Glorious Ginger! The Herb of the Year!

Close your eyes and think of ginger. The vibrant smell when you snap off a fresh piece, the tingle of the taste of it fresh, or the zippy sweet refresh of candied, that bitey burst it adds to chai and so many other dishes. How does that make you feel? Uplifted and sparkly? That's how this amazing herb makes me feel.

That's just the emotional side of this years Herb of the Year! You can find volumes and volumes about ginger (Zingiber officinale), from recipes to oil benefits and beyond. Ginger is an herb that's been used for thousands of years. At one time it was extremely expensive, but luckily it's much more affordable today.

Ginger is well deserving of the honor of Herb of the Year. It is rich in gingerol, carbohydrates, protein, sodium, iron, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc. You can see why it's so valuable when fighting colds. And it's not lacking in vitamins! Vitamin C, folate, vitamin B6, riboflavin, and niacin are just some of the ingredients in the power of ginger. Pantothenic acid, beta-carotene, capsaicin, curcumin, and salicylate provide anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Here are just a few health benefits to the delightful rhizome.

• Ginger is helpful for gas, bloating, and nausea. It helps your stomach empty and cut down on the fermentation that causes gas. For these problems, try a Ginger lemon tea or some dehydrated ginger or ginger candies.
• It can help ease congestion and sore throats from colds and flu. A spoonful of ginger infused honey is so soothing for a sore throat, and will help loosen mucus.
• Ginger can ease pain from rheumatoid and osteo arthritis. It can ease pain and is anti-inflammatory. Pickled ginger is a great way to not only get some those health benefits.

Ginger is wonderful for aromatherapy as well. The essential oil can help with memory when used in a diffuser. It is also warming and pain relieving in muscle rub blends. We use ginger essential oil in a number of products for that very reason.

One of my favorite things to do is infuse ginger into honey or vinegar. It's just such a versatile herb. The honey is a great addition to tea, or to use on ribs or chicken! Add a little honey and an infused vinegar into some seltzer and you have a healthful gingeralesque beverage. So many options to choose from!

Do you know what else is wonderful about ginger? You can grow more ginger from the one you buy at the store! There are some great tutorials online. Once you get started, you'll always have ginger on hand!

Take some time this year to try ginger in different ways. Add it to new dishes, try it in something sweet or savory, and above all Enjoy!

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