Ginger: Zingiber officinale

Plant Family: Zingiberaceae

Native Habitat: Southern Asia

Herbal Actions: Cardiovascular stimulant, diaphoretic, stimulating expectorant, anti-inflammatory, carminative, antiemetic, analgesic, pelvic circulatory stimulant.

Parts used: Root

Forms: fresh or dried in tea (fresh has active compounds that make a more effective antimicrobial and antispasmodic medicine), tincture, glycerite, eaten fresh in food.

Season: Fall & Winter.

Taste/ Smell: Pungent, astringent, aromatic, slightly bitter.

Energetic Qualities: Warm, dry, mobile, liquid, light.

Indications: Respiratory infections, especially with a lot of congestion, fever, flu, nausea, abdominal pain, gas, arthritis, poor cardiovascular circulation, cold hands and feet, muscular skeletal injuries, cardiovascular damage, slow to start menses.

Body system affinities: Respiratory, digestive, muscular-skeletal, cardiovascular.

Key Points: Ginger is a mover and a shaker, integrated into many formulas as a driver to the respiratory system or as a circulatory stimulant to get herbal medicine moved throughout the body. Be careful with the warm, mobile, dry, light qualities of ginger as these can become excessive in some folks.