The Ginger Chronicles Part 1:  The Universal Medicine

Before I ever studied Ayurveda… Before I ever stepped into a kitchen with the intention to heal… There was ginger.

I remember my Godmother bringing ginger to my grandmother, who would steep it gently in water and sip it after meals—no fancy names, no diagnosis, just the knowing that ginger soothed her stomach and settled her body.

That memory stayed with me. And now, decades later, I understand why.

In Ayurveda, ginger is called Vishvabheshaja—“the universal medicine.” It supports digestion, reduces inflammation, protects the immune system, and brings warmth where there’s cold, sluggishness, or congestion. It’s one of the first herbs I ever met, and it continues to be one of the most trusted in my personal and professional practice—especially when children are concerned. It is gentle, safe, and well received.

There’s something about ginger that commands attention. Maybe it’s the bold heat. Maybe it’s the way it makes everything in the kitchen—and the body—come alive.

Where Does Ginger Come From?

Ginger’s story begins in South Asia, where it has been cultivated for over 5,000 years—not just as a kitchen staple, but as a medicine, trade currency, and symbol of vitality.

Its botanical name is Zingiber officinale, derived from the Sanskrit word śṛṅgavēra, meaning “horn-shaped” (makes sense). From India to China, the Middle East, and eventually the West, ginger has been prized for its ability to awaken, stimulate, and move energy—whether through digestion, circulation, or breath.

Western Herbalism Insights

From a Western herbalism perspective, ginger is recognized for its:

• Actions: Carminative, anti-inflammatory, circulatory stimulant, and diaphoretic
• Uses: Treating nausea, improving digestion, reducing inflammation

Its active compounds, such as gingerols, contribute to its potent therapeutic effects- and there are sooo many!

The Many Stages of Ginger

One of the most beautiful aspects of ginger is that it offers different qualities depending on when it is harvested and how it is prepared:

Baby (Young) Ginger

• Harvested early (4–5 months)
• Thin, translucent skin
• Flavor: Mild, floral, gently warming
• Energetics: Less heating than mature ginger—ideal for sensitive digestion or summer use
• Uses: Fresh in teas, broths, chutneys, and juices
• Tip: Great for Pitta types or summer blends—gentle heat, no burn

Mature Fresh Ginger

• Harvested after 8–10 months
• Thicker, fibrous skin
• Flavor: Robust, pungent, and spicy
• Uses: Cooking, teas, and traditional remedies and yes refreshing ginger beer as a refreshment or even a delicious mocktail!

Dried & Ground Ginger

• Processed by drying mature ginger and grinding into powder
• Flavor: Intense and spicy
• Uses: Baking, spice blends, herbal formulations

Candied Ginger

• Cooked in sugar syrup and coated with sugar
• Flavor: Sweet and spicy
• Uses: Snacking, baking, or as a digestive aid

Ginger for Topical Use

Ginger isn’t just for internal use—it’s a topical healer too:

As a vulnerary, which is A substance that helps heal wounds, both internal and external, by promoting tissue repair and reducing inflammation as it supports wound healing and reduces local inflammation.  As a poultice—grated fresh ginger wrapped in warm cloth—it may be applied to:

• Sore joints and muscles
• Chest congestion
• Swollen or inflamed tissues
  
  

As a rubefacient (an herb or substance that stimulates blood flow to the skin’s surface  to help relieve certain pain, muscle tension or congestion. 

Especially effective for Kapha or Vata-type imbalances, ginger increases circulation, draws out toxins, and soothes without suppressing. 

This came in very useful for my grandfather because he was always working in the yard at a very old age (between 90 and 99 to be exact) my grandmother used to make ginger foot soaks for him in the afternoon when he came in after working in the yard.  This would help him with cramping and poor circulation and help him rest better as night. 

Ayurvedic Perspective

Ginger stimulates Agni (digestive fire), alleviates Ama (toxins), and supports respiratory and circulatory health.

• Rasa (Taste): Pungent
• Virya (Energy): Heating
• Vipaka (Post-digestive effect): Sweet
• Gunas (Qualities): Light, dry, sharp

Ginger and the Doshas:

Vata (Air & Ether):

• Warms and grounds Vata
• Relieves gas, bloating, cold extremities
• Best fresh or lightly cooked

Kapha (Earth & Water):Breaks through heaviness and stagnation

• Clears mucus, stimulates metabolism
• Best in dried form or with heating spices

Pitta (Fire & Water):

• Can aggravate Pitta in excess
• Use cautiously—combine with cooling herbs like mint or coriander
• Baby ginger is best for sensitive digestion

Ginger’s Deeper Medicine

If you’ve been with me for a while, you know this already: I don’t talk about food without talking about everything else too.

Because the body isn’t separate from the mind. And the mind isn’t separate from the spirit.

So when I talk about ginger, I’m not just talking about digestion. I’m talking about movement, clarity, and the way this plant shifts something deeper in us.

The emotional. The energetic. The unseen. That’s the medicine I trust.

Ginger clears fog—physical, emotional, mental. It brings heat, but it also brings direction. It moves what’s stuck, but never blindly. Because even universal medicine has its limits—and its timing.
Used wisely, ginger doesn’t just heat you up.
It wakes you up.

Fun fact? This is why you’ll often find pickled ginger served alongside sushi. It’s not just a palate cleanser—it’s a digestive aid, traditionally included to help break down raw fish and prevent the buildup of ama (toxins) that can result from heavy or hard-to-digest foods.

Ginger knows what you need—even before you do.

Ginger has a way of meeting you where you are—fiery when you’re cold, comforting when you’re inflamed, steady when you’re stuck.

And if there’s one thing I’ve learned from ginger, it’s that the deeper medicine isn’t only in the spice cabinet. It’s in the relationship—with the food, the ritual, and the way we choose to care for ourselves.

I’ll be continuing The Ginger Chronicles soon, but in the meantime, I’d love to hear from you:

• Do you have a favorite ginger recipe?
• A family remedy?
• A favorite way to prepare ginger?
• OR do you want to learn more about how it can elevate your meals?  
  
  

Drop a comment below, or join me in Club BodyScape this fall where we bring stories like this back into daily life.  Enrollment is opening up in September.  Stay close for more information.