Ginger is one of the most widely used and most popular flavorings in the world. Anyone who enjoys any of the Asian cuisines is familiar with the sultry spice of ginger.  In recent decades it has become a favorite of American chefs and food lovers too.

So what is ginger?  It is a species of plant, zingiber officinale, that has grass-like leaves growing off of a stem.  Wild ginger plants will flower occasionally.  The part of the plant that is used for food is the rhizome, which has a texture that is like a raw potato, grows below the ground surface, and connects to the roots.  It is native to tropical regions of Asia, but those ingenious (meddling?) humans have spread it throughout India and China, and brought it to Jamaica.

Astonishingly, while the original forms of ginger ale and ginger beer may have used it, most soft drinks today which use those terms don’t have ginger in them at all.

In addition to its great variety of uses for cooking, ginger is often thought to have medicinal properties.  It has been used for centuries as a folk remedy, and even modern scientific studies give it merit.  Because it is commonly used in more than 23 countries, ginger is recognized by the World Health Organization on its priority list of the most used medical plants in the world.

Now, mind you, we here at the G-THRILL! Beverage Company are not doctors or scientists; we simply make great drinks for you to enjoy. But we found this fantastic article from December 2001 at Alternative-Healthzine.com on what some of the health benefits of ginger are:

Ginger - Zingiber officinale

It was from the Sanskrit word 'shringavera' (meaning 'horn body') that the Latin name Zingiber was derived. When Ginger was introduced into England it became known as 'gingifer' and it is from this word that the name we call it today evolved. Originating in Southeast Asia, Ginger is said to grow best in tropical and sub tropical regions with good rainfall and hot and humid summers. The rhizome (the underground stem) is the part of the plant that is harvested for use in cooking and in medicine.

History
Not many herbs have such a long and salubrious history as Ginger. More than 5000 years ago the ancient Chinese and Indians looked upon Ginger as the 'universal medicine'. It has received praise from Confucius and Pliny. Nostradamus wrote recipes for Ginger preserved in honey and the Koran mentions a fountain of Ginger-flavored water. The ancient Greeks ate ginger wrapped inside bread after meals to help digestion, and the early English made a soothing ginger beer to aid the stomach.

Uses of Ginger
Ginger is today an ingredient in more than 50 percent of traditional herbal remedies. Over its long history around the world it has been used as a remedy to treat many conditions, including nausea, indigestion, fever, and infection.  Ginger contains high amounts of iron and calcium, in addition to its major constituents - gingerol and paradol. Gingerol is a powerful antioxidant - clearing up the free radicals that can do so much harm within the body - and it is anti-inflammatory. Recent studies to test the validity of medicinal claims have proved positive in a number of areas. In particular, Ginger has been found to have the ability to stop nausea and vomiting, prevent coronary artery disease, and heal (and prevent) arthritic conditions and stomach ulcers. Ginger was also shown to be effective against tumour growth, migraines and rheumatism.

Nausea and motion sickness
Results of scientific tests, noted in the Lancet in 1982, show that "The powdered rhizome of Zingiber officinale has been found to be more effective than dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) in reducing motion sickness in individuals highly susceptible to this malady." More medical reports show that Ginger is effective in easing morning sickness in pregnant women and post-operative nausea in patients recovering from surgery. Another trial studied 80 naval cadets, unaccustomed to sailing in heavy seas. Out on the open sea it was reported that "ginger root reduced the tendency to vomiting and cold sweating significantly better than the placebo did".

Digestion
Ginger is a great aid to digestion. It increases digestive movement through the stomach and duodenum, and has also been shown to stimulate several valuable digestive enzymes in the pancreas.  In India and China it has long been the custom to drink a tea brewed from fresh Ginger, as an aid to digestion after a meal. The enzymes in Ginger break down protein efficiently and rapidly, leaving the digestive system free of any discomfort.

Muscles and Joints
Ginger has been undergoing trials in Denmark to discover the herb's anti-inflammatory potential in the treatment of arthritis. Over 75% of those involved in the trials said they experienced relief in pain and swelling. In June 1999 a new drug called Zinaxin was launched in the UK to treat arthritis. It was a dietary supplement based on highly concentrated extracts of Ginger. Danish scientists developed the drug after extensive research into the effects of hundreds of natural substances, finding that Ginger was the most effective.

Circulation
Numerous studies have confirmed the fact that Ginger can work as effectively as aspirin to help clear the build up in clogged arteries. As well as this, Ginger has been found to strengthen the cardiac muscle and lower serum cholesterol levels.

Other Uses
Ginger's anti-bacterial properties are recognized by the Japanese who use it as an antidote to fish poisoning, especially from sushi. Ginger has been found to kill the anisakis lavae (a parasite that infects fish and marine animals and can be harmful to humans if ingested).  Ginger protects against stomach ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori and is effective against the growth of many bacteria including E Coli, and Salmonella. At the same time it actually helps the growth of the beneficial bacteria Lactobacillus.  The International Journal of Obesity reported in October 1992 that Ginger burns calories and so aids weight loss.

Cautions
The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) in America include Ginger on their GRAS (generally recognized as safe) list. However, because Ginger can thin the blood it should not be used in significant doses alongside anticoagulant drugs such as warfarin unless your doctor approves.  Although it is said that Ginger can be a great relief for women suffering morning sickness, pharmacists are generally advised to counsel against its use during pregnancy.

* Volume 2, Issue 11 © 2000-2002 Shelley Day, Alternative Healthzine

Of course, we didn’t decide to make GingerTHRILL! to end disease in the world. We did it because it is a great-tasting and very exciting drink.

Drink it straight up.  Mix it with your favorite soda or hooch.  Marinate your chicken with it. The possibilities are endless.