Spices for the Sick: Ginger and Cinnamon

Ginger and Cinnamon are most often found onin the remedy of certain symptoms of digestive
the spice racks in the kitchen. For most people,disorders. It is used in the prevention of nausea,
they are merely spices used to add flavor andthe relief of diarrhea and flatulence and helps in
fragrance to our food and drinks. What mostthe general digestive process.
people ignore is the fact that these spices areGinger is also said to have the ability to hinder the
well-known for their medicinal properties.ageing process. When ginger is applied externally,
Gingeras in liniments, it is able to ease the pain in joints
Ginger has many surprising applications outside theand of lumbago and also in neuralgia. The pain
kitchen. Its medicinal prowess extends from thefrom toothache is also said to be relieved by
treatment of common ailments to the remedy ofchewing a piece of ginger.
frigidity in women and is even a rather potentCinnamon
aphrodisiac. The ginger root was used in ChineseCinnamon is known for its unique flavor and
medicine that dates as far back as two thousandaroma. We usually use cinnamon in small amounts
years. It was only in the 1600s that it arrived inas an added flavor in our food and drinks.
Europe. Originally, ginger wasn't taken internally asUnknown to most people is the fact that
a cure, but instead as a paste made with water.cinnamon can help relieve the discomforts that
The ginger paste was applied onto the foreheadcome with common conditions such as wounds
of the patient and this was thought to lowerand muscle pain.
blood pressure. Later on, ginger was takenCinnamon is a good treatment from the ordinary
internally to relieve high blood pressure.coughs and colds to catarrh and respiratory
Even before, ginger is famous for its benefits toinfections, especially in cases where there is fever
the circulatory system because it stimulates thepresent. Cinnamon is also used to remedy muscle
heart and assists in circulation. Aside from loweringand joint pains such as arthritis. A lot of common
blood pressure, it has also been known to preventdigestive annoyances are relieved by cinnamon,
excessive blood clotting in the system which couldincluding colic, nausea, flatulence and diarrhea. It is
lead to stroke. In cases of menstrual problemsalso believed to be able to control heavy
like a delayed period, ginger is said to promotemenstrual bleeding, nose bleeding and other forms
menstrual flow. In this area, ginger is also thoughtof slight to moderate bleeding in the body.
to aid in fertility in women and impotence in men.When applied externally, cinnamon is used as an
Ginger paste and ginger that is taken internallyantiseptic to treat and prevent infection in stings,
relieves the discomforts caused by respiratorywounds, abrasions and other skin problems.
problems such as colds and flu by acting as anAnother common external application is in the
expectorant. It can also break fevers bytreatment of head lice infestation.
promoting perspiration. Ginger is particularly popular