It is believed that ginger has originated in India and was introduced in China at a very early date. It was used as a spice and a medicine from early times by both Indians and Chinese. Ginger is perennial herb. It has underground branching stems which are called rhizomes. The cut or bruised ginger leaves and rhizomes have a characteristic odour. This plant soon spread to all tropical countries as living rhizomes of ginger are very easy to transport. Ginger has two available forms - fresh and dried, both of which contain effective food value.

Ginger has lots of health benefits due to which it is widely used in medicines.

• If you are suffering from either of dyspepsia, flatulence, colic, vomiting, spasm etc then ginger can help you a lot. Ginger can cure the painful affections of the stomach and the bowels to a great extent. Chew a piece of fresh ginger after meals regularly which will resist these ailments.

• Ginger can act as a great cure for coughs and colds. Mix fresh juice of ginger with honey and take it three or four times a day to get rid of coughs. To cure cold, boil small pieces of ginger in a cup of water; then strain it and add half a teaspoon of sugar. Drink this mixture before it is cold.

• Ginger can also help reduce fever in influenza. Try the following: take a teaspoon of fresh ginger juice and mix it with a cupful of Fenugreek decoction and honey to taste. This mixture increases sweating to reduce fever.

• Ginger is a fabulous pain killer and can cure all types of pain. To get relief from headache, apply ginger ointment to the forehead which can be made by rubbing dry ginger with a little water. A few drops of ginger juice can help relief earache.

• Ginger is believed to have aphrodisiac properties. It has valuable benefits in the treatment of sexual disorders. To tone up the sex centres and cure impotency, premature ejaculation, take the following mixture once daily at night for a month: half a teaspoon of ginger juice with the half boiled egg and honey.

• Ginger can also be used to rectify menstrual disorders. To cure dysmenorrhoea and amenorrhoea, take the infusion of fresh ginger, pounded and boiled in a cupful of water and sweetened with sugar, thrice daily after meal.

Ginger is widely used for culinary purposes in all over the world. Besides having the power of enhancing the taste of our platter, it also has great medicinal values. It can help reduce a great deal of our health problems if used with proper knowledge.