Ginger Uses and Cures

Ginger, a light colored, orange-brown, knotty-looking root, is one of the most useful foods in terms of the health qualities it brings as well as its many uses in the kitchen. The flavor of ginger is pungent and the root contains special oils with powerful healing properties that help to cure many illnesses.

Cooking

• Ginger has a strong flavor and is often used in Asian cuisine.

  The most common use of ginger is to flavor many types of foods. Its strong flavor is often toned down in baking cakes, cookies and candies, but it is also used to spice up many Asian dishes. It is a common flavor during the holiday season and used in seasonal baked goods such as ginger snaps, gingerbread cookies and even some warm drinks. It is also used in different types of sauces and marinades to add flavor to meat.

Stomach Related Illness

• Ginger can help alleviate the symptoms of an upset stomach.

  According to the University of Maryland Medical Center website, ginger is a powerful tool against stomach-related illnesses. Pregnant women are often encouraged to take ginger supplements or eat it fresh in order to relieve nausea symptoms. Ginger also helps lessen the symptoms of an upset stomach caused by motion sickness. It has been known to treat those suffering from the side effects of chemotherapy, helping to alleviate nausea symptoms.

Cancer Studies

• According to the British Broadcasting Center, Dr. Ann Bode from the University of Minnesota has conducted studies on the benefits of ginger in treating cancer, saying, "these results strongly suggest that ginger compounds may be effective chemopreventive and/or chemotherapeutic agents." In this study conducted on a group of mice, there was measurable evidence of the slowing of tumor growth for mice that had been fed a ginger compound.

Inflammation

• Those suffering from arthritis might be helped by the healing benefits of ginger.

  For those suffering from an arthritic condition, ginger has been shown to help relieve inflammation in the joints. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, it also helps relieve symptoms of other related inflammation illnesses including ulcerative colitis. Studies, including one reported in "Arthritis and Rheumatology," showed that those with arthritis of the knee who took ginger experienced less pain and did not need to take pain medication as frequently.