Ginger
Botanical name: Zingiber officinale, Roscoe, Zingiberaceae
History of Ginger
Ginger is an extremely common spice you've probably heard of! Its name comes from the Middle English gingivere, and as a spice dates back over 3000 years to the Sanskrit word srngaveram, meaning “horn root" - due to its appearance. In Greek, it was called ziggiberis, and in Latin, zinziberi. It been used for thousands of years for the treatment of numerous disorders, such as colds, nausea, arthritis, migraines, and hypertension. It is widely used as an ingredient in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and other industries.
The medicinal, chemical, and pharmacological properties of ginger have been extensively reviewed. Over the last few years, interest in ginger or its various components as valid preventive or therapeutic agents has increased, and scientific studies aiming on verification of ginger’s pharmacological and physiological actions have increased.
Ginger’s closest relative is turmeric, both of which are now cultivated throughout the humid tropics. For over 5000 years in both traditional Indian and Chinese medicine, ginger has been used as a tonic root to treat several sicknesses. It was an important item of trade and was exported from India to the Roman Empire over 2000 years ago, where it was known for its medicinal properties and later Arab merchants controlled the trade in ginger and other spices for centuries.
The Science
The oils from the rhizomes or roots of ginger plant contains many bioactive components, such as ketones like gingerol. Its spicy aroma is due to gingerol, a primary constituent of ginger. which is known to influence many of the well-known pharmacological and physiological activities. The rhizome is the main portion of ginger plant which is edible and is consumed in many cultures regularly and is recognized to be safe.
The intriguing part is that ginger is a very rich spice. It is in every kitchen and little do we know that it is loaded with various chemical ingredients, including phenolic compounds, terpenes, polysaccharides, lipids, organic acids, and raw fibers. It is loaded with antioxidants that prevent stress and damage.
Ginger is well known in many cultures for its anti-inflammatory role. It can modulate gastrointestinal motility, and rate of gastric emptying as well. It is used as a remedy for gastrointestinal (GI) complaints and has been used as a viable adjuvant treatment for nausea and vomiting. Bioactive compounds such as gingerol and shogaol class of compounds, interact with several pathways that are directly implicated in nausea and vomiting. Components of ginger can also influence serotonin (5-HT3), substance P, and can inhibit acetylcholine receptor function. In clinical trials, ginger was shown to have a favorable effect on serum lipids, inflammatory cytokines, and blood pressure and these studies point to the potential benefits of ginger and its constituents in the treatment of hypertension and other vascular diseases.
Conclusion
It’s clear to see that ginger ranks as one of the healthiest - and most delicious - spices in the world! It has many more health benefits we would encourage you to research yourself and has powerful properties for your body and brain
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Check out these Surrasa products that contain ginger below.