| This
past week, the Collective spent some time making ginger remedies for
our community apothecary. I was so excited to be playing with this
plant again, as I hadn't thought about it all summer. I think that a lot
of people don't consider plants like ginger, garlic & onion, as
herbal medicine; because they are so commonly used in food.
After Balloon Fiesta, I started catching a cold. I
went for my echinacea, yerba mansa & zinc... all the while these
ginger remedies were infusing on my counter, quietly giving me a clue.
Once I got a day to rest, I made myself ginger tea, and was at once
uplifted, cleared & energized. I had forgotten how simple and
marvelous ginger is for the common cold. It is appropriate, that before I
came to write this article, I took a 2oz shot of fresh ginger
juice(with lemon & cayenne)!
Ginger can
be used for multiple ailments and body systems. It is a warming and
grounding plant that is great for all constitutions. According to
Ayurveda, ginger is one of the few heating plants that can be used
for all doshas! It is grounding for airy Vata, stimulating for stagnant
Kapha, and strengthening for fiery Pitta, as long as it's used in
moderation. Ayurveda uses ginger as a way to move toxicity out of the
body. If you find that you are sluggish, depressed or emotionally
overwhelmed; ginger can work to push out the root of those issues,
making way for deeper healing.
For colds and flus; ginger helps to stimulate the immune system, clear
congestion and bring warming, energizing flow to the body. It is
commonly used to aid digestion and help with gas pains, as it kindles
our digestive fires. Ginger improves overall circulation, and can aid
a person with rheumatoid arthritis, muscle aches and cold joints. Many
women have also used ginger tea to ease menstrual cramps, and you can
easily make a freshly shredded ginger poultice, to apply to sore muscles
and joints externally for pain relief and circulation (make sure you
avoid mucous membranes and sensitive skin).
Ginger is accessible, growable at home and not threatened. It is
important to buy your ginger organically, as it can be overly sprayed in
conventional cultivation. Most of us have at least dried ginger in our
pantry! It can be used alone in remedies, or added to formulas, soups
and other dishes; lending it's warming attributes and medicinal
qualities. It is such a wonderful and versatile plant. I hope that you
decide to use some of it this fall and into winter!
Article by Kate Viers
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