Ginger
Zingiber officinale
Pharm. Rhizoma Zingiberisfrom Sanskrit shringavera
History has it that the Chinese scholar Confucius spiced all of his
dishes with ginger, and that 3,000-year old Sanskrit writing from India
makes mention of ginger not only as a cooking ingredient but as a medicine.
In fact, the ginger root, which is actually a rhizome, is now corroborated
by Western herbalists as an effective therapeutic remedy for digestive
problems, inflammatory disorders like arthritis, and even colds and coughs.
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Propagation
Suspend a 50mm section of ginger root from the mouth of a jar which
is filled with water to cover the lower third of the rhizome. When
roots develop to about 25mm, pot or plant out with rhizome just below surface
of soil. Alternatively, pot directly with the "eyes" facing up, covered
with about 25mm of soil. Water thoroughly and place in a warm sunny area.
(Gingers require at least 55 degrees F. and prefer over 60 F. - 70. Plenty
of shade for young plant. Keep moist but not wet.
Ginger does best in soil that has a pH in the 5-7 range
Young fresh stem ginger (about 5 months old) may be used in stir fry as a vegetable, and the leaves work well in salads.
Variegated Amazon Ginger
Costus Amazonicus variegata
A native of Ecuador and Peru, this ginger is grown for its gorgeous
foliage and quite remarkable flowersl. The leaves are arranged spirally
around the stems in much the same fashion as other costus gingers.
White Ginger
Hedychium coronarium
A pest in Hawaii .. more
Al's Homemade Rootbeer
and Ginger Beer Recipes
Ye Olde Ginger
Beer Recipe
The Ginger People
Ginger Recipes
Richters Herbs - information
on ginger & other herbs
"Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food." --Hippocrates
(460-377 B.C.)