Ginger - Fiery and Root Fruity Goodness in a cup

When the only thing you want is a hot drink, people automatically turn to the tried and tested favourites of a tea or coffee. However, herbal tea can be much more refreshing than your regular white or black tea and has none of the calories or caffeine found in your regular cappuccino or even your skinny milky latte. The plethora of herbal fruit teas available at every supermarket and corner shop is testament to how popular these ancient drinks have become with people looking for a healthy and fruity alternative, some with surprising and very welcome health and medical properties. Ginger herbal teas have one the biggest taste bud 'kicks' of any kind of drink, drunk hot or cold. In Chinese medicine ginger tea has yang properties which are warming, something any tea drinker would agree with and it's this fiery characteristic that gives ginger many of its medicinal properties. The scientific name for ginger is zingiber officinalis. However, ginger tea has been used for centuries across India and China in the treatment of sore throats, nasal and sinus pain. In the west, we are more used to the calming properties of ginger. Who can't remember granny giving ginger biscuits before a car journey to alleviate travel sickness. Ginger tea is great for settling an upset stomach, calming headaches and even migraines can be helped. This digestive aid is mainly down to the shogoals and ginerols that are contained within the root which help to neutralize the acids in the stomach and also stimulate the secretion of digestive juices and help to tone the digestive tract's muscles. The dried ginger used in herbal tea is a thermogenic, which a term more commonly applied to drugs which stimulate metabolism to create heat. However, ginger tea also has thermogenic properties which can help with weight loss and also reduces the absorption of cholesterol in the liver and blood stream, making it good at reducing cholesterol levels and also as an anti-flatulent. Continuing on the healing properties of ginger, it has been found to reduce the healing time from many different health problems as mentioned, but also help alleviate inflammations of the joints and headaches. Research suggests that ginger can block the effects of prostaglandin, a substance responsible for inflammation of the blood vessels inside the brain which cause migraines. Ginger has also been used extensively in aromatherapy treatments for centuries. Unlike ginger infusions and teas, the essential oil is extracted from the root by steam distilling of the unpeeled, dried and ground ginger root. It's scent is popular over winter and Christmas time when it can be mixed with sandalwood and cinnamon to create a warm and festive scent in homes.