Ginger (Fresh)

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How Can This Ayurvedic Food Make You Feel Great?

AYURVEDIC ANALYSIS

Introduction

A steaming hot mug of ginger tea on a damp day warms up your bones and burns away thick, heavy congestion. When the weather is soggy, you feel tired and groggy. You naturally crave sunlight and heat. Pungent and light, fresh ginger clears away the damp clouds of winter, invigorating your whole system as it lifts your mood and boosts enthusiasm. The perkiness of ginger bids you to say goodbye to dullness and depression.

Ginger, Sore Throats & Congestion

Ginger's heat & pungency is key to warming you up and liquefying mucus. On damp, rainy days you may feel heavy and sluggish. Even your skin feels clammy. The back of your throat may be swollen and irritated due to a thick coating of "reactive" mucus - mucus filled with dead bacteria. By stimulating your heart to beat faster and opening up blood vessels, ginger flushes damp, cold areas with warm, enlivening blood. It is particularly beneficial for clearing congestion in the upper respiratory tract, including the throat, nose and sinuses.

A simple cup of fresh ginger tea, made by boiling an inch of the root in two cups of water, does the trick. As it warms the head and your whole body, it brings a sense of lightness back to a heavy, congested head. A client explained how fresh ginger helped them relieve this stuffed up feeling, "My nasal passages opened up and my congestion cleared." Another shared, "Breathing was much easier. My mind had more clarity. My chest felt far less dense, like I had been doing breathing exercises to open up my thoracic cavity." You can also place grated ginger in a pot of boiling water and inhale the steam to clear a stuffy nose.

Try this syrup for a sore throat: Mix together 1/2" grated fresh ginger root, 1/4 tsp dried turmeric, and 1/4 tsp black pepper with 1 tsp raw honey. Slowly lick over 15 minutes and repeat up to three times a day to clear throat congestion. Ginger is most effective in late winter. Its light, clear, and warm qualities combat a slushy and soggy time of year.

Restore Warmth

The mobile, revitalizing quality of fresh ginger allows it to support peripheral circulation, dispelling feelings of cold from extremities. Although many spices share ginger's warmth, they also make you sweat which leaves you vulnerable to catching a chill as the effects wear off. Ginger operates internally only (in antara marga), kindling heat & agni without making you sweat.

A client notes, "My hands and feet tend to be cool. With ginger, I did not sweat but felt warmer to my core." Another reports, "After eating fresh ginger, the center of my chest felt hot, as if I had a heating pad inside the back of my sternum."

On cold days, a hot ginger and baking soda bath is one of the best ways to warm your entire body, stimulate circulation, and rev up metabolism. To enjoy these benefits, simply mix 1/2c of ginger and 1/2c of baking soda into a hot bath.

Ginger & Digestion

Fresh ginger is considered to be one of the best digestives, and for this reason is among the most revered roots in Ayurveda. It is suitable for all body types (tridoshic) to stimulate digestive strength (agni). A few pieces of tummy warming ginger, salt, & lime appetizer before a meal stimulates appetite, and gets digestive juices flowing. "It was like my digestive system was getting a kickstart," a client noted.

Purifying & Cleansing

Fresh ginger purifies the mouth, awakens the taste buds, and stimulates salivary secretions. You might just notice fresher breath and a sharper palate after having some. A client explained the effect it had in their mouth, "When I chewed on the fresh ginger, it gave my mouth a tingling, cleansing and hot sensation, like mouthwash almost. The peppery taste made me feel refreshed."

When food becomes stagnant in the gut, it starts to ferment and rot, leading to indigestion, gas, bloating, and the formation of digestive toxins (ama). Light, easy, and warming, fresh ginger stimulates digestion and metabolism, acting as a cleansing aid for detoxification. The volatile oils in ginger increase motility in the gastrointestinal tract, helping clear food stagnation and relieve constipation. One client notes, "My peristalsis increased with the ginger. My elimination sped up and the end result was I felt lighter."

Eating a slice of ginger can help relieve nausea in the stomach or burping due to stagnant food or excess mucus. One client who was feeling nauseous tried this trick with great results. "My gut was feeling heavy and a little nauseated, so I tried this appetizer," they shared. "It was like magic! Within 5-10 minutes, I felt much lighter and was able to eat with the family again."

Ginger & Inflammation

One of the amazing qualities of fresh ginger is that it stimulates digestion without aggravating acidity. Despite the heat of this root, fresh ginger is actually anti-inflammatory. Only fresh ginger, due to the volatile oils, has this special anti-inflammatory quality. Dry ginger does not, due to evaporation of essential oils.

Even though fresh ginger tastes initially pungent on your tongue, it has a sweet post digestive effect (vipaka). In Ayurveda, the post digestive effect means the effect a substance has throughout your body, after you have digested it. The sweet post digestive effect of ginger moistens and nourishes tissues, and is anti-inflammatory.

Dry ginger is much hotter than fresh ginger, and can be aggravating to the digestive tract. It does not have the same soothing or nutritive effect of fresh ginger, but increases heat and dryness in the body. A fiery spice, those who are overheated or feel agitated by heat should steer clear of dry ginger and favor fresh. Those who need the extra heat, however, can benefit from dry ginger. It depends on the individual.

Other Uses

Minced, chopped, grated or sliced, fresh ginger can be used in a variety of ways. It is well known for its pain relieving qualities, and its ability to settle an upset or nauseous stomach. It also acts as an antispasmodic, helping reduce tension, spasms, and cramping. A cup of the hot tea can relieve menstrual cramps due to its antispasmodic properties, and its sweet post digestive effect has a nourishing effect on the reproductive tissues. 1 tsp of fresh ginger mixed into 1 tbsp of castor oil is a home remedy for rheumatoid arthritis. 1 tsp of fresh ginger mixed with 1 tsp of ghee is reputed to help osteoarthritis.

Fresh ginger is also a powerful antibacterial agent, and has been proven to kill the harmful bacteria salmonella under certain conditions. Ginger, therefore, can also be beneficial as a food preservative. Its warming effects can help encourage a low grade fever - improving immunity.

Contraindications

For some Pitta individuals the heat of ginger is too much. One client writes, "After a while the warmth in my stomach went to a sour feeling. My stomach kind of churned." Another notes, "My eyes felt dry, my face flushed, and the whites of my eyes became bloodshot." Fresh ginger is used widely in Asia to prevent nausea in pregnant women, although it is contraindicated for pregnancy in the USA.

BUYING & PREPARATION

If you buy organic ginger, you won't have to peel the skin. For non-organic ginger, scrape the skin off with the edge of a knife or a spoon instead of using a peeler or a knife. This method is faster and creates less waste.

COOKING GINGER (FRESH)

Browse Recipes Ginger appears in recipes from all over the world, in many unique and versatile ways. In the West, ginger is often made into candy, crystallized, or added to desserts like gingerbread. Ginger is considered to be one of the "sweet spices" along with cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and anise. However, its use appears frequently in savory dishes as well. In Asian cuisine, ginger, garlic, and onion form tri-root, a common spice combination. Ginger is ground with garlic into a paste and then sauted in Bengal. The Burmese shred ginger and preserve it in oil, mixing it with a variety of nuts and seeds. Ginger beer, a carbonated fermented soda, is popular in Jamaica. The people of the Ivory Coast mix ginger with orange, lemon, and pineapple to make a juice. In Japanese cuisine, ginger is pickled with red shisho leaves. Koreas kimchi is studded with ginger, added before the fermentation process.

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WHY EAT AN AYURVEDIC DIET?

Eating Ayurvedically makes you feel nourished and energized. An Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body type and the specific imbalances you are working with at any given time. Ayurveda shows you your specific body type’s needs and what should be favored in your Ayurvedic menu. Watch as you eat less but feel more satisfied because what you are eating truly nourishes you. Since Ayurveda believes all disease begins in the digestive tract, food is your first medicine. By eating a healthy diet that’s ideal for your body, you experience optimal health.

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When I Eat Ginger (Fresh):

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I FEEL BETTER I FEEL WORSE I FEEL THE SAME

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Is Ginger (Fresh) Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether Ginger (Fresh) is a good fit for your body type. Time to complete: approximately 1 minute.

SERVING SIZE: 1/4 inch

SPECIES: Zingiber officinale

FAMILY: Zingiberaceae

STYLE: ASIAN, AYURVEDIC, INDIAN

PREPARATION: PICKLED-FERMENTED

EAT IN: SPRING

FOR OCCASION: ON-THE-MEND

AYURVEDIC MEDICINAL BIOCHARACTERISTICS

What is the biocharacteristic theory of medicine?

INCREASES

Increases These Biocharacteristics (Gunas)

Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating these characteristics weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which characteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct imbalances before you get sick. Every characteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite characteristic.

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MOBILE

ABOUT MOBILE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Mobile refers to anything that stimulates the nervous system, muscles, or activity.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MOBILE

CLEAR

ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CLEAR

EASY

ABOUT EASY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Easy refers to anything easy to digest, or digests quickly.

LEARN MORE ABOUT EASY

LIGHT

ABOUT LIGHT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Lightness is identified by reduced weight.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIGHT

TASTES

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

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PUNGENT

ABOUT PUNGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Pungency is characterized by irritation, or sharp, spicy foods that irritate the mouth such as black pepper.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PUNGENT

DOSHAS

The Three Doshas / Body Types

According to the biocharacteristic theory of medicine, people tend to get sick, over and over again, due to habitual causes and imbalances that are unique to the person. Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness. Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency. Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history.

The 3 functional body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha). Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. Catabolic people tend to be easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic people tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic people are heavy, stable and grounded, but if they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion.

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PACIFIES

HAS THE FOLLOWING

Effect:

Alkalizing

ALKALIZING

An herb or food that makes the urine more alkaline (higher pH). This herbal action can be helpful for a number of inflammatory conditions.

SEE ALL 'ALKALIZING' FOODS / HERBS

Prana

PRANA

Prana is the Sanskrit word for vital life energy (Qi in Chinese Medicine, pneuma in Greek). Many herbs stimulate your energy, or improve the flow of prana through your body. Generally, prana needs to be increased in spring after a sleepy winter.

SEE ALL 'PRANA' FOODS / HERBS

Sattvic

SATTVIC

Sattvic foods promote awareness and a refreshed mind by nourishing the body without taxing digestion. Sattvic foods do not stimulate desire or nervous energy. They create clarity instead of drowsiness or heaviness.

SEE ALL 'SATTVIC' FOODS / HERBS

Type:
Ferments, Spices
Element:

Earth

EARTH

Resembles earth (prithvi) in quality - heavy, dense, solid, stable, hard.

SEE ALL 'EARTH' FOODS / HERBS

Fire

FIRE

Resembles fire (tejas) in quality - hot, sharp, penetrating, light, dry.

SEE ALL 'FIRE' FOODS / HERBS

Subtaste:

Aromatic

AROMATIC

Herbs or spices with volatile essential oils that present strong aromas. Aromatic oils shock, refresh and numb tissue, with the end result of relaxing, opening and clearing stagnant fluids in tissues.

SEE ALL 'AROMATIC' FOODS / HERBS

Color:
Brown
Family:
Zingiberaceae

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES

Experiences are Personal

Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

Here are the herbal actions of Ginger (Fresh):

Digestion:

Appetizer

APPETIZER

Herbs that cleanse the palate & stimulate hunger or desire to eat.

SEE ALL 'APPETIZER' FOODS / HERBS

Antiemetic

ANTIEMETIC

Herbs that reduce nausea or stop vomiting. Generally refreshing, aromatic herbs.

SEE ALL 'ANTIEMETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Carminative

CARMINATIVE

Stimulates the release of gas. Helpful for bloating or cramping abdominal pain. Propels food downward.

SEE ALL 'CARMINATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Digestive

DIGESTIVE

Herbs that encourage healthy digestion.

SEE ALL 'DIGESTIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Sialogogue

SIALOGOGUE

A sialogogue increases saliva. Sour foods are often great sialogogues, and increase output of all exocrine glands. Salty taste is very moistening as well. Bitter, pungent and sweettastes also increase salivary output but to a lesser degree. Astringents.

SEE ALL 'SIALOGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS

Spleen Tonic

SPLEEN-TONIC

An herb that strengthens spleen function by improving strength of the blood. Spleen tonics Builds agni, brighten the person's appearances & firms up tissues.

SEE ALL 'SPLEEN-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Stomachic

STOMACHIC

An herb that increases appetite or settles a nauseas or nervous stomach. These generally increase the digestive fire, therefore relieving symptoms of sluggish or difficult digestion.

SEE ALL 'STOMACHIC' FOODS / HERBS

Cleanse & Detox:

Burns Toxins

BURNS-TOXINS

An herb that detoxifies by helping your body metabolize toxins, as opposed to eliminating them.

SEE ALL 'BURNS-TOXINS' FOODS / HERBS

Detoxicant

DETOXICANT

An herb that decongests, dislodges or improves metabolization of toxins from the body, transforming or altering fluids to a more healthy state.

SEE ALL 'DETOXICANT' FOODS / HERBS

Mind, Stress & Sleep:

Brain Tonic

BRAIN-TONIC

An herb that strengthens the brain, thereby improves either mental function, stamina, or stability.

SEE ALL 'BRAIN-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Energy Vitality:

Stimulates energy

STIMULATES-ENERGY

This category groups thyroid and adrenal stimulating herbs.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-ENERGY' FOODS / HERBS

Respiratory-Health:

Lung Tonic

LUNG-TONIC

Strengthens the lungs. These herbs are helpful when recovering from either acute or chronic lung issues like bronchitis or pneumonia.

SEE ALL 'LUNG-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Decongestant

DECONGESTANT

An herb that reduces mucus congestion in the sinus or lungs by restricting blood flow to mucus membranes.

SEE ALL 'DECONGESTANT' FOODS / HERBS

Immune System:

Anti Inflammatory

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.

SEE ALL 'ANTI-INFLAMMATORY' FOODS / HERBS

Heart & Circulation:

Cardiac stimulant

CARDIAC-STIMULANT

Herbs that increase the heart rate. Useful in cardiovascular health, blood stagnation, and subjective feeling of heaviness in the chest area.

SEE ALL 'CARDIAC-STIMULANT' FOODS / HERBS

Vasodilator

VASODILATOR

A vasodilator is an herb that widens the blood vessels by the relaxation of smooth muscle cells within the vessel walls, thereby increasing circulation systemically or to a local area.

SEE ALL 'VASODILATOR' FOODS / HERBS

Reproductive Health:

Galactagogue

GALACTAGOGUE

Increases production of breast milk, often by raising prolactin and diaphoresis.

SEE ALL 'GALACTAGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS

Bone & Joint:

Antiarthritic

ANTIARTHRITIC

Herbs that ease arthritic pain and promote joint health.

SEE ALL 'ANTIARTHRITIC' FOODS / HERBS

Strength, Muscle Health:

Antispasmodic

ANTISPASMODIC

Herbs that reduce or inhibit muscle spasms or cramping, such as in asthma, menstruation, hear palpitations, migraine, or IBS.

SEE ALL 'ANTISPASMODIC' FOODS / HERBS

Joyful Belly is a recognized school of biocharacteristics medicine.

Compare Ginger (Fresh) with these Foods

Compare the following foods with Ginger (Fresh):

Fennel Seeds

Fennel Seeds has these Actions in Common

Decongestant, Galactagogue, Stimulates-energy, Appetizer, Cardiac-stimulant, Detoxicant, Lung-tonic, Stomachic, Brain-tonic, Carminative, Digestive, Spleen-tonic, Antispasmodic, Burns-toxins

LEARN MORE

Allspice

Allspice has these Actions in Common

Antiarthritic, Burns-toxins, Decongestant, Spleen-tonic, Vasodilator, Antispasmodic, Cardiac-stimulant, Detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Anti-inflammatory, Appetizer, Carminative, Digestive, Stomachic

LEARN MORE

Caraway Seeds

Caraway Seeds has these Actions in Common

Vasodilator, Antiarthritic, Cardiac-stimulant, Digestive, Stimulates-energy, Antispasmodic, Carminative, Lung-tonic, Stomachic, Burns-toxins, Detoxicant, Spleen-tonic

LEARN MORE

Basil

Basil has these Actions in Common

Spleen-tonic, Anti-inflammatory, Burns-toxins, Decongestant, Galactagogue, Antispasmodic, Cardiac-stimulant, Detoxicant, Lung-tonic, Appetizer, Carminative, Digestive

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Cardamom

Cardamom has these Actions in Common

Antiemetic, Burns-toxins, Detoxicant, Spleen-tonic, Antispasmodic, Carminative, Digestive, Stimulates-energy, Appetizer, Decongestant, Lung-tonic

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Dill

Dill has these Actions in Common

Burns-toxins, Digestive, Stimulates-energy, Antispasmodic, Carminative, Galactagogue, Stomachic, Appetizer, Detoxicant, Spleen-tonic, Vasodilator

LEARN MORE

Rosemary

Rosemary has these Actions in Common

Stimulates-energy, Antispasmodic, Cardiac-stimulant, Digestive, Stomachic, Brain-tonic, Decongestant, Spleen-tonic, Vasodilator, Burns-toxins, Detoxicant

LEARN MORE

Cinnamon

Cinnamon has these Actions in Common

Burns-toxins, Decongestant, Galactagogue, Antiemetic, Cardiac-stimulant, Detoxicant, Spleen-tonic, Appetizer, Carminative, Digestive, Stimulates-energy

LEARN MORE

Mustard Seed

Mustard Seed has these Actions in Common

Detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Antispasmodic, Carminative, Digestive, Vasodilator, Burns-toxins, Decongestant, Spleen-tonic, Antiarthritic, Cardiac-stimulant

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Crystallized Ginger

Crystallized Ginger has these Actions in Common

Appetizer, Detoxicant, Spleen-tonic, Burns-toxins, Digestive, Stimulates-energy, Antiemetic, Cardiac-stimulant, Sialogogue, Vasodilator

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Compare Ginger (Fresh) with these Herb Supplements

Compare the following herb supplements with Ginger (Fresh):

Wild Ginger

Wild Ginger has these Actions in Common

Antispasmodic, Stimulates-energy, Appetizer, Vasodilator, Burns-toxins, Cardiac-stimulant, Detoxicant, Digestive, Sialogogue, Antiemetic, Spleen-tonic

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Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

Lung-tonic, Stimulates-energy, Anti-inflammatory, Stomachic, Antispasmodic, Vasodilator, Appetizer, Cardiac-stimulant, Decongestant, Detoxicant

LEARN MORE

Deodar (Himalayan Cedar, Devadaru)

Deodar (Himalayan Cedar, Devadaru) has these Actions in Common

Stimulates-energy, Anti-inflammatory, Vasodilator, Antiarthritic, Antispasmodic, Cardiac-stimulant, Carminative, Decongestant, Digestive

LEARN MORE

Mugwort

Mugwort has these Actions in Common

Digestive, Stomachic, Anti-inflammatory, Antiemetic, Antispasmodic, Appetizer, Carminative, Detoxicant

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Bitter Orange Peel

Bitter Orange Peel has these Actions in Common

Digestive, Stimulates-energy, Stomachic, Appetizer, Cardiac-stimulant, Carminative, Decongestant

LEARN MORE

Trikatu

Trikatu has these Actions in Common

Detoxicant, Digestive, Vasodilator, Appetizer, Cardiac-stimulant, Carminative, Decongestant

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Haritaki

Haritaki has these Actions in Common

Sialogogue, Anti-inflammatory, Antispasmodic, Appetizer, Carminative, Detoxicant, Digestive

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Amalaki

Amalaki has these Actions in Common

Anti-inflammatory, Brain-tonic, Carminative, Detoxicant, Digestive, Sialogogue, Stimulates-energy

LEARN MORE

Cumin, Coriander, Fennel Tea

Cumin, Coriander, Fennel Tea has these Actions in Common

Galactagogue, Spleen-tonic, Antispasmodic, Burns-toxins, Detoxicant, Digestive

LEARN MORE

Pippali

Pippali has these Actions in Common

Burns-toxins, Cardiac-stimulant, Detoxicant, Digestive, Galactagogue, Vasodilator

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Yogaraj Guggulu

Yogaraj Guggulu has these Actions in Common

Vasodilator, Antiarthritic, Antispasmodic, Burns-toxins, Carminative, Detoxicant

LEARN MORE

Ginger (Fresh) Research & Clinical Trials

In each clinical research trial below, students from the Joyful Belly School of Ayurveda ate the selected food for 3 days and reported the pharmacological effects. See other clinical research trials for diet & herbs at Joyful Belly.