who knew ginger could be so sexy?
A good friend of mine inspired me to write this post. In the eight or so years that we’ve known each other, she has been relentless in extolling the healing properties of ginger. And she kicked it up a notch after my diagnosis last year.
When I call her complaining of mild nausea after my chemo sessions, she always gives me the same response. “Chew on some ginger,” she advises, although she’s British, so it sounds more like “jin-ja.” But I’m able to look past her occasional mangling of American English, especially because in this case, she practices what she preaches.
Steeping slivers of ginger in a cup of hot water is my girl’s go-to remedy for indigestion, stomach aches, heartburn, and — most critically — food poisoning. So, naturally, she’s convinced that this pungent rhizome can combat the aftereffects of chemotherapy. “Trust me,” she says. “It will work.”
After years of paying her lip service, I’m declaring, in earnest, that she was right. (That incoming call on my cell is her waiting to tell me she told me so). I wasn’t so much doubtful as I was content to rely on anti-nausea drugs to do the job. I’m not one to suffer through aches or pain, and my instinct is to reach for my prescriptions because they’ve worked pretty well so far.
But I gave the ginger a try, mostly because during my last lecture from the Brit chick, I remembered other conversations I’ve had about this ancient digestive. When I first started treatment, another good friend rolled through with some ginger candies to help fight my upset stomach. One of my doctor friends, tired of hearing me whine, suggested that I walk half a block to our neighborhood co-op and buy some ginger powder to cook with. My former trainer, Ammo St. Phard, told me ginger is full of antioxidants and helps get the blood circulating. “Where would we be without trees and plants?” he asked rhetorically. “We learn in school that plants provide oxygen, but what we don’t learn is the wonders they do for our bodies when we consume them.”
A few weeks back, after my last visit to the chemo suite, I committed to a test tryout. For three days straight, I chewed on fresh ginger until the fibrous flesh lodged stubbornly in my back teeth and burned my tongue. I drank ginger tea until my taste buds, perfumed by the hot, spicy plant, became numb. I blended it in homemade fruit smoothies and boiled it with orange peel, pumpkin spice, and lemon as a form of aromatherapy. It made my apartment smell really yummy.
Yep, I passed on the pills to opt for a natural relief, and then I bought the book Healing Remedies, which is filled with interesting facts about the history of ginger and other plant-based medications.
Did you know that a combination of water, cinnamon, yellow dock root, and sugar is an effective laxative? So is magnesium. I found this out because chemo is notorious for blocking the passages, but no need to delve deeper into that. Nutmeg, which is recommended in small doses because of its hallucinogenic qualities, is a fruit kernel with calming abilities that is used to treat insomnia. Amazingly, it’s also a stimulant that strengthens the heart and dispels flatulence (note to boyfriend).
Grapefruits, which are rich in vitamins A and C and potassium, clean the kidneys, break down fat, and reduce the severity of a hangover. That’s news I could’ve used at the bar the other night when I switched from red wine to tequila (note to self). And I recently visited Karen Rose, master herbalist at Sacred Vibes Apothecary in Brooklyn, N.Y., whose Strong Man Tea contains nettle root, fennel seed, and saw palmetto berry for enhanced male potency.
I could go on about how carrots reportedly curb damage caused by smoking or how marigolds have antiseptic qualities. Penicillin, ephedrine, and chemo drugs such as Taxol are also derived from plants. But the benefits of herbs and plant matter are no news flash. The ancient Egyptians were up on their healing powers.
All I know is that I have a special jar now on top of my refrigerator to hold my ginger. Next up, I’m searching for a plant that lets me eat whatever I want while blocking all the calories. That would be a power plant indeed.
Hi there!
I didn’t even know about all this stuff!
I need to start getting up to speed about these natural remedies. I take many pills per day (prescription meds) and perhaps I would not need HALF of them if I started being as thorough as you are about investigating herbal remedies!
Peace, blessings and DUNAMIS!
Lisa
Hi Chana,
Awesome post yet again!
Just reading an article now in Oncology News about a University of Rochester (NCI-funded) study that was reported at last month’s American Society of Clinical Oncology conference…that ginger does indeed quell chemotherapy-related nausea! I’m glad the medical community is catching up to what you’ve learned, and what so many people, including your British friend!, have known for so long.
Funny b/c my mom keeps buying us saw palmetto tea. I guess it was a subliminal message. And I too LOVE ginger for everything as well as tumeric and tamarind for cooking b/c of the antiox benefits.
great post! i drink ginger tea time to time for an upset stomach and it always works. or maybe my mouth is burning so much from the ginger that i don’t pay attention to my aching belly anymore.
my son’s daycare provider is from ghana and recently told me of a very scary method women in ghana use to punish their children using ginger. she also said that women in ghana commonly use ginger root use to cure themselves and their daughters of yeast infection. [yikes!!!] and then there was her last suggestion, “if you have a backache, just rub a little ginger juice on your [i'll just throw in "butt" here]. it only burns for a few minutes and your pain is gone!” well, i guess so! seems that ginger has many, many uses. ha!
What a great post! I grew up on holistic remedies since my mom was always a strong advocate. Rather than pumping me with strong anitbotics she used specific herabal tea concotions, (though tasted gross at the time, cured my bronchitis/asthma with little to no side effects. It was the harsh medication, the docotor prescribed, that caused vomiting and severe allergic reactions. Her strength allowed her not to accept the status quo. I think we are NOW in the age of returning to the earth’s resources. We all the ability to learn more and grow more. I just want to say thank you Chana for being a light worker/healer. *Side note, Ginger can be used for great skin exfoliator…Origins has a Ginger Scrub that is fantabulous!
Hey Chana,
Great post, I learned something new today!
Do you or any other reader know of any herbs or holistic remedies that can help soothe stomach ulcers? Unfortunately my niece has an ulcer and it can be painful for her at times.
Hey Chana, I didn’t know ginger did all of that. Going to have to buy some for our cubbard too. Here are a few more to keep in mind for general health.
If you don’t already do this, start cooking with apple cider vinegar, fresh garlic and fresh onions. They are all good for circulation by thinning the blood for improved flow and by cleansing the crap out your blood for improved blood health period. A daily cup of cranberry juice is also good for you. And honey is good on or in just about anything.
Glad to see you’re recovering without the side effects. Lots of people are going to be blessed by sharing your experiences – and writing about it is, no doubt, cathartic for you too – so keep up the good work.
Another lesson with humor and info. I think you are taking care of us! Thanks Chana.
Hey Chana,
Ginger was recommended to me from a nurse friend of mine a few years ago. I had severe heartburn and my doctor presecribed Nexium which made me sick. She told me to boil some fresh ginger in some water with cayenne pepper. I was supposed to only take a few sips but I drank it as a tea. It cleaned me out and I haven’t had heartburn since and that was 5 years ago. I’ve been a believer in the power of ginger ever since. I still drink a tea every so often as a tonic.
Caution: if you drink a strong full cup be prepared to stay in the house. You’ll be running to the toilet.
Other natural foods no home should be without… cayenne pepper and apple cider vingear.
Yeah, the West Indians are up on their ginger tea! It works.
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Take care, Dennis
Now I’m hungry
Seriously, I’ll have to try this for myself. I guess I’ll add ginger to my grocery list.
You know I learn something new and interesting every single time I visit your wonderful blog. You’re such a wonderfully inspiring woman.
Excellent post, but that’s the norm.
Be good.
tim