GINGER

GINGER is VERY HEALTHFUL because is contains powerful natural compounds that support many parts of the body.it’s widely used in cooking and natural medicine.herbal teas (inguru tea).often mixed with coriander, cinnamon,garlic,and turmeric in herbal remedies.in srilanka used in Ayurveda as part of herbal treatment (e.g, inguru koththamalli, ginger with honey, or ginger oil rubs).

BASIC INFORMATION:

• Botanical name: Zingiber officinale
• Part used: Rhizome (underground stem)
• Color: Pale yellow inside, brown skin
• Taste:Spicy,pungent, slightly sweet
• From: Fresh root,dried power,oil,extract, tea

Common Uses :

Cooking : 　

Used in asian, indian, and middle eastern cuisines

Added to curries,soups,stir-fries, baked goods (like gingerbread)

Drinks :

Ginger tea, ginger ale, detox drinks

Medicine (traditinal & Modern):

USED in ayurveda, chinese medicine, and home remedies

Historical & Cultural Use

Traditional Medicine: used for over 2000 years in Ayurveda, Traditional chinese medicine, and SRILANKA HELA WEDAKAMA

Cultural Use: key ingredient in asian,indian,Middle Eastern,and African cuisines. Widely used in herbal teas,curries,soups,and sweets

POWERFUL antioxidants

ginger contains gingerol,shagaol, and zingerone, which are strong antioxidants.

These help protect your celles from damage,aging and chronic disease.

Local Name: Inguru

Health Benefits:

1. Aids digestion – stimulates saliva and bile
2. Reduces nausea – especially morning sickness or motion sickness
3. Anti- inflammatory – helps relieve joint pain and arthritis
4. Boosts immunity – contains antioxidants
5. Improves circulation – may help lower blood pressure
6. Fights infections – has antibaterial and antiviral properties
7. Soothes sore throat and cold symptoms

Medicinal Uses (Traditional & Modern)

Ginger is a natural remedy for many health conditionas:

• Relieves nausea (especially morning sickness and motion sickness )
• Improves digestion and reduces bloating
• Reduces inflammation (joint pain,arthritis)
• Boosts immunity (cold,flu,sore throat)
• Lowers blood sugar and cholesterol in some studies)
• Eases menstrual cramps
• Promotes circulation

Region Grown:

• Grown mainly in kandy, matale, kurunegala, galle, rathnapura and badull
• Cultivated in home gardens and small- scale farmas

Varieties in srilanka

1.Local / Native Ginger:

• Smaller rhizomes

• stronger aroma and medicinal quality

• Mostly used for Ayurveda and traditional remedies

2.Imported varieties (from indea or china)

• Larger and juicier
• More used in commercial food production

Cultural and Traditional uses

Ayurvedic Medicine:

• Treats colds, coughs, indigestion, and joint pain
• Mixed with honey, coriander,garlic, and turmeric

Home Remedies:

• INGURU TEA for sore throat, fever, and digestion
• Paste or oil for external pain relief

Cooking:

Popular Ginger – Based Herbal Drinks in Sri Lanka

• Inguru Koththamalli ( Ginger + Coriander drink ) – for Fever & Cold
• Ginger Tea with jaggery – for digestion
• Ginger – Lime Mix – for refreshing energy

Beverages

Ginger is often used in:

• Herbal teas (ginger tea, ginger + coriander tea)
• Traditional drinks in sri lanka (for fever, cold,cough)
• Ginger ale / ginger beer
• Detox drinks (ginger,lemon and honey)

Export and Economic Use

1.Srilanka exports Dried ginger, Ginger powder, and Ginger Oil

2.Used in: Herbal product manufacturing

3.Spice blends

4.Cosmetics (ginger – Based balms)

Side Effects (Precautions)

• Mild side effects (especially in high doses):

• Heartburn
• Upset stomach
• Diarrhea

• Caution for:

• People with gallstones
• those on blood – thinning medications (ginger may increase bleeding risk)
• Pregnat women (small amounts are generally safe, but consult a doctor)