HERB OF THE MONTH

So, I have been holding on to this idea for quite a while.
For some reason or another, I was just plain lazy
and did not press on to acting it out.

A  mental stagnation of sorts.
Perhaps, one could say, metaphorically,
indigestion.

With that said,
this brings us to the first
Herb of the month;

Ginger

And what better time to do so
when, at least here in the Northern Latitudes
the cold winter has swooped upon us.

Ginger,

is a tuber
technically a rhizome
of the plant Zingiber officinale.

Ginger, as we have come to call it
in modern day English,
originates from the French term, gigembre
the ye Old English, gingifere
Medieval Latin, ginginer
The Greek, zingiberis
Old Persian shingavir
Pali, singiver 
and ultimately,
the Tali, inji ver 


BASIC OVERVIEW IN HISTORY AND USE

Cultivation of Ginger can be traced back as far as 5,000 years ago to Southeast Asia.
At an early date, Rome also cultivated ginger extensively, importing it from India. Though
it was in widespread use by the Romans, it quickly disappeared from the regional market after the fall of the Roman Empire and the seizure of the spice trade by the Arabs. With Arab voyages to Eastern Africa and Zanzibar, in the 13th and 14th century, the cultivation followed and spread. Soon after that, in 15th century, ginger crossed the Atlantic ocean, settling in the Caribbean where it thrives quite easily.

The real beauty in Ginger, is that it is both medicinal and culinary, which inherently makes it a very easily dispensable herb, especially to those a little more than unwillingly to take their "medicine" (to all the little...I'll hold my tongue.... out there) And why should they be willing to take their "medicine". The true art of medicine, I would feel safe to pose, is being able to easily and simply exist within the customary diets of a culture; to not be considered just "medicine" but food. For this very attribute, I laud ginger as an ultimate healer of the world.

So, with that all said, let's look at some basic chemical attributes of Ginger. First let's start with volatile oils. Three of them to be exact. Causing the distinct odour and flavour of ginger, Zingerone, Shogaols and Gingerols make up one to three percent of a fresh ginger root. Scientifically, these oils have been shown to increase the motility of the gastrointestinal tract in laboratory animals and are analgesic, antipyretic, sedative and antibacterial properties. Ginger oil has been shown to cure skin cancer in mice and being a mild irritant, has been used for the feauging of horses, meaning to apply as a suppository via the anus or vagina, if the horse a mare, in order to make for a tail held high and a disposition of strong energy. In fact, this something I never knew I would know, the good ol' chaps in England used to add an eel to that mix. Very...charming. currently the practice considered in humane and in many countries illegal, though I have read it is still a practice in the middle east. Now you may be thinking this is useless to know but, think again. Ginger, as it has long been known by herbalists and folklore, as a great carminative, aiding in the ease of indigestion. So perhaps, and I'm just putting this out there, a mild ginger enema wouldn't be so bad for the horse, and what is good for the horse, in this case, is good for you. Though, you don't have to always go to this "extreme". If you are still uncomfortable with the thought of injecting a mild ginger decoction up your anal canal, which really seems no different than stuff coming out, you can always drink a nice cup of fresh ginger tea. Add a little honey and mmm GOOD! this preparation is also very warming and gives one a great boost of 'fire' for these current cold and windy days. On top of being great for the treat of indigestion, giving warmth and respectively, raising horse sales, ginger also holds a reputation for use in treatments of colds, coughs, bodily pains such as headaches and overall internal and external inflammations, the flu, diarrhea and nausea caused by morning sickness, sea sickness and chemotherapy just to name few!

Here are a few regional and time tested uses for ginger throughout the world.

 India
3-4 tulsi leaves taken with a bit of ginger root on an empty stomach is effective in treating colds, congestion and coughs.

ginger paste is applied to the temples to relieve headaches.

ginger with lemon and black salt is used in the relief of nausea.


 China
"ginger eggs"; scrambled eggs with chopped pieces of ginger added to them are used for the treatment of coughs.

sliced ginger root is boiled in water with sugar or cola and used to treat the common cold.

Burma
ginger root and a sweetener made from palm tree juice are boiled together to prevent the flu

Congo
ginger is mashed and mixed with mango tree sap to make a drink known locally as "tangawisi", which is believed a panacea

Indonesia
ginger is considered to treat fatigue, combat rheumatism and put a strangle hold on poor dietary habits

Peru
ginger is sliced into hot water and taken to treat stomach aches

Philippines
A preparation locally known a "salabat" is made by boiling chunks of fresh ginger root in water and adding sugar. Salabat is consumed every morning at breakfast and is considered good for a sore throat.

 A FEW PRECAUTIONS BEFORE TAKING GINGER

warfarin.

IDENTIFICATION, CLIMATE AND CULTIVATION

Ginger is a perennial reed-like plant with annual, leafy stems measuring about a meter (3-4 feet) in height. Producing clusters of white and pink buds that blossom into bright yellow flowers, ginger is widely used in landscaping around subtropical homes for its aesthetic appeal.

Cultivation of the root is carried out when the stalks have withered. The root is then immediately scalded or washed and scraped to "kill" it in order to prevent the occurrence of sprouting.


So there you have it, the first Herb of the Month!
I strongly encourage you to do your own research into ginger and not am afraid to experiment, because for all the facts you can find in print, the true knowing of any herb, comes from the serious observation of the experience it induces within and upon you.
To steal a little wise advice handed down over the ages, know thyself and all will be revealed.