Ginger In Ayurveda

Ginger In Ayurveda

Dec 02, 2022

Vedics Wellness Rituals

Ginger is one among the appetizers used in Ayurveda and in traditional Indian Cooking. It is used in many different appetizing formulations. It is a spice with specific qualities like aphrodisiac with a pungent taste, mild laxative with an absorbing property, even though pungent drugs are mostly unaphrodisiacs and absorbent drugs create constipation.

It is of two types:

  • Wet ginger (Ardraka)
  • Dry ginger (Shunthi)

Botanical name – zingiber officinale

Parts used – rhizome

Medicinal properties of Wet Ginger

  • Pungent taste
  • Heavy to digest but Undergoes sweet taste after digestion
  • Dry, strong and piercing
  • Hot potency
  • Useful in Vata and Kapha disorders
  • Relieves one from constipation
  • Improves digestive strength
  • Relieves anorexia
  • Relieves swelling
  • Useful in throat disorders
  • Aphrodisiac
  • Helpful in respiratory disorders
  • Relieves from vomiting sensation
  • Relieves hiccups

Benefits of Consuming Dry Ginger

  • Unctuous
  • Increases digestive power
  • Aphrodisiac
  • Hot in potency
  • Balances Vata and Kapha
  • Improves taste
  • Acts as a cardiotonic
  • Useful in ascites due to bloating
  • Absorbent
  • Breakdowns stools to relieve from constipation
  • Useful in Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Relives from menstrual pain, dizziness and arthritic pain.

Difference

  • Fresh ginger is dry and dry ginger is unctuous
  • When consumed in fresh form induces elimination so more useful in constipation
  • When consumed in dry form, it acts as an absorbent so not much useful as in fresh form that helps in constipation
  • Fresh ginger is used for short time due to its dry quality
  • Dry ginger can be used for long time due to its unctuous property

Many researches were conducted and it is proved that it is an analgesic and anti-inflammatory helpful in decreasing triglyceride levels in obesity. Helpful in type 2 diabetes by correcting dhatwagni.

Contraindication

  • Skin disorders
  • Anemia
  • Bleeding disorders
  • Dysuria
  • Non healing wounds
  • During summer and spring

Ayurvedic formulations

  • Trikatu churna
  • Ardraka ghrita
  • Gudaardraka