Ginger As an Herbal Medicine for Arthritis

Ginger is the root or rhizome of the tropical plant Zingiber officinale. Gingerroot, in addition to being used in cooking, has played a role in Eastern medicinal practices for centuries. It's been used to treat a wide range of illnesses, including digestive problems, diarrhea and even heart problems.
You can buy gingerroot fresh or dried, and in powdered or crystallized forms. Ginger is commercially available as capsules, as well as an extract, essential oil or tincture.
Ginger's active ingredients are phenols, acidic compounds believed to give ginger its antinausea and anti-inflammatory properties, and its volatile oils (reference 1, below).

Ginger and Arthritis

• A 2001 study at the Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University of Miami found that ginger extract effectively reduced knee pain in people suffering from osteoarthritis (reference 2). To alleviate your arthritis pain, take a total of 2g of ginger per day in divided doses of powder, oil, tincture, extract or capsules. Or drink up to four cups of ginger tea (resource 1).

Ginger Tea

• Wash and coarsely chop enough unpeeled fresh ginger root to give you 1/2 cup. Put the ginger in a pan with three cups of water, bring it to a boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer. Taste after 10 minutes. If it's stronger than you like, remove from the heat and add water. If it's too weak, let it simmer and check it every minute or so.
  Strain the ginger from the water. Sweeten the tea if you desire (reference 3). The Arthritis Foundation recommends drinking up to four cups of ginger tea per day for arthritis.

Ginger Tincture

• By making a ginger tincture you'll preserve gingerroot's antiarthritic effects for months. Fill a one-quart mason jar one-quarter full with chopped dried gingerroot. Cover the gingerroot with 100-proof vodka. Using a food processor, grate fresh gingerroot and combine with enough 100-proof vodka to create an applesauce-like. texture.
  Repeat until you have enough of the mix to fill the mason jar three-quarters full. Top it off with more 100-proof vodka. Seal it, label and date it, and shake it thoroughly. Store in a cool dark place for a month. Strain it through unbleached muslin or an unbleached coffee filter.
  Using a funnel, pour the mixture into dark glass bottles. Seal and label them (resource 2).

Cooking with Ginger

• Enjoy freshly grated ginger in soups, salad dressings and fresh apple or pear juice. Store unpeeled fresh root for as long as three weeks wrapped in paper towels in your refrigerator. You can also freeze fresh ginger for up to two months.
  Use powdered ginger in your baking, and crystallized ginger as a healthy and invigorating way to satisfy your sweet tooth. Remember to include the ginger you consume in foods and beverages in your daily dose (resource 3).