Fresh ginger [ Sheng Jiang ]
This wonderful herb enters the Lung, Stomach and Spleen meridians and assists with:
1. Cold or Flu
Ginger is famously and commonly used in the very early stages of cold or flu symptoms in Chinese Medicine formulas. The function of ginger is to warm you up and make you sweat! In doing this it helps push those bad boy pathogens out of the body before they settle in and develop further.
2. Nausea, Vomiting and Digestion
Ginger is used in Chinese Medicine to settle nausea & vomiting and harmonising your digestion, keeping it nice and toasty.
Ginger is considered to have a 'warming' effect on the stomach and spleen meridians. This warming property helps to increase circulation and stimulate the digestive system, which can aid in the digestion of food and alleviate symptoms of nausea and vomiting. Ginger is very commonly used in morning sickness.
Secondly, ginger is believed to help regulate the flow of qi in the body. In Chinese medicine, nausea and vomiting are often attributed to a blockage or imbalance in the flow of qi in the stomach. Ginger's ability to regulate this flow can help to relieve these symptoms.
Lastly, ginger has natural anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, which can help to reduce inflammation in the stomach and alleviate nausea and vomiting caused by bacterial or viral infections.
3. Coughing
When ginger is consumed, it can increase blood flow and circulation throughout the body, including the lungs. This increased circulation can help to warm the lungs and reduce inflammation, which can alleviate coughing symptoms. Additionally, ginger has natural anti-inflammatory properties and can help to soothe irritated airways.
If you are struggling with early stage cold and flu, coughing or nausea brew up a comforting cup of hot water infused with plenty of fresh ginger and sip away!