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Key points1. Supports the ability to digest food, as well

as stimulating appetite and calming an upset stomach and gut

2. Excellent circulatory stimulant, particularly for the peripheral circulation to the tissues

3. Stimulates defensive responses in the upper respiratory and digestive mucosa helping the body fend off infections

What conditions would you recommend it for?• Bacterial and viral infections such as colds,

flu, chest infections, sore throats• A weak, slow or inefficient digestion,

constipation, diarrhoea, flatulence• Inflamed and painful musculoskeletal

conditions, arthritis and back pain 1

• All types of nausea and its associated symptoms, such as in pregnancy, 2 post-operative and travel sickness 3

• Female reproductive issues such as menstrual cramps, delayed, painful and scanty periods

Sourcing organic practitioner-grade gingerGinger is a flowering plant whose rhizome or root is widely used as a spice and herbal medicine. Ginger, turmeric and galangal are all from the same Zingiberacea plant family. It is cultivated in warm and moist areas of India, China, Sri Lanka and many South-East Asian countries. Pukka works with organic co-operatives and individual farmers either in field or agroforestry systems where trees such as coconut occupy the top canopy, banana and cacao trees the middle, and ginger and turmeric on the ground. The system naturally replenishes the soil - the leaves of the trees and plants providing soil fertility as they fall and smother weeds. It is true biodiversity at work.

How ginger worksGinger is warming due to its high levels of many different volatile oils, such as gingerols and zingerone which have potent

anti-inflammatory effects. These make it an excellent circulatory stimulant, particularly for the peripheral circulation. It is a warming anti-inflammatory, providing pain relief from inflamed and troublesome musculoskeletal conditions. Its high volatile oil content also increases digestive capacity and stimulates appetite, effectively treating many digestive issues and infections. The essential oils also possess antiviral, antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties which have made ginger valuable in the treatment of wide-ranging infections. In India, and other hot and humid climates, it is widely used in cooking because of its taste and stimulating effect on the digestive system. Its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties also make it an excellent food preservative.

Ginger by body system• Circulatory: Fresh ginger acts on the small

blood vessels, causing vasodilation and sweating. Dry ginger is stronger and more heating.4

• Metabolic and immune: Ginger has been shown to reduce many markers of inflammatory activity 5,6 especially those associated with metabolic syndrome, obesity and prediabetic conditions.7 It may protect

against the damage of ionising radiation.8

• Musculoskeletal: Initially ginger warms and stimulates, but in the long term it encourages a healthy inflammation response as well as supporting blood supply helping to clear congestion and reduce fluid retention in affected areas. It has been shown to reduce pain in excess exercise 9 and may be helpful in reducing arthritic pain.10 When used externally as an oil or ointment, ginger is also an effective anti-inflammatory and pain reliever.11

• Respiratory: Ginger clears mucus and congestion in coughs and colds affecting the lungs and respiratory system.6

• Digestive: Ginger is an excellent carminative (a substance which promotes the elimination of intestinal gas) and anti- spasmolytic (a substance which relaxes and soothes the intestinal tract). Ginger will activate digestive enzymes and increase the digestive metabolism, making it a perfect choice for a weak, slow or inefficient digestion.12

• Reproductive: Ginger can help relieve menstrual cramps through its anti-inflammatory actions. It can also increase milk production in lactating mothers.14

GINGER Zingiber officinale-Rhizoma

A warming herb, known as ‘the universal medicine’ in Ayurveda, offering support for digestion, lungs and circulation

COMMON NAME: Ginger LATIN NAME: Zingiber officinale- Rhizoma SANSKRIT: Ardraka (‘moist’ fresh), Sunthi (‘dry’),

Visvabhesaja ‘the universal medicine’ PART USED: Root PLANT FAMILY: Zingiberaceae

Ginger

www.pukkaherbs.comPukka Life Academy online herbal course (CPD accredited)

email education@pukkaherbs.com to find out more

Constituents of ginger1-2% Volatile oil – zingiberine, zingerone, camphene, borneol, phellandrene, citral.Pungent principles- gingerols, gingerdiones, shogaols.

Research highlights A review of six double-blind, randomized controlled trials has confirmed that ginger is effective in relieving the severity of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. The review also confirmed the absence of significant side effects on pregnancy outcomes.3

The volatile oils found in ginger are believed

to explain why so many people with arthritis experience reductions in their pain levels and improvements in their mobility when they consume ginger regularly. One study showed ginger was effective in reducing pain and swelling in arthritis, with no side effects.1

Ayurvedic Energetics Taste: Pungent, sweet Temperature: Heating (fresh is warming, heavy and oily and dry is hot, dry, light and penetrating) Doshic effect: Balances vata and kapha. Caution in excess pitta Energetic actions: Warming and stimulating

Safety, drug interactions & contraindications• Widely used during pregnancy to alleviate

nausea but the dose should be under 2g/day.

• Caution with peptic ulcers and gastro-oesophageal reflux

• Not recommended in patients with gall stones due to its cholagogue (increases bile flow) effect

• Avoid high doses with blood-thinning drugs

Dosage Dry ginger: 500mg–2g/day (or a cup of Three Ginger Tea)

Ginger at home Recipe for raw ginger appetiser with salt and lemon/ lime

Ingredients 5 cm of fresh peeled gingerJuice of ½ lime or lemon½ tsp good quality sea salt

Method Cut the ginger into thin slices and squeeze the lemon or lime juice on top. Sprinkle with the sea salt then mix. Allow to marinate for an hour or enjoy straight away. Eat a few slices of the ginger mix 15 minutes before meals to help stimulate the both the digestion and absorption of food.

1 Srivastava KC, Mustafa T. (1992) Ginger (Zingiber officinale) in rheumatism and musculoskeletal disorders. Med Hypothesis 39: 342-82 Lindblad AJ, Koppula S. (2016) Ginger for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. Can Fam Physician. 62(2): 145.3 Borrelli F, Capasso R, Aviello G, et al (2005). Effectiveness and safety of ginger in the treatment of pregnancy-induced nausea and vomiting. Obstet Gynecol. 105(4): 849-56..  4 Ebrahimzadeh Attari V, Malek Mahdavi A, Javadivala Z, et al. (2018) A systematic review of the anti-obesity and weight lowering effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) and its mechanisms of action. Phytother Res. 32(4): 577–585

5 Grzanna R, Lindmark L, Frondoza CG. (2005) Ginger - an herbal medicinal product with broad anti-inflammatory actions. J Med Food. 8(2): 125–132.6 Mao QQ, Xu XY, Cao SY, et al. (2019) Bioactive Compounds and Bioactivities of Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe). Foods. 8(6): 185.7 Wang J, Ke W, Bao R, Hu X, Chen F. (2017) Beneficial effects of ginger Zingiber officinale Roscoe on obesity and metabolic syndrome: a review. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1398 (1): 83–98.8 Baliga MS, Haniadka R, Pereira MM, et al. (2012) Radioprotective effects of Zingiber officinale Roscoe (ginger): past, present and future. Food Funct. 3(7): 714–723.9 Wilson PB. (2015) Ginger (Zingiber officinale) as an Analgesic and Ergogenic Aid in Sport: A Systemic Review. J Strength Cond Res. 29(10): 2980–2995.10 Al-Nahain A, Jahan R, Rahmatullah M. (2014) Zingiber officinale: A Potential Plant against Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis. 159089. 11 Tosun B, Unal N, Yigit D, et al. (2017) Effects of Self-Knee Massage With Ginger Oil in Patients With Osteoarthritis: An Experimental Study. Res Theory Nurs Pract. 31(4): 379–392.12 Haniadka R, Saldanha E, Sunita V, et al. (2013) A review of the gastroprotective effects of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe). Food Funct. 4 (6):845–855.13 Daily JW, Zhang X, Kim DS, Park S. (2015) Efficacy of Ginger for Alleviating the Symptoms of Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. Pain Med. 16 (12): 2243–2255.14 Paritakul P, Ruangrongmorakot K, Laosooksathit W, et al. (2016) The Effect of Ginger on Breast Milk Volume in the Early Postpartum Period: A Randomized, Double-Blind Controlled Trial. Breastfeed Med. 11: 361–365

Supplements family:Triphala PlusAfter Dinner

Latte family:Ginger Joy Turmeric Gold

Ginger at Pukka Tea familyThree GingerTurmeric ActiveLemon, Ginger and Manuka honeyLemongrass and Ginger

Harvesting Ginger