Family Name: Zingiberaceae
Botanical Name(s): Zingiber officinale
Popular Name(s): Shunthi, Adrak, Sunth, Black Ginger, Race
Ginger, African Ginger
Parts Used: Root
Habitat: Ginger is native to Asia. It is cultivated in West
Indies, Jamaica and Africa also.
Description: Ginger is a perennial root. In tuberous joints, it
creeps and increases in size keeping itself under the ground. In spring,
the root sends up a green reed, like a stalk, 2 feet high, with narrow
lanceolate leaves. The flowering stalk rises from the root and ends up
in an oblong scallop spike. Ginger produces flower buds which are white
and pink in colour and bloom into yellow flowers
Uses: Ginger is used as a stimulant and as a carminative agent.
Its young roots are juicy and fleshy with a very mild taste. Ginger is
used as a flavouring agent. The flowers have an aromatic smell but the
root is the most useful part of the plant. Ginger is used to cure
alcoholic gastritis and diarrhoea. Ginger Tea is a hot infusion, very
useful to cold. It helps in indigestion and in alcoholic gastritis also.
