The Healing Herb "Ginger" Featured in the Michelin Ingredient Library: A Journey Through Kitchens and Pharmacies Across Time and Cultures
- ALEGIS
- Aug 2, 2024
- 7 min read
Ginger, a medicinal herb included in the Michelin Ingredient Library, has traversed both kitchens and pharmacies, known for its healing properties throughout history in both Eastern and Western cultures.
Understanding the Differences Between Young and Mature Ginger, the Benefits, and How to Use Ginger Properly
Ginger, a spice in Taiwanese households and praised for its versatility in cooking, is also recognized on the official website of the Michelin Guide. As an herb that bridges the culinary and medicinal worlds, ginger boasts numerous healing properties and unique flavors that make it a favorite in various cuisines. Documented extensively in medical texts across different cultures, ginger is celebrated for its significant and multifaceted therapeutic effects, making it an indispensable healing herb.
This article delves into the benefits and effects of ginger, how to use it to promote health, and provides specific usage methods.。
Ginger: A Healing Herb Representing the Unity of Food and Medicine, Known as the "Sacred Medicine for Nausea"
Ginger (scientific name: Zingiberaceae) is a perennial monocotyledonous plant included in the ginger family. It thrives in tropical and subtropical regions and is believed to have originated in Asia, spreading globally through trade. Ginger plants have long, bright green leaves, and their thick, spicy rhizomes are the primary edible parts.
Depending on the growth period, ginger is classified into three types: young ginger, mature ginger, and dried ginger. "Young ginger," harvested after 4-5 months, has tender skin and a milder flavor, while "mature ginger," harvested after over 10 months, has rougher skin, more fibers, and a stronger flavor. "Dried ginger," primarily used medicinally, is made from mature ginger through various preparation processes.
Ginger: A Healing Herb Crossing Kitchens and Pharmacies, Spanning Millennia Across Eurasia.
Ginger has been considered an essential spice and traditional medicine since ancient times. Its dual role as a flavor enhancer and a medicinal herb is evident in its extensive use in different cultures. In ancient Indian Ayurvedic medicine, ginger was regarded as a universal remedy. After reaching Europe in the Middle Ages, it was documented in numerous European herbal texts, including Germany's "Kohler's Medicinal Plants" and England's "The Complete Herbal."
In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), ginger is widely used for both internal and external applications, varying in preparation methods. In daily culinary use, ginger enhances the flavor of dishes, meat, and soups. In Taiwan, Hong Kong, and southern China, ginger is also popular in desserts. Many Chinese communities regularly consume ginger tea. Ginger's versatility makes it a kitchen and pharmacy staple.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, some recovering patients used ginger for its warming and phlegm-reducing properties.
This article will focus on the characteristics of fresh ginger (mature ginger), exploring its traditional healing benefits and modern pharmacological findings.。
Ginger's Traditional Eastern Uses and Modern Scientific Research
Recorded in the Compendium of Materia Medica, Ginger, A Representative Healing Herb, Known as the "Sacred Medicine for Vomiting"
Traditional Healing Benefits of Fresh Ginger
Ginger is classified in TCM as a warming herb, beneficial for treating cold-induced discomforts. Its various traditional uses include:
Warming the Stomach and Stopping Vomiting: Ginger can alleviate cold-induced stomach discomfort and nausea.
Relieving Cold Symptoms: Ginger's warming properties help dispel colds and relieve symptoms like nasal congestion and headaches.
Detoxifying Seafood: Adding ginger to seafood can reduce the risk of allergies and poisoning by neutralizing toxins.
Reducing Cough and Phlegm: Ginger's warming and spicy properties help alleviate cold-induced coughs and phlegm.
Relieving Joint Pain: Applying ginger juice or paste to affected areas can ease joint pain and rheumatism.
In traditional Chinese cuisine, ginger is often added to dishes to enhance flavor and eliminate fishy or meaty odors.
Modern Pharmacological Effects of Ginger
Modern research has identified over 100 compounds in ginger, categorized into gingerols, essential oils, and diarylheptanoids. These compounds contribute to ginger's pharmacological effects, including:
Anti-Nausea and Anti-Vomiting: Ginger is effective against nausea and vomiting caused by motion sickness, chemotherapy, and pregnancy.
Gastrointestinal Protection: Ginger enhances appetite, increases gastric juice secretion, and promotes gastrointestinal motility.
Anti-Inflammatory: Ginger contains compounds like gingerol, which have strong anti-inflammatory properties, beneficial for chronic inflammatory diseases.
Antioxidant: Ginger's antioxidant properties help prevent damage from free radicals, reducing the risk of cancer, heart disease, and other conditions.
Can Ginger Help with Weight Loss?
Research shows that ginger can regulate digestive functions and reduce fat absorption, making it a helpful aid in weight management.
Suitable for Patients with Hypertension, Hyperlipidemia, and Diabetes
Studies indicate that ginger can lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, beneficial for patients with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes.
Ginger's Role in Post-COVID Recovery
Ginger's warming and anti-phlegm properties make it useful for post-COVID respiratory symptoms. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support overall recovery.
Ginger offers numerous benefits, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, various preventive formulas included ginger. However, it is important to note that ginger itself has not been proven effective in preventing or treating COVID-19. The primary reason for including ginger in preventive teas is to use its warming properties to balance the cooling tendencies of other medicinal herbs, thereby reducing the side effects of cold herbal plants.
Methods and Timing for Using Ginger: Considerations and Precautions
As a representative of "food and medicine sharing the same origin," ginger has many benefits. However, even in Eastern societies such as those in China and Japan, where young ginger is commonly consumed, raw ginger is rarely eaten directly or used alone. It is typically combined with other ingredients or therapeutic herbs. Below, we provide some guidelines on how and when to use ginger, maximizing the effects of this "Eastern remedy" available in the market.
Methods and Timing for Using Ginger: Considerations and Precautions
Ginger Tea
After catching a chill or getting caught in the rain, drinking a cup of ginger tea can help expel colds and prevent colds. Boil fresh ginger with brown sugar to prevent issues like colds caused by cold entering the body. Adding red dates or longan, if available, not only enhances the flavor but also helps nourish the spleen and stomach and calm the mind, further boosting the tea's therapeutic benefits.
Ginger Soup
In the Chinese community, adding a few slices of ginger to various soups is a common practice. Some therapeutic soups, like the "Angelica and Ginger Lamb Soup," use multiple herbs and a substantial amount of ginger. According to the "Jin Kui Yao Lue," the recipe involves cooking 90g of Angelica root, 150g of fresh ginger, and 1kg of lamb with 1600ml of water, and boiling it into soup. During the ”Severe Cold“ season(around Jan 20), a bowl of this hot soup can provide significant relief. (maybe double the water)
Ginger Juice/Paste
For individuals prone to joint pain in cold weather, applying ginger paste or using ginger-infused patches to the affected areas can alleviate discomfort. Adding ginger juice or paste to various desserts can also create soothing treats. Mix the ginger paste with glutinous rice flour in a 1:1 ratio, add brown sugar, white wine, and eggs, and cook on a griddle to make delicious and comforting ginger cakes. Another popular treat, ginger milk pudding, uses ginger juice as its main ingredient.
Further Reading: 用生薑煮一道療癒力滿滿的「醒酒湯」----剝皮辣椒雞醒酒湯、剝皮辣椒雞湯食譜與做法，怎麼煮最美味、加什麼煮最醒酒。
Ginger is used in a variety of tea and soup recipes, each providing different benefits. Traditional Chinese medicine formulas often incorporate ginger to maximize the effectiveness of various remedies. Finding well-crafted, high-quality compound tea bags is a smart choice for enjoying both delicious flavors and health benefits.。
Precautions and Contraindications for Using Ginger
Ginger, as a "food and medicine sharing the same origin," is generally safe for everyday use, but there are a few points to consider:
Do Not Peel the Ginger:
The part we consume is the underground rhizome of ginger, which often comes with some soil. While many people habitually peel the skin before use, the ginger skin itself has benefits. The skin with pungent and cool attribution, is helping to balance the warming nature of ginger and aiding in reducing swelling and promoting urination. Therefore, simply clean the ginger with a small brush rather than peeling it.
Store in a Cool, Ventilated Place:
Ginger that sprouts may lose some potency but will not produce toxins. However, rotten ginger can produce safrole, so avoid using moldy ginger. Ginger purchased with soil tends to last longer when stored in a cool, ventilated place compared to pre-washed ginger.
The FDA lists ginger as "generally recognized as safe," but consuming it in excessive amounts may still cause side effects. Traditional medicine notes that ginger is "warm" and has a significant "heat" quality, so long-term, large-scale consumption is not recommended. Certain groups should be cautious:
Those with Yin Deficiency and Internal Heat:
Individuals who frequently experience dry mouth, hot palms and soles, irritability, or night sweats should avoid excessive ginger consumption.
Those with Hemorrhoids or Skin Abscesses:
People with dry stools or hemorrhoids, or those prone to folliculitis, should limit their ginger intake.
Pregnant Women:
Moderate consumption can help reduce nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, but large quantities should be avoided.
Distinguishing Ginger from Turmeric
Although ginger and turmeric belong to the same family, they have distinct flavors and uses. Ginger has a rough brown root with a pale yellow interior and a spicy taste. Turmeric has an orange-yellow exterior and interior, with a milder, bitter flavor, often referred to as "poor man's saffron," and is commonly used in curry. The active compounds in turmeric, and curcumin, are different from ginger's main active compounds, such as gingerol, shogaol, and zingerone, so they should not be used interchangeably.
Embrace a Healing Journey with a Cup of Afternoon Tea
In modern pharmacology, ginger has demonstrated various important health benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, digestive health, anti-cancer, antimicrobial, blood sugar control, and cardiovascular health. These scientific findings provide contemporary support for ginger's traditional uses, reinforcing its significant role in modern medicine. Moderately incorporating ginger or its products into daily diets can enhance flavor and significantly improve overall health. Ginger also offers multiple benefits in the post-recovery care of COVID-19 patients, such as boosting immunity, aiding digestion, alleviating respiratory symptoms, and reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.
ALEGIS Healing Tea offers the "Soothe & Warm Tea with 5 Herbals," crafted from premium Taiwanese ginger. This tea not only provides a delightful taste but also allows you to immediately enjoy the numerous benefits of ginger. It is a well-balanced and healing blend suitable for various body types and groups. Indulging in this delicious tea can start your daily healing journey.
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