Ginger Essence
Description
© Southwest School of Botanical Medicine
GINGER (Zingiber officinalis )
Family: Zingiberaceae (ginger)
Source: The Essential oil is obtained from the Roots.
Volatility: Base note.
Fragrance:: Camphor, lemony, warm, peppery.
General description and habitat:
Tropical herbaceous perennial; height over 3 feet; enjoys water, humidity, heat; similar in appearance to reeds; yellow flowers with purple lip, orchid-like.
Principal constituents:
Camphene, d-phellandrene, zingiberene, cineole, borneol, linalool, citral.
History
History and folk use:
Believed to be native of India; one of the first spices to be introduced into Europe from Asia.
Introduced into the West Indies by the Spanish conquistadors. Jamaica became a major producer, but other countries now include India, Malaysia, Africa, Japan, China, Queensland, Florida. Used medicinally for centuries in the East as and an ingredient in cooking.
Similar uses were recorded for the Greeks and Romans. Dioscorides used it for stomach complaints. The Romans also treated eye conditions with it.
St. Hildegard of Bingen, in the twelfth century, recommended ginger for toning and stimulating and also for eye conditions and as an aphrodisiac. It was used in the Middle Ages as protection against the Black Death.
Properties & Uses
General properties: Stimulant, tonic, antiseptic.
Primary Uses:
| Colds, | Coughs, |
| Digestive problems | Rheumatism |
| Sore throats |
Secondary Uses:
| Loss Of Appetite, | Arteriosclerosis, |
| Catarrh, | Courage, |
| Diarrhea, | Fever, |
| Flatulence, | Lack Of Confidence, |
| Motion Sickness, | Nausea & Vomiting, |
| Poor Circulation, | Poor Memory, |
| Sprains, | Stomach Pains, |
| Strains, | Tonsillitis. |
Contraindications
Likely to irritate badly. Always use diluted in pure cold-pressed vegetable oil.
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