SINCE years ago, ginger plant has been known has muchh
benefits, both as a spice, or seasoning as well as
medicinal herbs. Plants that have a scientific name
“Zingiber officinale Roscoe” originally came from Asia
Pacific, spread from India to China.
It is not hard to find a ginger because these plants are
now widely used as spices, giving flavor various foods
and beverages and ingredients of traditional medicines.
Specifically as a drug, the properties of ginger has
been known from generations to generation as a headache
reliever, cough, common colds. Ginger is often used as a
medicine to relieve digestive tract disorders,
rheumatism, anti-nausea medications and travel sickness,
flatulence, cholera, diarrhea, sore throat, diphtheria,
detoxifying, itchy, sprains, swelling, and bruising.
Many references also mention that ginger can prevent and
treat some diseases such as burns, headaches, migraines,
lowers cholesterol, rheumatism, gastric ulcer,
anti-depressants, and impotence. Even so, all of the
properties of ginger are still not enough evidence, so
we need a scientific test as well.
So far, the results of pharmacological tests show that
ginger has some as anti-inflammatory activity.
Laboratory tests showed that the extract of ginger in
hot water and inhibit the activity of cyclooxygenase
lipoksigenase thereby reducing the levels of
prostaglandins and leukotriena (inflammatory mediators).
Research in China reported that hundreds of patients
with rheumatoid arthritis and chronic back pain which
were injected 5 - 10% reduction in the effects of ginger
extract obtained pain, reduce inflammation of bone
joints. Giving an oral of ginger powder to patients with
rheumatic and musculoskeletal can reduce pain and
swelling.
Ginger is also as an Anti emetic and can be used by
pregnant women to reduce morning sickness. Research
indicates that ginger is very effective to reduce
metoklopramid inductor compounds nausea and vomiting.
According to the Germany Federal Health Agency, ginger
is effective for treating indigestion and symptoms of
motion sickness prevention.
Ginger contains two digestive enzymes which are
important in helping the body digest and absorb food.
First, as lipase serves to break the fat and the second
is as protease to break down protein function.
Ginger also contains at least 19 useful bio-active
components for the body. Chemical compounds in ginger
are the essential oil consisting of sesquiterpene
compounds, zingiberen, bisabolena, zingeron, oleoresins,
camphene, limonene, borneol, sineol, sitral, zingiberal,
felandren. In addition, there are also sagaol, gingerol,
starch, resins, organic acids such as malic acid and
oxalic acid, Vitamin A, B, and C, flavonoid and
polyphenols compounds.
One of the main components is gingerol which is an
anticoagulant to prevent blood clotting. So the ginger
can prevent clogged arteries, a major cause of stroke,
and heart attacks.
