Ginger All the Way

Ginger is my favorite root crop. We always have it in our kitchen. I even experienced planting ginger in our garden when I was a child. We were thrilled, back then, during the harvest. That was in our province. Now that I am in the city, the only way I can plant is through a pot. I once tried but could not harvest as the plant also needs sunlight, which we barely have in our home.

Ginger is a root crop mainly used for our favorite dish. It is also known to have medicinal benefits, primarily to cure sore throat and cough. I've known that since I was young, as I grew up with my grandmother who would rather treat our sickness with medicinal plants and other traditional methods than bring us to hospital and buy expensive medicines. But it was only in 2008 that I learned about other medicinal benefits of ginger.

Ginger or "luya" in Filipino, is popular and said to be widely cultivated in the Philippines. Commonly found in market stalls and grocery stores, it is usually used as a condiment in Filipino cuisine. It takes away the fishy smell of seafood dishes so I use a lot on my buttered shrimp, mussels soup, and fish "escabeche". Ginger is also used in chicken dishes such as the famous "tinola" or chicken "adobo".

There is also this beverage made of ginger known as salabat. Nowadays, salabat can be made instantly since powdered ginger is already available in groceries. But I still prefer the traditional way of doing it, done by washing some ginger root, peeling it, pounding a little, and then boiling it. Pour into a teacup; add sliced lemon and honey to taste. This is best served on a cold night as a substitute to coffee or tea.

Every New Year, my mom has a tradition of cooking "bilo bilo" for the family. It is made with ground sticky rice formed into a ball and cooked in boiling water with a lot of ginger and brown sugar. So it tastes spicy and sweet.

Last year, I saw a candy made of ginger at a local store. I tried one pack. It tastes good, better than candy. Lozenges and ginger candies are now being distributed nationwide and in some countries to relieve throat problems.

Sometime in 2008, I was offered to buy a Spa privilege card. Thinking that I needed that for relaxation, I grabbed one. Together with my friends, I went to try out one of their fabulous offers. I chose the tightening Body Wrap. It was actually recommended for me by the masseuse since I was working my way to bring back the firmness of my body. I was given a body scrub with massage before the primary ingredient for my wrap was done..it was no other than the Ginger (with milk). It felt warm on the skin but on other parts, I felt it was hot. I was told it was normal since it means that it was working out on the most stressed part of my body. I was wrapped for an hour then had a warm bath or shower after. I felt good, I was able to sleep well that night.

From that day on, I made research and learned about the other uses of ginger.

Ginger or luya is also known as a medicinal plant in the Philippines. It is said to have a lot of health benefits. Folks said it helps in clearing out the throat and the best way to cure sore throat or hoarseness is to drink a cup of salabat (ginger tea) or chew a piece of the rhizome. Just as I mentioned earlier, salabat or ginger tea is prepared by boiling the water and ginger together. For medicinal purposes, some would drink it alone. Others prefer adding a little honey and lemon to taste. In our province, salabat is also used as a remedy for cough, aid for digestion and flatulence, headaches and hangovers.

Some folks use ginger as an antiseptic by preparing some dried rhizomes with 70% alcohol and applying on wounds or cuts. According to them, ginger is anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and has a good effect on some gastrointestinal problems. Another great thing about it is that they haven't noticed the side effects of using it.

Ginger is being used in Spas and massage centers because it helps relieve stress and tighten some areas of the body. For post-pregnancy, it helps in firming the body. Some folks put minced ginger on the belly part of women who just had given birth, then they bind it with the use of cloth. As mentioned above, I experienced the ginger wrap a few months after giving birth.

For hair and scalp care, our root crop is also very beneficial. Its juice is used for hair loss and dandruff control. Hence, I once saw a shampoo with ginger extract being sold online. I have not tried it though, as it was too expensive for me.

For a piece of accurate and additional information about the health benefits of ginger, you may do your research online. There are studies published online about this medicinal plant. My mom bought a book about medicinal herbs and plants (Medicinal Plants of the Philippines) from where I found other information listed here.