During fall – you may be looking for natural ways to support your immune system right now. Ginger & turmeric root are powerful herbs with antiviral properties, often used to bolster a strong immune system. Many people reach for these ingredients at the first sign of the sniffles, but they can also be used preventatively to boost immunity and keep your defences up. Ginger warms the body and just like turmeric, has anti-inflammatory qualities. Turmeric is also a natural antibiotic. The lemon juice in this tea is a detoxifying, purifies your blood and increases your digestive fire (agni).
Eastern View: Ginger is moist and dry at the same time and is known as a universal medicine that benefits everybody and all diseases. Especially good for Vata disorders, this is one of Ayurveda’s best go-to spices. When using ginger, think about digestion, lungs, and circulation. All Vata problems.
Ginger with its pungent and sweet taste warms the digestive system, increases digestive fire (agni), and helps in the secretion of digestive enzymes. Also useful in nausea, especially travel-sickness, gas bloating, and stomach gripping – it has a specific action against E. Coli and Shigella bacteria.
Ginger is great when used in menstrual cramps as it regulates Vata in the lower abdomen. Despite its warm energy, it also is an anti-inflammatory. It has the properties of being able to warm and cool and is really beneficial for nourishing the reproductive system.
Ginger has a unique effect (prabhava). It’s post-digestive quality is sweet which means its long-term effect is anti-inflammatory and nourishing while its initial effect is warm and stimulating for digestion. That’s good news for anyone who has digestive and inflammatory problems.
Western View: Ginger contains Gingerol, a substance with powerful medicinal properties. It has been used to help digestion, reduce nausea, and help fight the flu and common cold, to name a few.
Ginger appears to be highly effective against nausea, relieving nausea and vomiting after surgery, and in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. But it may be the most effective when it comes to pregnancy-related nausea, such as morning sickness.
Ginger has been shown to be effective against exercise-induced muscle pain. In one study, consuming 2 grams of ginger per day, for 11 days, significantly reduced muscle pain in people performing elbow exercises. Ginger does not have an immediate impact but may be effective at reducing the day-to-day progression of muscle pain. These effects are believed to be mediated by the anti-inflammatory properties.
Recently, science has started to back up what the Indians have known for a long time… turmeric really does contain compounds with medicinal properties.Turmeric contains curcumin, a substance with powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Inflammation is incredibly important. It helps the body fight foreign invaders and also has a role in repairing damage. Although acute (short-term) inflammation is beneficial, it can become a major problem when it is chronic (long-term) and inappropriately deployed against the body’s own tissues. It is now believed that chronic, low-level inflammation plays a major role in almost every chronic, Western disease. This includes heart disease, cancer, metabolic syndrome, Alzheimer’s and various degenerative conditions. It turns out that curcumin is strongly anti-inflammatory, it is so powerful that studies show it matches the effectiveness of some anti-inflammatory drugs.
Immune Boosting Ginger Turmeric Tea
Ingredients
- 8 slices raw ginger, thinly sliced into rounds
- 8 cups filtered water
- 1 teaspoon turmeric, ground
- 4 tablespoons lemon juice (Pittas use lime juice)
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup (Kaphas use honey)
Instructions
- In a saucepan, bring the water and ginger to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for approximately 15 minutes.
- Remove from heat and add the turmeric and lemon juice. Let cool a little and then serve in your favorite mug!
There’s no one-size-fits-all all for what you should eat. If you would like to talk with me about what is the right diet for you, sign up for a complimentary consultation. Just click on the link to my online calendar to find a good time that works for you.
In health,
