ROOTING FOR A RHIZOME Used in cooking and herbal medicine around the world, ginger contains many interesting compounds. The best known of these are called gingerols, which produce the hot sensation in your mouth, as well as the pungent flavor and aroma. Fresh or powdered, pickled or candied, ginger adds a unique zest to any dish.
Some recent findings:
• Ginger has anti-cancer properties. For instance, researchers at the University of Michigan recently noted that it keeps ovarian cancer cells at bay — in a test tube. (This is a long way from saying that ginger can prevent cancer in humans, however.)
• It can inhibit the growth of bacteria. For example, in one lab study, it reduced H. pylor4 the bacteria in the stomach responsible for most ulcers and possibly stomach cancer.
• In one study, people with asthma who took ginger reported fewer symptoms, but tests found no changes in lung function.
• Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and thus may be useful as an arthritis remedy.
• Ginger does appear to relieve the nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, motion sickness and chemotherapy. WHAT TO DO If you want to try ginger for nausea and vomiting, you can buy ginger capsules. But keep in mind, large doses of ginger may cause indigestion and nausea. rather than curing them.You can try candied ginger or ginger tea. Most bottled ginger also contain little or no real ginger.