One of the things that inspires me most about being a holistic nutritionist is sharing the many healing remedies that nature provides. One common ingredient that’s cost effective, tasty, and has a lot more going for it than flavor alone – is ginger.

Ginger, Zingiber officinale, is a rhizome native to southeast Asia. It’s pungent and aromatic, with a warming, stimulating energetic effect on the body. Let’s look at some of the ways it can be prepared and applied in home remedies.

Ever had fresh ginger tea? It’s soothing and invigorating at the same time. Ginger tea has been consumed for centuries, and it’s my go-to drink of choice if I’m feeling a tad off or just ate something that didn’t settle well with me.

Ginger’s warming energetics stimulate digestive fire and metabolism. If you have a slow metabolism or suffer from gas, bloating or other discomforts following eating, try ginger tea before or after meals. Ginger tea is also good for nausea and morning sickness. For those prone to mucus production in the upper or lower respiratory system, ginger tea is a great way to warm up digestion and prevent mucus production. Please note that those who are susceptible to heartburn or acid reflux may find that ginger aggravates symptoms.

Ginger Tea
1 tablespoon peeled, freshly chopped ginger root
1 1/2 cups filtered or well water

Pour boiling water over ginger and let steep 10 – 15 minutes. Drink hot.

Circulation

Warming and stimulating, ginger promotes circulation to peripheral limbs. This is good for folks with slow circulation, cold hands and feet, low energy, depression and high cholesterol. Ginger is also excellent for cold, stiff joints and arthritic conditions where pain is alleviated by heat. Add ginger to food and sip the tea all day long! In addition to incorporating ginger into your diet you can also apply ginger topically in a bath, foot bath or poultice, to promote circulation and warm the extremities.

Ginger Bath or Foot Bath
Make 4 – 8 cups of ginger tea and add it to a hot bath. Soak for 15 – 25 minutes. Dry thoroughly afterwards and stay warm/dress warm to help the body hold onto the heat.

Likewise, add 1 – 2 cups of ginger tea to a warm foot bath and soak the feet for 15 minutes. The feet contain nerve endings and pressure points that correspond with systems throughout the body.

Fever

It might sounds strange to support a condition so hot, like a fever, with more heat, but a ginger foot bath is an excellent home remedy for a fever. The ginger helps open up the pores and promote a sweat, which helps release heat from the body. It also helps pull heat down from the head and distribute it throughout the body.

Anti-bacterial Ally

A recent study found that fresh ginger juice combined with raw, unrefined honey was effective at killing every bacteria and virus that it was exposed to! Ginger honey or ginger tea with honey (remember the honey must be raw and unrefined) is an effective remedy for cold and flu and can even be used topically to kill bacteria and promote wound healing.

Ginger Honey
1/4 cup fresh grated ginger root
1/2 cup raw, unrefined honey
Combine honey and ginger in a glass jar and mix until well combined. Cover with a lid and set aside to infuse for 2 weeks. Keep the ginger in the honey and add the mixture to tea, salad dressings, toast and most importantly, eat by the spoonful! This can be applied topically as well to cuts, scrapes, etc. Store in the refrigerator after steeping.

That’s it my friend! A few simple ways to incorporate ginger into your wellness routine, without a ton of fuss or expense. Hey, why not give it a shot, right?!