Ginger is a known spice in many parts of Asia. It’s distinctive spiciness and flavor savors many Asian dishes. Not only that, ginger has also been regarded as a valuable medicinal plant and its medicinal properties are astoundingly comparable to commercial medicines.

Ginger is a typical root-crop, which means that the part used in the plant is the roots or rhizome. The color of the ginger’s flesh may vary from yellow, white, or red, depending on the variety. Its outer skin may also vary in thickness, mainly depending on whether it’s harvested in its mature or young stage.

Traditionally, ginger has been an effective treatment when it comes to common gastrointestinal problems. It is regarded as a good carminative in herbal medicine (it promotes elimination of intestinal gas) and as an intestinal spasmolytic (an intestinal track relaxant). It is a popular in Ayurveda – India’s Traditional Hindu alternative medicine. Also, in recent studies with ginger, it was found out that the spice exhibits many medicinal properties, which includes anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Ginger is rich in anti-inflammatory compounds called “gingerols”. These substances are the ones responsible with the significant reduction in pain and swelling when used as an alternative medicine for muscular and joint inflammations.

Ginger is also good for motion-sickness, especially as a relief for dizziness, nausea, vomiting and cold sweating. It also works similarly to morning-sickness – that nausea and vomiting experienced during pregnancy. And being an herbal medicine, it’s proven to be safe for pregnant women, even safer and at times more effective than commercial motion/morning-sickness drugs.

It is also good for the prevention of rectal and colon cancers. Studies show that gingerols, the substances responsible for ginger’s distinctive flavor, may be able to inhibit the growth of tumors composed of colorectal cells – the type of cancer cells that cause the aforementioned cancer types.

There’s clearly more to ginger than being a good spice. Adding it to your diet may just give you most (if not all) of the benefits that ginger has to offer. Have your favorite ginger-mixed dish or infuse it with water as much as you can and you’ll see the positive difference that the humble root can give you.