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Grandma was right. When you were a kid with an upset stomach or the flu and she gave you flat
ginger ale and saltines instead of medicine, she knew what she was doing. Maybe she didn’t know why ginger ale settled your stomach, but she knew it would do the trick--and it did.
For thousands of years Asian civilizations have used ginger medicinally as well as in cooking. It’s said to aid in the remedies of ailments from motion sickness to athletes foot. Its anti-inflammatory properties can lessen the pain of rheumatoid arthritis and many women claim ginger tea helps rid them of menstrual cramps. So, what is this wonder root called ginger?
Actually, ginger root is not really a root at all, but a rhizome or underground stem. It’s harvested nearly year-round. Ginger’s earlier harvests--about five months after planting--are used to process products like ginger syrup and candied ginger. Later harvests are sold as fresh ginger. The longer the ginger remains underground before harvest, the hotter and spicier it gets--and the better it is for use in homeopathic remedies.
You can buy ginger today in most grocery stores in the produce department. Its gnarly fist-like
bulb is best if the brown skin on it is smooth, the surface hard, and the weight heavy. Peel it and use it minced or julienned in stir-fry recipes. Bake it in cookies or breads. Spice up your jams and jellies with it. Add it to your favorite barbecue sauce.
But if you have an ailment, here are some age-old ways ginger might just help you on the way to
recovery.
For motion sickness, upset stomachs, colds or headaches, steep about a teaspoon of chopped
fresh ginger in a cup of boiling water to make a tea. Sip this tea before taking a trip to avoid
motion sickness or during or after the journey to calm a queasy stomach.
If you have athlete’s foot, cool this tea and soak your feet in it. It’s anti-fungal property will ease the burn and itch.
Ginger tea is also said to reduce excessive perspiration, act as an aphrodisiac, and freshen one’s breath. Not bad for the stem of a plant that grows underground.
As a mood enhancer, ginger’s cineole content may help contribute to stress relief. So sipping a
cold glass of ginger ale after a hard day at the office might be just what the doctor ordered. Just make sure the ginger ale you drink is made with real ginger. Some of today’s sodas are artificially flavored and will do nothing for you like ginger can.
It’s not surprising that ginger has been used for so many years as a homeopathic remedy in different civilizations. Many current medicines--from aspirin to quinine--were also developed from plant-based compounds and chemicals.
So, grandma was right about giving you ginger ale for what ails you. It not only tastes good, but it works.
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