• febrifuge

External use:

• analgesic

Indications:

Internal use:

• Loss of appetite
• painful digestion, dyspepsia
• flatulence
• diarrhoea
• prevention of contagious diseases
• impotence
• scurvy

External use:

• rheumatic pains
• sore throat, tonsilitis, angina