Zingiber officinale (Ginger)

Historical uses:

·         Ginger was one of the first spices to travel along the spice route to Europe, with the Greeks and Romans using it. Dioscórides, a Greek physician, recommended ginger for use as a digestive stimulant.

·         Used as a spice in India, with references too it to be found in ancient Sanskrit texts, but not the oldest Vedic texts.  In China, the first ginger reference was from Confucius (C. 500 BCE), who claimed to always have ginger with food. It was used to treat rheumatism, toothache, and malaria.

·         Historically used as a strong stimulant and used for malaria.

·         The Chinese used it to break up phlegm and strengthen the heart.

·         The Greeks used it for its warming properties on the stomach and to antidote poison.

·         In Indian was historically used it as a tea for stomach upsets.

·         The dried root has been historically used as a condiment.

·         Used historically as both a spice and as an herbal remedy, especially for digestive system ailments.

·         TCM uses ginger for colds and chills, to promote sweating, expel mucous and stimulate the appetite. The dried ginger has been used to treat stomach-aches, diarrhoea, nausea, cholera and bleeding.

Blends well with:

Bay, cajuput, caraway, cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, clove, elemi, eucalyptus, frankincense, geranium, lemon, lime, myrtle, orange, rosemary, spearmint, verbena.

Energetics:

The warming nature of ginger essential oil may benefit the stimulation of arterial circulation and help dispel cold conditions associated with the digestive, respiratory and reproductive systems. It is also warming and stimulating to the lungs, thus helps with chronic bronchitis. Ginger is tonifying to the yang energy of the kidneys makes it useful for relieving lower back pain associated with muscular fatigue.

The aroma of ginger increases determination, clarity and confidence, therefore, may be useful in cases of loss of motivation, will or inner strength; Especially when there is also apathy, listlessness, indecision, confusion and disconnection.

Personality profile:

·         Ginger essential oil is ideal for those people with clear plans and good intensions, but who lack personal drive and optimism to manifest initiate and take real or immediate action.

·         A ginger personality is strong, silent type.

·         The character of ginger is warming, strengthening and encouraging.

Warmest regards,

                             Penelope Espinoza Hallett, Naturopath

                            BHsc (C.M.) AdvDip. Nat/N.D, Dip. Aroma, Dip. C.H., Cert. R.M., Cert. R.M., Cert. SBM, mNHAA