Believed by the Chinese as the “Miraculous King of Herbs,” Ganoderma Lucidum is highly-regarded for its medicinal properties that help improve human body’s healing ability while helping its user to maintain good physical shape. Aside from promoting longevity, Ganoderma Lucidum has unique properties that contribute much to the strengthening of the immune system. Somewhat rare in the West, Ganoderma Lucidum has been worshipped as a kind of herbal medicine the emperors of the great Japanese and Chinese dynasties drank with their special teas and mushroom concoctions to achieve greater vitality and longer life. Ganoderma Lucidum was also believed to be visible in the “elixir of eternal youth” that the ancient Taoists constantly searched for.

A fungus known by its many names like “Reishi,” “Ling zhi,” and “Mannentake,” among others, Ganoderma Lucidum, for hundreds or even thousands of years, is recognized as powerful medicinal fungi because it has properties often associated with health and healing, long life, knowledge, and happiness. In fact, during the ancient time, it is believed that the Ganoderma Lucidum in medicine was considered so promising that its medicinal value has been attested in a 2,000-year old Chinese medical text—known as an authentic textbook of Oriental medical science. For years, medicinal mushrooms such as Ganoderma Lucidum have long been included in the history of folk medicine for contributing much to curing cancers of all sorts and for showing positive effects to the development of the immune system.

Aside from contributing a lot to the treatment of various diseases, Ganoderma Lucidum has also become popular because of its promising properties that might extend life span while increasing vigor and vitality.

Mushroom miracle

The role of Ganoderma Lucidum in the medical field is quite impressive. Even if its role in the treatment of cancer doesn’t have a strong and solid medical backing yet, Ganoderma Lucidum is still recommended to prevention because of the absence of unfavorable side effects. While people from different walks of life take interests and contribute a lot in the rediscovery of herbal treatments, the popularity of Ganoderma Lucidum increases steadily.

Under the extensive research continuously done so many scholars, as well as the cooperative analysis and clinical experiments conducted by people in the hospitals, inside the colleges and universities, and even by pharmaceutical manufacturers, Ganoderma Lucidum’s potential as an effective medicine is becoming clearer and defined. And like in ancient China—where Ganoderma Lucidum is considered not just a symbol of ‘prosperity and peace’ or an ‘item of tribute’—the so-called ‘miracle herb’ is now also seen by the people in the modern world as a potential elixir for immortality.

With so many research and emerging evidence how Ganoderma Lucidum helps the body work more effectively, efficiently and optimally, the people who do these extensive and never-ending researches continues to hope that Ganoderma can bring a brighter view to humanity on its conquest for longevity.

Terry Dunn is Webmaster of http://www.Ganoderma-Online.com – a Informational Resource about Ganoderma

PARTS USED

Root.
In China dried root is chewed to provide an energy boost

USES

Therapeutic actions – As an adaptogenic, ginseng’s action varies. It has a stimulating effect on young people with strong qi (vital force), but is tonic, restorative, and even sedative for those weakened by illness or old age.

Chinese remedy - In China, ginseng is best known as a stimulant, tonic herb for athletes and those subject to physical stress, and as a male aphrodisiac. It is also a tonic for old age, and is traditionally taken by people in northern and central China from late middle age onward, helping them to endure the long hard winters.

Western tonic – In the West, ginseng is viewed not so much as a medicine, but as a life enhancing tonic. It is useful for those coping with stressful events, such as taking exams. Ginseng is often abused in the West and should not be taken for more than 6 weeks.

Other medical uses – Lung cancer.

HABITAT AND CULTIVATION

Ginseng is native to northeastern China, eastern Russia, and North Korea, but is now extremely rare in the wild. Ginseng cultivation requires great skill. It is propagated from seed in spring and requires rich, moist, but well-drained soil. The plant takes at least 4 years to mature. The root is then normally harvested in autumn, washed, and steamed before being dried.

RESEARCH

Adaptogenic – Ginseng has been researched in detail over the past 20-30 years in China, Japan, Korea, Russia, and many other countries. Its remarkable “adaptogenic” quality (helping the body to adapt to stress, fatigue, and cold) has been confirmed. Trials show that ginseng significantly improves the body’s capacity to cope with hunger, extremes of temperature, and mental and emotional stress. Furthermore, ginseng produces a sedative effect when the body requires sleep. The ginsenosides that are responsible for this action are similar in structure to the body’s own stress hormones.
Other - research Ginseng also increases immune function and resistance to infection, and supports liver function.

HOW MUCH TO TAKE

The best researched forms of ginseng are standardized herbal extracts that supply approximately 4-7% ginsenosides more concentrated extracts may be less effective due to reduction of panaxan levels. People often take 100-200 mg per day; Non standardized extracts require a higher intake, generally 1-2 grams per day for tablets or 2-3 ml for fresh herb tincture. Ginseng is usually used for two to three weeks continuously, followed by a one- to two-week “rest” period before resuming.

SIDE EFFECTS AND CAUTIONS

Used at the recommended dosage, ginseng is generally safe. In rare instances, it may cause over stimulation and possibly insomnia. Consuming caffeine with ginseng increases the risk of over stimulation and gastrointestinal upset. Persons with uncontrolled high blood pressure should not use ginseng. Long-term use of ginseng may cause menstrual abnormalities and breast tenderness in some women. Ginseng is not recommended for pregnant or lactating women.

 Also Known As

African Ginger
Ardraka
Black Ginger
Chiang
Gan-jiang
Ginger
Nagara
Race Ginger
Shen-jiang
Sunthi

Ginger was given its official botanical name, Zingiber officinale, by the famous eighteenth-century Swedish botanist, Linnaeus. Linnaeus derived the genus title Zingiber from its Indian Sanskrit name singabera which means shaped like a horn.

Ginger is one of more than 1,400 species belonging to the Zingiberaceae family, sharing the family’s most popular honors with the spices turmeric (a principal component of curry) and cardamom. Ginger is a slender perennial reaching 24 to 39 inches in height. Its first stems are longer than the second and latter stems and bear beautifully fragrant flowers which are greenish-yellow and streaked with purple. The leaves are a dark green with a prominent midrib that is sheathed at the base, and the seeds are found in the rare fruiting body.

The most familiar part of the ginger plant used in commerce is the irregularly shaped and sized underground section which we erroneously call a root. Although ginger will probably always be associated with the term root, it is botanically correct to call it a rhizome. Unlike a root which dies if it is split, ginger can actually generate whole new plants from its budded sections. It is from these buds that ginger has been cultivated for thousands of years. Ginger grows best in a hot and moist climate with available shade, and in soil that is rich in loam and well tilled. The ginger rhizome is aromatic and thick lobed and ranges from white to yellow in color. One of the prized varieties and most unusual exceptions to this color range is a variety that possesses a characteristic blue ring which circles the fleshy interior.

Ginger is today the world’s most widely cultivated spice. There are as many opinions as to who grows the best ginger as there are countries and regions that cultivate it. Ginger appears in so many varieties, with an estimated fifty in India alone, that any favoritism is a matter of personal taste. Each variety possesses its own distinctive flavor and aroma depending upon the soil and the manner in which it is grown. The most pungent gingers are reported to come from Africa, while milder varieties are found in China. There is some consensus that the milder gingers are better for culinary applications while the spicier varieties are best from a beverage and therapeutic standpoint.

People frequently subject to blood clots are generally prescribed oral anti-coagulants to help keep their blood relatively thin. One of the most commonly used medications for this is warfarin sodium (better known as coumadin). Unfortunately, it’s also used as a potent rat poison and can lead to serious internal hemorrhaging over an extended period of time. Ginger root is an ideal replacement for such synthetic blood thinners. An average of two capsules twice daily in between meals appears to have helped a small number of those with such problems. Nothing seems to work quite like a hot ginger compress on muscular aches and pains, joint stiffness, abdominal cramps, kidney stone attacks, stiff neck, neuralgia, toothache, bladder inflammation, prostatitis and extreme body tension. But keep in mind that as wonderful a remedy as it is, time, considerable effort, patience and a certain change in lifestyle are all required in order to make it totally successful.

Ginger has pungent and warming properties that make it a valuable medicine. Ginger has a stimulating effect on the heart and circulation, creating a feeling of warmth and well-being and restoring vitality, especially for those feeling the cold in winter. Hot ginger tea promotes perspiration, brings down a fever and helps to clear catarrh. Ginger has a stimulating and expectorant action in the lungs, expelling phlegm and relieving catarrhal coughs and chest infections. Ginger is a wonderful warming aid to the digestion. Ginger invigorates the stomach and intestines, stimulating the appetite and enhancing digestion by encouraging secretion of digestive enzymes. Ginger moves stagnation of food and subsequent accumulation of toxins, which has a far-reaching effect throughout the body, increasing general health and vitality and enhancing immunity. Ginger is famous for relieving nausea and vomiting, from whatever cause. It settles the stomach, soothes indigestion and calms wind. Its pain-relieving and relaxing effects in the gut relieve colic and spasm, abdominal pain, distension and flatulent indigestion and help to relieve griping caused by diarrhea. In the uterus it promotes menstruation, useful for delayed and scanty periods as well as clots. Ginger relaxes spasm and relieves painful ovulation and periods, and is recommended to invigorate the reproductive system. Ginger also inhibits clotting and thins the blood it lowers blood pressure and cholesterol. Because of its heating properties ginger is not recommended for those who do not tolerate heat well or those with gastritis or peptic ulcers.

PARTS USED

Rhizome, root, essential oil.

USES

Digestive problems – Ginger is an excellent remedy for many digestive complaints, such as indigestion, nausea, gas, and colic. Ginger relieves motion sickness and morning sickness. Ginger’s antiseptic qualities also make it highly beneficial for gastro-intestinal infections, including some types of food poisoning.

Circulatory stimulant – Ginger stimulates the circulation, and helps blood to flow to the surface, making it an important remedy for chilblains and poor circulation to the hands and feet. By improving the circulation, ginger helps high blood pressure. Ginger also increases sweating and helps reduce body temperature in fevers.

Respiratory conditions – Ginger is warming and soothing for coughs, colds, flu, and other respiratory problems.

Chinese herb – Fresh and dried ginger are different remedies in China. Fresh ginger is given for fever, headaches, and aching muscles.
Dried ginger is used for “internal cold,” with symptoms such as cold hands, a weak pulse, and a pale complexion.

Other medical uses – Lymphedema, Strep Throat, Tennis elbow, Viral infection.

HABITAT AND CULTIVATION

Native to Asia, ginger is grown throughout the tropics. Ginger is propagated by dividing the rootstock. Ginger flourishes in fertile soil and needs plenty of rain. The rhizome is unearthed when the plant is 10 months old. It is washed, soaked, and sometimes boiled and peeled.

RESEARCH

Therapeutic properties – Ginger is well researched, and its therapeutic benefits are largely due to its volatile oil and oleoresin content. Gingerol is an acrid constituent, responsible for much of the herb’s hot taste and stimulating properties. The shogaols, formed as the plant dries, are more strongly irritant and acrid than the constituents present in the fresh rhizome.

Antiemetic – Ginger is highly effective for motion sickness. Trials at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in London in 1990 found the herb more effective than conventional medicines in relieving postoperative nausea.

Antiseptic – In a trial in China 70% of patients with bacillary dysentery who were given ginger made a full recovery.

CONSTITUENTS

Ginger contains volatile oil (inc. borneol, citral), phenols, alkaloid, mucilage.

HOW MUCH TO TAKE

Most people take 2 – 4 grams of the dried rhizome powder two to three times per day or a tincture of 1.5 – 3 ml three times daily. For treatment of nausea, people try single doses of approximately 250 mg every two to three hours, for a total of 1 gram per day. For prevention of motion sickness, many people start taking ginger tablets, capsules, or liquid herbal extract two days before the planned trip.

SIDE EFFECTS AND CAUTIONS

Side effects of ginger are rare when used as recommended. However, some people may be sensitive to the taste or may experience heartburn. Persons with a history of gallstones should consult a nutritionally oriented doctor before using ginger. Short-term use of ginger for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy appears to pose no safety problems; however, long-term use during pregnancy is not recommended. A doctor should be informed if ginger is used before surgery to counteract possible post anesthesia nausea.

HOW IT WORKS IN THE BODY

The phenolic compounds are the agents responsible for relaxing the muscles of the stomach, and this may also explain their effect in easing travel or motion sickness. Fresh or dried, the root has been shown to minimize vomiting. In addition, the phenolic ingredients act within the stomach as a sedative and painkiller, which helps to reduce over-activity of the gut. In stomach infections, the oil acts as an antiseptic and an anti-inflammatory. The gingerols alone are thought to be responsible for ginger’s action as a liver protective. In the cardiovascular system, ginger is thought to also reduce cholesterol levels, while at the same time increasing a sluggish circulation. In China, the fresh rhizome is used to warm the stomach to ease vomiting, and to fight off colds, chills and coughs, especially where there is phlegm, and for bloating, while the dried rhizome is used for abdominal pain. The Chinese properties are those of acrid and warm.

APPLICATIONS

FRESH ROOT:

DECOCTION – For chills and phlegmy  colds, use 1 – 2 slices to a cup of water and simmer for 10 minutes. A pinch of cinnamon can be added.

 TINCTURE - Use 2 -10 drops per dose as a warming circulatory stimulant; also for flatulence, indigestion, and nausea.

DRIED ROOT:

 CAPSULES – Take 1 – 2 x 200 mg capsules before a journey for travel sickness. Use up to 1 g doses for morning sickness in pregnancy.

DECOCTION – The Chinese use dried ginger in combination with other herbs as a restorative for yang or spleen energies, for abdominal fullness, nausea, and excess phlegm.

ESSENTIAL OIL:
MASSAGE OIL – Add 5  – 10 drops ginger oil to 25 ml almond oil for rheumatism or lumbago. Combines well with juniper or eucalyptus oil.
OIL – Use 1 – 2 drops on a sugar lump or in half a teaspoon of honey for flatulence, menstrual cramps, nausea, or stomach upsets.

QUALITY OF GINGER

The first concern for those who supplement their diet with ginger should be the quality of the original rhizome. Ginger can be valuable in many forms; however, if the original starting material is old, shriveled, moldy or chemically treated, it will obviously not yield the same values as a product created from a fresh, organically grown rhizome.

To insure an international supply of top-quality ginger products, an extensive grading system has been developed. Unfortunately, one of the issues which needs greater attention is that of chemical exposure. During cultivation, storage and processing, ginger can be barraged with chemicals, including mercury compounds, chlorinated hydrocarbons, fungicides and fumigants.

Ultimately, the opportunity to examine the fresh ginger rhizome and review it for chemical exposure before processing it into powder or finished products would be ideal. Considering that in most cases this would be a very difficult or impossible process, one’s first choice should be to seek out an organic product that has been certified through any number of state and international organizations. This is especially important for people who are interested in taking larger amounts of ginger for therapeutic reasons.

Starting with fresh or dry rhizome, ginger is processed into a myriad of finished forms including syrups, candies, jams, capsules, extracts, liqueurs, pickles, cookies and beer, to name a few. If researchers noticed that a ginger marmalade could have had such a dramatic impact on platelet aggregation, then the therapeutic principles are obviously quite stable or resistant to processing. Therefore, it is fair to say that each finished form has its own distinct advantages. Candied forms, for example, might be objected to because of the presence of sucrose but if a choice is to be made between an artificially flavored and colored confection and a candy with an actual health potential, the choice is clear. Besides, the candied form actually gives ginger a wider, more mainstream audience to offer benefit, including people who might never have considered taking ginger as a health supplement.

To receive two of the best-researched therapeutic constituent groups of ginger, the gingerols (fresh) and shogaols (dry), it is reasonable to assert that a combination of ginger products is best. Depending upon the processing methods, different products will have varying levels of these two critical groups. Gingerols and shogaols each have their own health advantages. For example, the gingerols are more potent as antihepatotoxics and anthelmintics, while the shogaols appear to be more effective as anti-inflammatory agents, antipyretics and analgesics.

The individual value of each ginger product is confirmed in traditional Oriental medicine where four different forms of ginger-fresh, dried, steamed and roasted- are actually considered separate medications, each prescribed for a specific group of applications. To alleviate the concern that one needs to consume every conceivable ginger product to gain benefit, one Chinese study suggests that all the forms have more in common than one would suspect. Of twenty-five studied elements, there was only a maximum variation of three novel or missing constituents.

Get Fresh

Whatever the final form, it is easy to argue that there is an intangible advantage to the fresh ginger rhizome. The flavor of fresh ginger is itself a study in culinary art. This is underlined by a recent fragrance test which noted that fresh ginger can be recognized for its scent at a dilution as low as 1 part in 35,000, while powdered ginger is only 1 part in 1,500-2,000. The fresh form can be used in many different applications from hot compresses and culinary spice to medicinal tea.

It is understandable why anyone who has ever used a ginger compress names it as one of their most precious health routines. Among myriad applications, a ginger compress is remarkably effective for virtually all external signs of inflammatory processes including muscular stiffness and headaches. It is also a most valuable healing remedy for swollen glands, chest and head colds and stomach cramps.

Ginger tea is the perfect after-dinner drink, fasting staple, weight-loss aid and pain or cold remedy. To make a tea, place approximately 1/2 teaspoon of freshly grated rhizome into 8 ounces of boiling water, cover pot and steep for 10 to 15 minutes, allowing full extraction of the fresh rhizome. Strain and add honey to taste. Ginger also makes an excellent tonifying iced tea.

Adding fresh ginger to the diet can be done in a wonderful variety of ways. You can add ginger as part of a daily juicing routine including carrot and apple. Be careful to gradually add the fresh ginger juice to your routine gradually as it is quite potent.

Certainly the Sweetest

Candied ginger ranks as one of the world’s most popular confections. Processed with fresh ginger and sucrose, it can be a convenient form for taking ginger while traveling or as a delightful and effective after-dinner digestive aid.

A honey-based syrup offers an even more desirable means to deliver the health benefits of ginger. Honey has a long history of being used to deliver the therapeutic values of herbs, and ginger is no exception. Dating back to the sixth-century A.D., a recipe is described for a ginger-honey syrup. Honey offers its own range of excellent synergistic values to ginger, especially if the ginger can be low-heat-infused into the honey. Besides enhancing the flavor, preservation, and variety of applications for a ginger product, honey possesses its own range of antibacterial, anticancer, antifungal, wound-healing, and anti-ulcer properties.

While honey broadens ginger’s antibacterial and antifungal benefits, combined with ginger it also enhances its anti-ulcer properties. Honey is protective to the gastric mucosa and shows significant activity against Helicobacter pylori, the species associated with peptic ulcers. For those people concerned about a potential conflict between honey and blood sugar or candida albicans treatment programs, evidence suggests that honey is significantly better tolerated than commonly used simple sugars like sucrose. A factor in honey is also found active against candida albicans.

In addition to the ginger-and-honey combination, a health tonic or cough/cold syrup, ginger-and-honey can be used as a hot beverage or tea sweetener, cooking seasoning or table sauce, dessert topping or mixed with carbonated water to create a delicious homemade ginger ale.

To produce your own ginger syrup, add one part of fresh ginger, grated or juiced, to three parts of honey and refrigerate (be sure to peel the ginger rhizome to extend its values and prevent fermentation.) Generally one to two teaspoons will be appropriate per 8 ounces of carbonated or hot water.

From tablespoon to tub

One of the most versatile and powerful ways to experience the benefits of ginger is as a dehydrated powder. In this form one can obtain two principal values: 1) up to ten times the concentration of certain fresh ginger elements; and 2) novel therapeutic compounds. Powdered ginger will have more nutrients because of the removal of moisture, but more importantly it will possess high levels of shogaols, which are reported to possess more of ginger’s significant aspirin-like qualities.

After a high-quality source has been verified, powdered ginger can be effectively used both internally and externally. Powdered ginger can be used in many of the same applications as the fresh form including compresses, as a tea and in cooking. Taken in capsules, or by the teaspoon in food or in liquid, this form provides the anti-inflammatory benefits and an excellent spectrum of digestive, cardiovascular tonic-protectant properties. Used externally in compresses or in baths, ginger powder provides powerful, stimulating, transdermal and aromatherapeutic effects. Ginger powder is excellent as a moistened chest compress or added by the tablespoon to a hot bath for relief of muscle strains and cold symptoms. To make a chest compress with powdered ginger simply moisten 2-3 teaspoons with hot water and spread over a hot, wet cotton towel. If skin is sensitive, use less and build up slowly.

Alcohol’s bright side

Alcohol is recognized traditionally and in modern research as an excellent extraction agent for the properties of herbs. A double-macerated or highly potent alcohol extract of dried ginger can deliver all the benefits of this form including significant levels of beneficial shogaols. To maximize or balance the benefits of this alcohol extract, fresh ginger juice can be added. This addition serves a dual purpose; while it complements the dried with its unique fresh elements like gingerols, it lowers the final alcohol concentration to a level that most people should well tolerate.

The principal benefits of the extracted form are convenience and concentration. Within seconds a dropper of the extract, taken straight, or in a glass of water, will deliver the full range of ginger’s dried and fresh benefits. Although it is not as practical to use the extract in cooking or compresses, as a therapeutic form it offers the most immediate and powerful therapeutic response for the treatment of digestive disorders or cold symptoms.

THE ESSENCE OF GINGER

The essence of ginger can be summarized:

* Ginger offers a variety of therapeutic effects which no modern medication can rival. Unfortunately, due to a monopolistic health-care system and a historically biased regulatory environment, full awareness of ginger’s value has been limited.
* Ginger is the most popular of hundreds of members of the Zingiberaceae family. To be botanically correct, ginger is a rhizome and not a root. Ginger is available in many varieties, from mild to spicy, and requires tropical conditions and fertile soil for optimal growth.
* Over a period of 5,000 years, ginger traveled from Southeast Asia to the New World. Considered a treasure by some of the great figures of history, its ancient trade helped shape nations and insure its worldwide cultivation.
* The observed effects of ginger are the result of the interactions of more than 400 constituents which can be broken down into four major classes: taste, fragrance, nutrients and synergists. While most of the therapeutic focus is on the pungent taste compounds, called gingerols and shogaols, ginger’s protein-digesting enzyme and antioxidant are also key elements.
* Observed effects like anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic, antimicrobial and digestive benefit can all result from one principal action-i.e., enzyme action. An observed effect, such as an anti-inflammatory one, can also have a variety of principal actions at its root: enzyme, eicosanoid balance and antioxidant.
* The dynamics of eicosanoids represent a key to understanding the diversity of ginger’s actions. Eicosanoids are physiologically active compounds that the body synthesizes from essential fatty acids. When these elements become imbalanced, a wide variety of disease conditions can evolve.
* The pharmaceutical industry has attempted to modulate eicosanoids to treat a host of disease conditions but has essentially failed because of serious side effects.
* Ginger naturally helps balance these vitally important eicosanoids without side effects.
* Over millennia, millions of people have enjoyed the benefits of ginger. For spiritual upliftment, digestive comfort and strength, stimulation and relief from infumity, ginger has been heralded as the herb of choice and has been included in most of traditional Eastern formulas. Ginger is quite aptly described in the traditional language of Sanskrit as vishwabhesaj, the universal medicine.
* In more recent times, in the early part of the twentieth century, more than 25,000 U.S. physicians) the Eclectics, lauded the pain-relieving and cold-fighting values of ginger.
* Ginger was used historically in different regions of the world for the same basic therapeutic applications. These include: analgesic, anti-arthritic, wound healing, anthelmintic, anti-ulcer, stimulant and aphrodisiac properties, plus treatment of a variety of respiratory, reproductive and digestive complaints.
* Ginger is a preventive treatment for critical cardiovascular disorders. Like aspirin, ginger holds the potential to prevent thousands of deaths from heart attacks and strokes as well as colon cancer. But unlike aspirin, it will have no side effects.
* The anti-ulcer effect of ginger is complemented by a host of other important digestive values which include relief of both diarrhea and constipation, liver protection and pro-biotic support.
* The anti-nausea effect of ginger is well documented. From nausea resulting from chemotherapy and ocean travel to pregnancy and gynecological surgery, ginger is the natural treatment of choice.
* Ginger, the bioavailability herb, assists the digestion of other nutrients and is a recommended addition to natural supplement regimes.
* Parasites pose a much greater threat to the industrialized world than is generally recognized. Ginger exhibits a wide range of anti-parasitic activities.
* The historic observation that ginger is a cold remedy is a result of a combination of principal actions including eicosanoid balance, pro-biotic support, antitoxic and cytoprotective influences.
* Ginger possesses a significant anti-mutagenic potential against such powerful carcinogens as benzopyrene and the most toxic burned byproducts of the amino acid tryptophan. Research also warrants further investigation into ginger’s anticancer properties and its role in a cancer-treatment program.
* Ginger has been shown to affect positively parameters of health such as cholesterol and blood sugar and balance numerous body systems including the circulatory, respiratory and reproductive systems. Ginger’s beneficial effects have also been demonstrated in external treatments with dramatic results.
* Ginger is a remarkably safe herb. No modern pharmaceutical can compete with its range of therapeutic properties and absence of adverse side effects. Care and moderation should be exercised when using ginger during pregnancy and before surgery. Up to 1 gram daily of the powdered herb should be a safe preventive dosage for the general population. In all cases, introduction of ginger into the diet should be gradual.
* The effectiveness of ginger will be dependent upon the quality of the rhizome. Since commercial ginger is subject to many potential levels of chemical contamination, organically certified products are recommended.
* Both fresh and dry ginger are recommended forms for supplementation. There will be different properties gained from each. Ginger is commercially available in many forms including fresh, dried, syrup, capsules and extract.

GINGER TEA FOR WOMEN

This ginger tea is extraordinarily healing for all female organs and the intestines, as well as for stressed nerves and a sluggish metabolism.

* a thumb-sized piece of ginger
* 2 cups (1/2 l) milk
* 1 cups (1/4 l) water

Peel the ginger and grate or slice very fine. Simmer very slowly for about 20 minutes in the water. Now add up to 2 cups (1/2 l) milk and let it boil up. Remove from the heat and sweeten with honey or cane sugar. Ginger tea is best consumed in small sips over the course of the day, as required. In the morning and before meals it stimulates digestion on cold winter afternoons it warms and protects from the flu. Many women take the tea after miscarriages or abdominal surgery, to promote the healing of the uterus.

Ginger tea is so effective against ailments of the reproductive and digestive systems because it stimulates circulation and supports a good blood supply to these organs. Bloating can be treated with this tea, by adding a pinch of cinnamon. In the presence of stomach ulcers, however, modest amounts of this tea are recommended and the quantity of ginger can be cut down. Similarly, in the early weeks of pregnancy, the further stimulation of blood flow into the abdomen is not recommended, so go easy on ginger at this time. Modest amounts, however, are a great remedy for morning sickness.

CANDIED GINGER

* 1 lb. fresh ginger root
* 3 cups cold water
* 2 cups granulated sugar
* 1 cup cold water
* 1 cup superfine sugar

Pare the root and cut into long narrow slices, across the grain. Cover with about 1 1/2 cups cold water in a saucepan and heat to boiling. Simmer 5 minutes, drain, and cover with cold water again. Heat to boiling, simmer 5 minutes more. Drain. Dry well.
Combine granulated sugar and 1 cup of water in a small kettle. Boil 10 minutes. Add the ginger slices and cook over very low heat. Do not boil. Stir, and cook until all the syrup is absorbed, about 40 minutes. Remove the ginger, and dry on a rack.
Roll the cooled ginger in superfine sugar, and let it stand in the sugar until it has crystalized.

Also Known As:

Acorus gramineus
Acorus
Chang Pu
Gramineus
Shi Chang Pu
Sweet Flag Rhizome

Acorus is a grass like rhizome-forming perennial plant resembling an iris. It inhabits wet areas like the edges of streams and around ponds and lakes. The rhizomes have an aromatic, spicy fragrance, and are used in herbal medicine. Acorus is the Japanese relative of the American herb calamus, also known as sweet flag.
USES

Acorus is an antioxidant that has special effects on the central nervous system. It is used by the Akha people of Thailand for stomachache. The Chinese use it for vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and dysentery. This herb eliminates phlegm and tranquilizes the mind, and has been used to treat amnesia, heart palpitations, insomnia, tinnitus, chronic bronchitis, and bronchial asthma.

Benefits of acorus for specific health conditions include the following:

* Drug withdrawal. Acorus affects the brain during withdrawal from cocaine, heroin, and morphine. During the first one to ten days of withdrawal, addicts experience intense drug cravings, nausea, and vomiting. Acorus can blunt gastric upset during the acute phase of drug withdrawal (although it has no effect on the cravings themselves) through its ability to prevent the secretion of the inflammatory chemical histamine.
* Seizure disorders. Acorus is used to treat a broad range of brain conditions. It works by protecting brain tissue from toxic free radicals, which are released in the presence of excess oxygen. When the flow of oxygen is restored to previously oxygen-deprived brain cells, these cells are temporarily unable to use all the oxygen available to them. The oxygen escapes the biochemical pathways that usually control it and free-radical damage results. The resulting tissue damage in the brain can lead to memory loss, or seizures. Acorus helps prevent the formation of free radicals of oxygen and the resulting brain tissue damage. It is most effective when taken before circulation is restored, that is, in the first few days to a month after a head injury or stroke.

CONSIDERATIONS

Acorus is most commonly supplied by practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It is usually sold in the United States as chang pu or shi chang pu, in the form of powders, teas, and tinctures.

The herb’s American relative calamus contains the potentially cancer-causing chemical beta-asarone, which has caused it to be banned for use in the United States. Although the form of acorus used in TCM is legal in the United States, it is restricted in Canada. Many other countries ban the use of both acorus and calamus in herbal medicine. Acorus should never be used without professional supervision.

Also Known As:

Achillea millefolium
Gandana
I-chi-kao
Milfoil
Millefoil
Noble Yarrow
Nosebleed
Old Man’s Pepper
Soldier’s Woundwort
Stanchgrass
Thousand-leaf
Thousand-seal
Yarrow

Yarrow is a perennial herb found the world over in waste places, fields, pastures, meadows and along railroad embankments and highways where it should never be picked on account of the chemical spraying that’s routinely done to keep the weeds down. The simple stem bears aromatic bipinnately parted and dissected leaves, giving a lacy appearance. Yarrow can grow up to a yard high, yielding pretty flower heads with white rays and yellow (turning to brown) disks in them. The light brown, creeping rootstock produces a round, smooth, pithy stem that branches near the top.

Yarrow is a highly versatile remedy, with anti-inflammatory and antiseptic volatile oils, and astringent tannins. The resins are also astringent and antiseptic, while silica promotes tissue repair. These properties promote healing of cuts and wounds, burns and ulcers, and inflammatory skin conditions. In the digestive system, yarrow stimulates the appetite, enhances digestion and absorption its astringent properties curb diarrhea and dysentery, and stem bleeding from the lining of the gut. The antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties treat infections and inflamed conditions such as gastritis and enteritis, the bitters stimulate liver function, while its antispasmodics relax tensioning cramp, wind, colic or nervous dyspepsia.

Taken hot, yarrow is excellent for helping to throw off fevers and infections such as colds, flu, coughs, and sore throats. Yarrow clears heat and toxins from the system by causing sweating. As a tonic to the circulatory system, yarrow helps improve varicose veins, hemorrhoids, phlebitis and thrombosis, and reduces blood pressure. Yarrow’s diuretic action aids the elimination of fluid and toxins from the system via the urine. Yarrow also relieves cystitis, irritable bladder, stones, and gravel. Yarrow helps relieve painful joints and clear the skin. Yarrow contains sterols which have a hormone-like action and help to regulate the menstrual cycle. Yarrow reduces heavy bleeding and uteric congestion, and relieve heavy periods. Yarrow is also a tonic to the nervous system.

PARTS USED

Aerial parts.

USES

Healing wounds - Achilles reputedly used yarrow to heal wounds, hence its botanical name. Yarrow has been used for this purpose for centuries, and in Scotland a traditional wound ointment was made from yarrow.
Therapeutic properties – Chamazulene, present in some volatile oils, is markedly anti-inflammatory and antiallergenic. Sesquiterpene lactones are bitter and tonic, and achilleine helps arrest internal and external bleeding. The flavonoids are probably responsible for yarrow’s antispasmodic effect.
Gynecological herb – Yarrow helps regulate the menstrual cycle, reduces heavy bleeding, and eases menstrual pain.
Other medical uses - Abscess. Combined with other herbs, yarrow helps colds and flu. Its bitter tonic properties make it useful for weak digestion and colic. Yarrow also helps hay fever, lowers high blood pressure, improves venous circulation, and tones varicose veins. Make good herbal cleansers for skin wrinkles.

HABITAT AND CULTIVATION

Native to Europe and western Asia, yarrow can be found growing wild in temperate regions throughout the world, in meadows and along roadsides. Yarrow spreads via its roots, and the aerial parts are picked in summer when in flower.

RESEARCH

Despite its many uses, yarrow has been poorly researched.

CONSTITUENTS

- Volatile oil with variable content (linalool, camphor, sabinene, chamazulene)
- Sesquiterpene lactones
- Flavonoids
- Alkaloids (achilleine)
- Polyacetylenes
- Triterpenes
- Salicylic acid
- Coumarins
- Tannins

HOW MUCH TO TAKE

As a tea, yarrow can be taken with other herbs 200 ml (8 fl oz) three times daily. As a tincture, take 1 ml (20 drops) three times a day.

HOW IT WORKS IN THE BODY

The apigenin has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties, and the azulenes and salicylic acids are also both antispasmodic. The alkaloids have a hemostatic action, which confirms its usage as a remedy to stop bleeding. Chamazulene (as in chamomile) is anti-allergenic. This herb has an action in many different systems of the body. Primarily, it is probably best known for its action in the respiratory system, its diaphoretic (increases sweating) properties being used for colds and fevers. It can also be used for allergy for example, in hay fever. Its combined properties make it useful following flu or illness where there is little appetite as a tonic to promote digestion. In the cardiovascular system its antispasmodic and slightly diuretic action has made it valuable for lowering high blood pressure, and improving the venous circulation. In the reproductive system it is known as a menstrual regulator, which also helps to reduce heavy bleeding. Conversely, it can also bring on a period.

APPLICATIONS

FLOWERS:
INFUSION – Drink for upper respiratory phlegm or use externally as a wash for eczema.
INHALATION – For hay fever and mild asthma, use fresh in boiling water.
ESSENTIAL OIL:
MASSAGE OIL – For inflamed joints, dilute 5 – 10 drops yarrow oil in 25 ml infused St.John′s wort oil.
CHEST RUB – For chesty colds and influenza, combine with eucalyptus, peppermint, hyssop, or thyme oils, diluting a total of 20 drops oil in 25 ml almond or sunflower oil.
LEAVES:
FRESH – To stop a nosebleed, insert a leaf into the nostril.
POULTICE - Wrap washed, fresh leaves on cuts and grazes.
AERIAL PARTS:
INFUSION – Use to reduce fevers and as a digestive tonic.
TINCTURE – Use for urinary disorders or menstrual problems. Prescribed for cardiovascular complaints.
COMPRESS – Soak a pad in the infusion or dilute tincture to soothe varicose veins.

A STOMACH – FRIENDLY WINE

* 2 cups (120 g) yarrow flowers
* 6 cups (1 1/2 liters) dry white wine

Crush the flowers in a mortar or an electric blender. Let stand for 1 month in a glass jar away from light, then strain.
Bitter yet healthy for digestion, fighting stomach cramps and flatulence. As an aperitif or a digestive, take 1T(15 ml).

Also Known As :

Wormwood
Artemisia absinthium
Absinthe
Absinthium
Ajenjo
Common Wormwood
Green Ginger
Madderwort
Old woman
Wormwood

Wormwood is a shrubby perennial herb with grayish-white stems covered with fine silky hairs, and growing from 1-3 feet tall. The leaves are silky, hairy and glandular with small resinous particles and yellowish-green in color. The plant emits an aromatic odor and yields a spicy, somewhat bitter taste. Wormwood is native to Europe, northern Africa and western Asia, but now extensively cultivated.

Parts used are the leaves and flowering tops (fresh and dried), harvested just before or during flowering. Wormwood has been used in the manufacture of vermouth. Sweet wormwood, another species (A. annua), is often grown as an ornamental, but contains an essential oil that has strong antifungal and antibacterial activities.

Recently chemists from the Division of Experimental Therapeutics, part of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Washington DC, have begun to conduct their own lengthy investigations into sweet wormwood’s ability to reduce fevers by killing intestinal parasites causing them. The previously mentioned tincture may be used here for internal purposes. Using an eye-dropper, put 10 drops of tincture in with 1 tsp. of dark honey or blackstrap molasses. Mix well before eating. The honey or molasses helps to alleviate the bitter taste of the tincture.

Crush a handful of fresh wormwood leaves into a soggy pulp, then mix in with some apple cider vinegar. Next put a small amount of this wet mixture in a 6-inch square piece of gauze. Draw up the end comers together and tie at the top. Then rub the skin thoroughly with this to keep horseflies, mosquitoes and gnats away from you while outdoors. The same mixture can also be rubbed directly onto household pets to keep flies, fleas and ticks away from them.

A study published in a recent issue of Planta Medica points out that species of wormwood have been employed on a clinical basis for the treatment of hepatitis and to protect the liver from lesions produced by the ingestion of harmful chemicals. Another journal (Chern. Phann. Bulletin) noted that wormwood is an important remedy for treatment of jaundice and inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis). A tea might prove useful in these instances. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Remove from the heat and add 4 tsp. leaves or tops. Cover and steep until slightly lukewarm. Drink in 1/2-cup amounts morning, noon and night on an empty stomach. Sweeten with a little pure maple syrup to allay some of the bitterness. Or take 2 capsules of the powder twice daily for these problems, but on an intermittent basis. Remember that wormwood is an herbal medication, as are goldenseal root, chaparral and some of the other medicinal herbs. And they should be used with care only when needed, and not taken indiscriminately.

Wormwood is a wonderful bitter tonic – in fact it is one of the most bitter herbs used in herbal medicine. Wormwood stimulates the appetite, and enhances digestion by increasing the secretion of digestive enzymes and bile from the liver and gallbladder and stimulating peristalsis. Wormwood can be used to expel worms, as its name suggests. Wormwood is an excellent remedy for those with weak, sluggish digestion, toxins and congestion in the gut, liver problems, those feeling run down and debilitated and during convalescence. The chamazulene in the volatile oil has an anti-inflammatory effect in the digestive tract.

Wormwood is a useful herb for treating fevers and infections. Wormwood boosts the immune system, detoxifies the body and clears heat and congestion. Wormwood can be taken in hot infusion (best mixed with mint to make it more palatable) for colds and flu, chronic fevers, food poisoning, catarrh, skin problems and arthritis. Throughout history wormwood has been a favourite herb used by women to stimulate uterine contractions during childbirth. Wormwood is particularly beneficial when the birth is slow in getting going and contractions are weak and ineffectual. Wormwood can also be used to bring on delayed or suppressed menstruation due to stagnation in the uterus, and for painful periods. Its diuretic action is useful for any fluid retention around period time.

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PARTS USED

Aerial parts.

 

USES

Absinthe – Wormwood is the source of absinthe, an addictive and toxic drink favored in 19th- century France. Absinthe, now banned, was flavored with essential oil of wormwood, which, due to its thujone content, is toxic in excess.
Digestive stimulant Wormwood is an extremely useful medicine for those with weak and under active digestions. Wormwood increases stomach acid and bile production and therefore improves digestion and the absorption of nutrients, making it helpful for many conditions, including anemia. Wormwood also eases gas and bloating, and if the tincture is taken regularly, wormwood slowly strengthens the digestion and helps the body return to full vitality after a prolonged illness.
Worms – As its name suggests, wormwood is a traditional remedy for eliminating worms. Wormwood is moderately effective.
Traditional insect repellent – Wormwood is a good insecticide and insect repellent.
Other medical uses – The anti-inflammatory action of wormwood makes it useful for infections and it has occasionally been given an antidepressant.

HABITAT AND CULTIVATION

Wormwood is a wayside plant, native to Europe. Wormwood now grows wild in central Asia and in eastern parts of the US. Wormwood is also cultivated in temperate regions worldwide. Wormwood is propagated from seed in spring or by dividing the roots in autumn. The aerial parts are harvested in late summer.

 

RESEARCH

Bitter herb – Research into wormwood, mostly during the 1970s, has established that a range of the constituents within the plant contributes to its medicinal activity. Many are very bitter, affecting the bitter taste receptors on the tongue, which sets off a reflex action, stimulating stomach and other digestive secretions.
Other research – The azulenes are anti-inflammatory. The sesquiterpene lactones have an antitumor effect and are strongly insecticidal. Thujone is a stimulant to the brain. It is safe in small doses but toxic in excess.

CONSTITUENTS

Wormwood contains volatile oil (inc. sesquiterpene lacrones and thujone), bitter principle, flavonoids, tannins, silica, antibiotic polyacetylenes, inulin, hydroxycoumarins.

 

HOW MUCH TO TAKE

A wormwood tea can be made by adding 1 teaspoon of the herb to 250 ml (1 cup) of boiling water, allowing it to steep for ten to fifteen minutes. Many people drink three cups each day. Tincture can be used, in the amount of 10-20 drops in water, taken ten to fifteen minutes before each meal. Either preparation should not be used for more than four weeks consecutively.

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SIDE EFFECTS AND CAUTIONS

Long-term intake of the thujone – containing oil or alcoholic beverages (absinthe) made with the oil is strictly contraindicated – it is addictive and causes brain damage, seizures, and even death. Short-term use of the wormwood tea or tincture has not resulted in any reports of significant side effects. Longer-term use can cause nausea, vomiting, insomnia, restlessness, vertigo, tremors, and seizures. Wormwood is contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation.

APPLICATIONS

AERIAL PARTS:
INFUSION – Take a weak infusion (5-10 g herb to 500 ml water) for sluggish digestion, poor appetite, and gastritis. Prescribed for jaundice and hepatitis, and to expel intestinal worms.
TINCTURE – Use as the infusion, but do not exceed 3 ml daily.
COMPRESS – Soak a pad in the infusion to soothe bruises and bites.
WASH – Use the infusion externally for infestations such as scabies.

WORMWOOD MOTH BAGS

* 1 cup dried wormwood
* 1 cup dried spearmint
* 1 cup dried tansy
* 1 cup dried thyme
* 4 cinnamon sticks

In a bowl, combine all the ingredients, then crush them together. Divide the mixture among small muslin bags, tie securely, and place with the woolens.