Botanical name – Zinziber officinale Linn.
Family - Zingiberaceae
Hindi name - Adarakh(wet ginger), sont(dry ginger)
English name – Fresh ginger/ Dry ginger
Sanskrit names – Shunthi, Vishva, Nagar, Vishvabheshaj,Vishvoushadha,
Katugranthi, Katubhadra, Katushan, Sauparna.
Botanical Description - Plants grow up to 1 to 1.5 mtr. high. Leaves are 13-
30 cms long, broad and tapering at the top. Stalk of the flower is 5 to 8 cms
long, stamens are dark voilet coloured.
Varieties – According to habitat and processing, there are many varieties.
Dry ginger is smoky in colour. White coloured ginger (ardranagar- kaiyadev)
is found in South India which is used in practice peeled rhizome boiled in
milk and dired is called 'Dudhiyasuntha' .
Habitat - Hot and damp climate like Madras, Kerala, Kochin, Bengal, and
Punjab.
Chemical composition - 1/5% yellow volatile oil, gingerol, gingerin (pungent
resin), carbohydrates, oil and resin is found just under the skin. Gingerol does
not evapourates with oil.
Therapeutics Properties -
Guna (qualities) – Guru(Heavy) ,ruksha(dryness),
tikshna(strong).
Rasa(Taste)- katu
Veerya- ushna(Hot potency)
Vipak - Madhur (taste conversion after digestion sweet)
Dosha - kapha-vataghna
Uses-
External uses - Adrak is sheetprashaman, anti inflammatory and analgesic properties, it is used as local application in swollen joints and rheumatoid arthritis. It helps to reduce cold and stiffness.
Ginger powder + oil is used for massage to reduce chills. Paste prepared in water or milk is useful in infantile cold and swelling. Dry ginger powder is rubbed on the skin in excessive swelling and hypothermia.
Internal uses –
Nervous system - It is the best medicine for all vata disorders. Ginger stimulates nerves, improves impulse transmission and relieves pain.
Digestive system - Ginger is an excellent appetizer, digestive, antiflatulent, antihaemorrhoidal and antispasmodic. It helps in alleviating vatakapha and pitta. Being appetizer, ginger along with salt is given before meals.
Due to these properties, ginger is used in anorexia, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, indigestion, flatulence, abdominal pain, jaundice and piles Putpak of ginger powder dipped in castor oil and wrapped in castor leaves is very useful in rheumatoid arthritis.
Circulatory system - It purifies blood and is antinflammatory, as it stimulates heart and circulatory system. Therefore it is useful in cardiac debility, cardiac pain, elephantiasis, oedema, arthritis and urticaria. In oedema, ginger with equal quantity of jaggery in increasing dose upto largest and decreased to the orginal is useful as rasayan.
Respiratory system - It is kaphaghna and antiasthmatic by its property of tikta and singdha. Tenacious sputum of pharyngitis is relieved by chewing ginger. Charcoaled ginger powder with honey is effective in asthmatic bronchitis. Licking ginger juice with honey relieves hiccoughs and cold.
Reproductive system - Due to madhur vipak, ginger acts as an aphrodisiac and sex stimulant. In puerperium, saubhagyashunthipak is useful in almost all anticipated complaints.
Parts used - Rhizomes.
Dosage – Ginger juice 5-10ml , powder 0.75 to 1.5 gm.
Formulations - Ardrakhanda, Panchasama churna, Samasharka churna, Saubhagyashunthipak ,Vyoshadighrut.
Contraindications - Ginger being ushna and tikshna, it should not be used in anaemia, dysuria bleeding disorders, ulcer, pyrexia, and in summer season and autumn.
References –
शुण्ठी रुच्यामवातघ्नी पाचनी कटुका लघुः ।
स्निग्धोष्णा मधुरा पाके कफवातविबंधनुत् ॥
वृष्या स्वर्या वमिश्वासशूलकासहृदामयान्।
हन्ति श्लीपदशोफार्शआनाहोदरमारुतान्।। (भा.प्र.)
रोचनं दीपनं वृष्यमार्द्रकं विश्वभेषजम्
वातश्लेष्मविबन्धेषु रसस्तस्योपदिश्यते ।।' (च.सू. २७)
नागरं कफवातघ्नं विपाके मधुरं कटु ।
वृष्योष्णं रोचनं हृद्यं सस्नेहं लघु दीपनम् ।।
कफानिलहरं स्वर्यं विबन्धानाहशूलनुत् ।
कटुष्णं रोचनं हृद्यं वृष्यं चैवार्द्रकं स्मृतम् ।। (सु.सू. ४६)
(Reference - Ayurvedic pharmacology & Therapeutic uses of Medicinal plants)for more information about health and ayurveda,stay connected with us
