Most of us have encountered Ginger at some in our lives as it’s become quite a common addition to a variety of dishes, drinks and even deserts – but did you know that it’s also one of the most potent forms of natural medicine available to us? Much like ginger, most of us have also been rundown with a cold or flu at some point in our lives and we all know how tiresome and draining this can be – not to mention painful too. Unfortunately the cold or flu virus is something that cannot really be avoided. At some point or other we’re bound to contract one. Because of this, pharmaceutical companies have a wide variety of different treatments for the symptoms of the flu virus and it’s actually become quite a large source of revenue for the manufacturers of these treatments. However, the truth about conventional flu treatments is that they do nothing to actually help cure, treat or remove the virus in the first place. They only work on treating the superficial symptoms of the infection. While this may not sound too bad at first glance, the truth is they do little to actually make you healthier and generally tend to come with a wide variety of different side effects (which are actually just ‘effects’) that can make you feel worse and make your body vulnerable to further infection by weakening your immune system. Due to our increasing reliance on these forms of treatment, the virus itself is slowly learning how to become resilient to them as it evolves, which has created a much more dangerous threat, namely the superbug. If getting the flu is a nuisance, then the superbug is a death sentence – and I’m not overreacting here. There are a number of reported cases of people who have contracted a superbug of some sort in recent years and died as a result of the disease being untreatable by conventional methods of treatment. If the flu manages to get to this point – we could be in serious trouble as we would be dealing with a deadly epidemic which is a seriously scary thought. I don’t want to scare you out of reading this article entirely and you’re probably wondering what on earth any of this has to do with Ginger. Fret not, as this shall be explained to you. Ultimately though, what I am alluding to is something that most people are quite skeptical of (and in most cases, with good reason too) – natural and holistic medicine. While it may be easy to point the finger at holistic healing techniques, the truth of the matter is that in many cases they are as effective, if not more effective than certain conventional medical treatments and when used correctly can enable overall healing of body and mind, rather than simply treating the symptoms of the disease. So if you’re interested in unlocking a more natural and holistic way of treating your body as well as finding out more about this amazingly powerful natural herb as a medicinal agent, I’d highly recommend that you keep scrolling!
What is Ginger Essential Oil and Where Does it Come From?
The Ginger plant contains all the potent natural phytochemicals and healing compounds
Ginger has played an important role in the development of ancient medicine and healing practices which ultimately became the foundation of modern medicine as we know it today. It is said that ginger originated in China as well as neighboring parts of Southeast Asia and over time was brought to Europe by the Spaniards who valued it highly. However, the root was originally used by the ancient Chinese in a variety of different methods (both culinary and medicinally) to help treat and heal many common health ailments . It is the root of the Ginger plant that contains all the potent natural phytochemicals and healing compounds that make this plant such a potent natural medicine. They may be harnessed to help treat and heal stomach and bowel related issues such as spasms and indigestion – even helping to treat food poisoning. Also, they can be quite effective at relieving pain, hypertension and general respiratory issues. The oil has also been used throughout India for hundreds if not thousands of years and became a natural treatment for the symptoms of stress. In fact, today both China and India are two of the largest producers of ginger and Ginger Essential Oil and this is largely due to the fact that natural and holistic forms of medicine and healing are still quite popular in these regions and have in turn, become a large part of their respective cultures. While most of us have come across ginger in its natural form, a lot of people have never used or even seen ginger oil in their lives – and this is something that I believe is a large factor in why we’re seeing the kind of changes we are with regards to the flu virus. Ginger oil is basically a concentrated form of the ginger root and is more potent too. The oil is created through a method of distillation known as steam distillation.
Interestingly this is one of the oldest methods of distilling and producing essential oils and is still widely regarded as the best means of doing so. In this method, the roots of the ginger plant are harvested, cleaned and dried and then cut into smaller pieces. These pieces are then added to a steel vat (either copper or stainless steel) which is filled with boiling water. As the organic material stews in this water, the phytochemicals and natural compounds (the essential oils of the organic matter) are extracted through the process of evaporation. The resulting steam which now contains these elements of the original matter moves into a separate cooling chamber where the steam condenses in order to form droplets. The result of condensation process is a liquid form of the chemicals contained in the organic matter which we ultimately know as essential oil. Steam distilled essential oil is largely considered the best because of the fact that it is free of chemical contaminants and is of a very high quality – it is the only form of essential oil that I would recommend for medicinal use.
How to Make Your Own DIY Ginger Essential Oil
Chop the ginger into smaller pieces and grate
I realize that most people tend to ‘freak-out’ a bit when you mention the word DIY in any context. It’s because we’re often afraid of the hassle and stress involved with any kind of DIY project as well as the risk of failure. I’m here to tell you that any DIY project can be mastered by paying careful attention to the instructions and practicing it a few times. Don’t worry about making a few mistakes during your first attempt as it’s just part of the learning process. The added benefits of using DIY goods is that you can save yourself a great deal of money and that they’re often healthier too (as you have full control over the method and ingredients used) which means they’re more effective. So to get you started, I’ve found a very simple recipe that you can follow in order to make your own ginger oil in the comfort of your home. What you will need:
1 large ginger root
1 ½ cups of olive oil
Oven-safe bowl
Cheese grater
Cheesecloth/muslin cloth filter
Sealable glass jar
Rinse the ginger and let it dry for a few hours before using it. Pour the olive oil into the oven-safe bowl and then chop the ginger into smaller pieces and grate them. Pre-heat an oven to 650 (150 in Fahrenheit) and add the ginger to the olive oil. Now add this mixture to the bowl and place it in the oven to simmer at a low heat for at least 2 hours. Monitor regularly to make sure it doesn’t burn. Once the time has elapsed, strain the oil through the cheesecloth filter into a sealable glass jar and seal once you’re done. That’s it! While this may not be pure, medical grade, steam distilled essential oil, it is still suitable for general topical use and is safe for ingestion. I would recommend adding roughly 10-15 drops of actual ginger essential oil to this mixture to increase its strength. But it’s a relatively quick and easy recipe to try and hope and can have real benefits for your overall health.
Ginger Essential Oil for Hair Health and Growth
Ginger essential oil for hair health and growth
While there are no ‘quick-fixes’ for truly treating hair loss or thinning hair (conventional or natural), there are a variety of options available to you for continued treatment. This repetition and routine will ultimately allow your hair to heal and regenerate over time. The natural warming effects of ginger oil help to stimulate the circulation of blood under the scalp which allows more nutrients and much needed vitamins and minerals to reach your hair and strengthen or nourish them from within. Ginger also contains a number of really potent natural antioxidants, such as gingerol, which helps to fight and prevent the damage caused by free-radicals. Capturing them and allowing you to rinse them off your body before they can bond with any of your cells and do any damage – ultimately reducing hair loss. Even more so, ginger acts as a natural anti-inflammatory agent. This allows you to treat and remove any germs or bacteria that may form on the surface of your scalp over the course of your day as oil, sweat and grime gathers on the surface of your scalp and becomes a breeding ground for infection. Keeping your scalp clean and clear is the best way to prevent the formation of infections that may cause hair damage, hair loss and dandruff. The oil can be heated lightly on a saucepan (so that it’s warm, but not hot to the touch) and then gently massaged into your scalp. I would also recommend blending it with either, neroli, bergamot, frankincense or sandalwood oil for added effectiveness and a more varied odor. It’s also a great addition to any natural DIY shampoo recipe.
Diffusing Ginger Essential Oil for Sleep, Anxiety and Depression
Ginger oil is a natural relaxant and can aid healthy sleeping patterns
Ginger oil can be used as a natural relaxant and can even help to aid healthy sleeping patterns as well as lowering blood pressure and heart rate. All of these are important for treating issues such as anxiety, depression or sleep loss (insomnia). The oil can either be diffused in a diffuser or oil burner as well as being used in aromatherapy treatments such as massages or steam baths. I would also highly recommend blending the oil with suitable carrier oils in order to maximize the healing potential of the oil as a whole as well as to create a more unique mixture specific to your own preferences. Personally, I prefer using the oils I mentioned before (although I’ve recently found a mixture of 5 drops ginger, 5 drops frankincense and 3-5 drops of neroli to be particularly effective at treating depression and bouts of insomnia). The natural approach may not give you the same kind of instant relief as the conventional products that we use. The truth is though, that taking a step back and trying to identify the variables that cause these problems and treating them suitably at the root cause of the issue is more effective than trying to nullify the symptoms of the issue. Therapy and a healthy routine can really make the difference in terms of healing yourself and natural products can help when used in addition to both of these. But don’t think that rubbing a few drops of oil on yourself will fix everything. Recovery is a process and essential oils are simply a tool in this process.
Ginger Essential Oil for Inflammation
Use ginger oil to help relieve the pain associated with arthritis
Ginger oil has been used as a natural anti-inflammatory treatment for quite some time and it’s a highly effective tool at relieving the discomfort associated with itchy, swollen, dry and painful skin. Roughly 90% of ginger oil is made up of sesquiterpenes which make it a natural anti-inflammatory agent, but can also be used as a potent antibacterial treatment i.e. a natural disinfectant. I would highly recommend using ginger oil to help relieve the pain associated with arthritis as well as reducing any signs of inflammation on the surface of the skin. However, it’s important to consult a trained medical professional before using ginger oil as an anti-inflammatory treatment as certain people may suffer from allergies which could worsen the problem at hand. It’s also always advisable to patch-test the oil on your skin before applying regularly or in larger amounts.
Ginger oil is one of the most valuable essential oils you can have in your collection. If you’re new to the world of natural oils, then it’s one of the best to start your collection with. Ginger oil is suitable for both topical use and ingestion (when blended correctly) and can therefore be used in and around the home, as well as when you’re outdoors (camping, hiking etc.) or even at the gym. By blending the oil, you can create a more powerful natural healing mixture which can help to heal any wounds, sores, burns or swelling you may be suffering from. It can also be used as a natural ingredient in a variety of different hair and skin care recipes around the home. Personally, I view ginger oil as being an invaluable addition to my collection of essential oils and during winter (or flu and cold season) it’s a tremendously helpful in preventing the infection in the first place (as it helps to strengthen your bodies natural immune system), as well as fight off the symptoms of the infection at the same time. So do yourself a favor and give ginger oil a try – the results will speak for themselves.
