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Medicinal properties of ginger
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025

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For many people, the medicinal properties of ginger are a revelation: a common spice that we habitually add to many dishes and baked goods turns out to be a medicine! And what a medicine! A unique combination of beneficial properties allows ginger to be used in the treatment of various painful conditions.
Ginger is not only an exquisite oriental spice, but also a rich storehouse of useful substances. It contains many vitamins, microelements, amino acids, antioxidants, essential oils. Ginger can be used both for treatment and as a preventive measure for many diseases.
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Contraindications to the use of ginger
Any product, spice or medicine may have a number of contraindications for use. In this regard, before using ginger root, you first need to know in which cases its use is not recommended:
- erosions and ulcers of the digestive tract. All spices with a pungent taste can irritate the mucous membrane of the digestive tract. This can aggravate the erosive-ulcerative process and cause pain, heartburn, indigestion;
- oncology of the digestive system. By irritating the stomach or intestinal wall, the spice can stimulate the growth of cancer cells. In case of oncology of other localizations, ginger is not contraindicated, but on the contrary, is welcomed;
- acute stages of hepatitis, liver cirrhosis with elements of tissue necrosis. In such pathologies, the use of ginger is not recommended due to the likelihood of activation of the process;
- various bleedings (hemorrhoidal, internal, intrauterine, nasal). Ginger can thin the blood, which can increase bleeding.
Taking ginger during lactation is not prohibited, it even stimulates milk production in women. However, you should monitor the child's behavior: ginger that gets to the baby with milk can provoke poor sleep and increased anxiety.
Allergic sensitivity of the body is a direct contraindication to the use of the product. If you have an allergy to ginger, you will unfortunately have to stop using this spice.
Medicinal properties of ginger root
Adding ginger to food has a beneficial effect on digestion, improves digestion, activates the secretion of gastric juice, and stimulates intestinal peristalsis.
Ginger will also help with acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections: it relieves coughing, warms the body, inhibits bacterial growth, relieves sore throat, and activates the body's defenses.
Preparations containing ginger are also used to combat helminthic infestations.
Increased gas formation in the intestines, gallbladder pathologies, skin diseases – ginger treats all of these.
This spice is an excellent vascular remedy, strengthening and cleansing blood vessels, reducing the amount of "bad" cholesterol, preventing the formation of blood clots. It relieves the symptoms of atherosclerosis and improves brain activity and memory. You can take ginger drinks for hypertension: the spice not only stabilizes blood pressure, but also gives vigor and strength.
Ginger can relieve joint and muscle pain, reduce swelling, even during pregnancy. In addition, during pregnancy, this spice helps fight toxicosis: it eliminates muscle twitching during sleep, eliminates nausea, weakness, and bad mood.
Some experts are inclined to believe that ginger can even serve as a preventative measure in oncology, as it inhibits the growth of cancer cells.
Medicinal properties of ginger for weight loss
Obesity and excess weight are often associated with nutritional and metabolic disorders. If you have set a goal to lose weight, then you will have to deal with nutritional issues on your own: limit sweet, fatty and flour products, salt, fried foods. It is advisable to drink more liquids, and even better - ginger tea.
Ginger drink will help to improve slow metabolic processes, increase the consumption of fat by tissues, improve the digestion of heavy and mixed foods, and ensure the removal of excess fluid from tissues.
In order to effectively lose weight, you need to be patient and systematically, regularly drink a drink from ginger root. There will be no benefit from using this natural medicine for several days: the effect of ginger consumption does not appear immediately, but is long-lasting and persistent.
If ginger tea seems too sharp and tasteless to you, then you will need time to get used to it. And until the process of getting used to it is not complete, just add ground ginger to all dishes that are served to your table: soup, vegetable, meat and fish main courses, side dishes.
The constant presence of ginger in the diet promotes effective weight loss, provided that a balanced diet and moderate physical activity are followed.
Medicinal properties of ginger for men
Ginger spice strengthens a man's strength, increases libido, eliminates signs of prostate gland damage. This property of ginger root is highly valued and extolled in Eastern countries: there, the spice is considered the personification of male capabilities, increasing the internal energy of the body and giving strength and confidence to a man.
Eastern men add ginger to coffee, food, or simply chew pieces of the root after a meal.
Ginger spice is an excellent source of sexual health and a stimulant of male potency. It is used as a medicine in the treatment and prevention of prostate inflammation, as ginger improves blood supply to the prostate gland, supports immunity and relieves signs of inflammation.
Ginger is also a powerful tool that increases sexual desire and promotes pleasure from sexual intercourse. It is recommended to use ginger immediately before a planned date: fresh or dried spice added to tea, coffee or wine will enhance your feelings and mutual attraction.
Medicinal properties of ginger and cinnamon
The properties of cinnamon and ginger are similar in many ways: they have anti-inflammatory, antitussive, and weight loss effects.
Cinnamon and honey are a fairly common combination, especially beneficial for the body. By adding ginger to this complex, you can achieve a much greater and faster effect:
- reduce sugar levels in the bloodstream;
- get rid of colds and viral infections;
- solve problems with digestive system disorders;
- lower the level of "bad" cholesterol;
- strengthen the heart and blood vessels;
- cleanse the body of toxic substances, unnecessary microbes and worms;
- get rid of extra kilos and extra centimeters in volume;
- cure bladder inflammation;
- increase vitality, lift your mood, drive away melancholy and depression.
Cinnamon combined with ginger root harmonizes wonderfully when added to coffee, tea, mulled wine. They complement each other in baking and desserts. Nutritionists consider this mixture to be rejuvenating for the body and bringing health and youth.
A complex combination of these spices will help you achieve your goal faster and more effectively.
Medicinal properties of ginger for colds
Ginger is one of the first folk remedies in the fight against colds and viral diseases. Drinks with ginger facilitate expectoration, soften cough, relieve sore throat, reduce swelling of the larynx, warm up and stimulate the body.
The active components of this spice inhibit the growth and reproduction of bacterial cells, soothe and relieve inflammation.
To treat a cold with ginger, you can use the following folk recipes:
- compresses. Mix 1/2 teaspoon of hot pepper, a teaspoon of powdered ginger and a little warmed vegetable oil until it becomes a thick paste. Place the mixture on gauze or cloth and apply to the sinus area (for sinusitis) or to the throat (for laryngitis symptoms). Avoid getting the mixture in your eyes or on the mucous membranes! Keep the compress on for no more than 10 minutes;
- medicinal baths. Add a liter of decoction of three teaspoons of ground ginger, which has been boiled for 10 minutes, to a prepared bath with moderately hot water. This procedure will relieve chills, aches, and muscle tension;
- for a sore throat. It is enough to cut a small plate of fresh ginger root and chew it until you feel a tingling sensation in your throat. You should not swallow the ginger. This ginger chewing recipe can also help with toothaches.
Hot ginger drinks also have an anti-cold effect: it is useful to add honey, raspberry jam or garlic to them.
Medicinal properties of ginger tea
Ginger tea is a universal and healing remedy. It can be drunk both for preventive and therapeutic purposes, establishing an acceptable combination of spices and their dosage.
To prepare tea, you can use either fresh or dry ground ginger. Fresh is usually grated on a fine grater; ground is simply added when brewing tea, using only 1/3 of the required amount of fresh root.
Ginger teas improve brain function, increase its productivity, strengthen the vascular wall, cleanse and thin the blood. Regular consumption of tea activates the general circulatory system, forcing metabolic processes to accelerate and use fat reserves as additional energy sources for the body.
To enhance the effect, you can add cinnamon, honey, cardamom, cloves, lemon, orange, turmeric, nutmeg, mint or jasmine to the tea.
Ginger tea can be prepared using regular boiled water, or green or black tea.
The medicinal properties of ginger are varied. However, everyone finds something of their own in this spice, accepting, as a gift of nature, the healing power of such a simple, but very interesting plant.